[Gnuplot-bugs] Bug Report: executing a couple of commands in command-line

[akira a. <aki...@gm...>]

Dear gnuplot,

I found a bug in gnuplot 4.4 patchlevel 4.

The bug involves an error when I try to do the followings:
1. create a file of seven-character name containing a function of
five-character name defined with a tricky combination of brackets.
2. pass the following commands via command-line option "-e":
(i) load the file
(ii) set variables
(iii) save settings

> echo "f2345(x,a)=sin(-1.0+((x)))" > 1234567
> gnuplot -e 'load"1234567"; set size 1.0,1.0; set origin 0,0; save"-"' > /dev/null

load"1234567"; set size 1.0,1.0; set origin 0,0; save"-"
                         ^
line 0: invalid expression

Note that the file name and the function name do not matter as far as
seven-character file name
and five-character function name (or even four-character function name).
The commands are apparently correct in their syntax.

A spooky behavior of the bug is that the error only occurs with the
above sequence of commands as far as I checked.
In other word, the error does NOT occur if any of followings is
slightly changed.
(i) length of file name/function name
(ii) combination of "set" commands
(iii) command expression including what spacing matters
See the attached files in detail.

The bug is obviously present, although the tests that I try to figure
out the bug
do not necessarily cover a systematic check (and my example may not be minimal).

Not to mention, one can easily avoid the error by proper spacing
around brackets for instance
while the bug remains unfixed.


Thanks in advance,


Akira Akaishi