Re: Should 'dashlength' affect only builtin or also custom dash patterns?

[sfeam <sf...@us...>]

On Sunday, 01 June 2014 07:34:53 PM Christoph Bersch wrote:

> I've seen, that different terminals handle the `dashlength` option  
> differently:
> 
> set termoption dashlength 1
> plot x dt 2, 2*x dt '.-'
> pause -1
> 
> set termoption dashlength 3
> replot 
> 
> `qt`: dashlength affects only the custom dash pattern
> `wxt`: both patterns are stretched
> `post`: only the builtin patterns are affected
> 
> This behaviour should be equal for all terminals.

Good point.

I am also wondering whether the dashtype or linetype itself should
include a dashlength attribute, independent of the terminal setting.
Thus you could say:

   set dashtype 1 ".-.-" dashlength 0.5

or

   set linetype 1 dashtype "._._" dashlength 0.5

The first option would add a new field to struct t_dashtype.
The second would instead add a new field to struct lp_style_type.
I have not tried implementing either of these options.
It may turn out that one option is easier/better than the other.

Either way this factor would be multiplied by the terminal's own
dashlength setting.

	Ethan

> My suggestion is to have the dashlength option apply to all dash  
> patterns. Especially for patterns of the kind `dt '.-'` it is very  
> helpful to have the ability to change the basic unit of the patterns.
> 
> I wanted to discuss this before I submit any patches to sf.
> 
> Best regards,
> Christoph