Re: what is the use of "u" in tabulated output?

[<pl...@pi...>]

On 04/23/14 20:30, Ethan A Merritt wrote:
>
> On Sunday, 20 April, 2014 11:02:48 pl...@pi... wrote:
>> On 04/20/14 10:48, pl...@pi... wrote:
>>>
>>> I often use conditional using clauses to plot part of a range of data
>>>
>>> plot datafile using   (($1<=1995.55)?$1:NaN):(2*fcos1($1))
>
> [defer discussion of tabular output to a separate reply]
>
>> I've just found out the if I used "NaN" as a string instead of NaN in
>> the using clause I get the result I expected: the data cuts off at the
>> required date.
>>
>> plot datafile using   (($1<=1995.55)?$1:"NaN"):(2*fcos1($1))
>
> I think that's because you gave a string where a number was expected.
> The fact that the string contained "NaN" rather than, say, "foo" is not
> relevant.
>
>> It seems there is an inconsistency in the way this is being handled.
>
> I agree. This is a bug.  If the program finds a string where a number
> was expected, the numerical value returned to get_data() should be
> NaN rather than some random or left-over value from an earlier line.
> This should get a fix for both 4.6 and 5.
>
> 	Ethan
>

I would have expected the parser the throw this out since it is 
illegitimate input in this context.

I only tried this to see what would happen when the correct syntax 
produced garbage output.

Why didn't the parser reject it ?

Peter.