PTPLOT(1)
NAME
plotting of online MDI header parameter values vs. time
SYNOPSIS
ptplot param= ser= [...] [-Lnr]
DESCRIPTION
ptplot generates PostScript files of point plots of values
of a selected header parameter vs. time over selected inter-
vals for records in a selected data series. It uses the
on-line rdb header files as the source of input data, so no
data set staging is required (or permitted).
Most of the arguments to ptplot involve adjustment of the
output plot (scaling and appearance). The PostScript files
are in an easily understandable and editable format, so fine
tuning can be applied to them directly. ptplot has limited
data filtering capability, as described in the param argu-
ment description.
The -L flag will include the roughly 450-line PostScript
header by reference only; this only works when the
PostScript rendering is being done on a machine with access
to the header file. The -n flag will generate a point plot
without connecting lines; the default is that points are
connected by straight lines. The -r flag rotates the orien-
tation of the plot from its default landscape mode to por-
trait mode.
ARGUMENTS
param= name This can be either the name of the keyword whose
value is to be plotted, or a simple test expres-
sion (without embedded white space). The fol-
lowing sample values illustrate ptplot's parsing
and filtering capability:
param= DATAMEAN
plot all (non-missing) values of DATAMEAN
param= (DATAMEAN>=0.0)
plot only non-negative values of DATAMEAN
param= (DATAVALS)DATAMEAN
plot DATAMEAN for records with a valid value of DATAVALS
param= (MISSVALS==0)DATAMEAN
plot DATAMEAN for records with MISSVALS = 0
param= (MISSVALS<DATAVALS)DATAMEAN
plot DATAMEAN for records with MISSVALS < DATAVALS
start= time The start of the desired interval, in stan-
dard SOI date_time format. The default
value is 7 days before the stop time. If a
starting data set number is supplied, the
time of its first record overrides this
value.
stop= time The end of the desired interval. The
default value is the current system time.
If an ending data set number is supplied,
the time of its last record overrides this
value.
fds= int First data set number. If supplied, the
plotting interval will begin at the start of
the data set.
lds= int Last data set number. If supplied, the
plotting interval will terminate at the end
of this data set.
prog= name Program name of the data series; default:
mdi.
lev= name Level name of the data series; default: 1.5.
N.B.: directories for level 1.4 and level
1.5 data series will both be searched if
either is selected.
ser= name Data series name; required.
plot= name Name of the output plot file; default:
./plot.ps.
sample= int The sampling interval to be used. If the
interval n is greater than 1, only every nth
record is sampled before applying any filter
tests. Default: 1 (full sampling).
average= int The averaging interval to be used. Only
records passing the filter test are aver-
aged, so the duration of the averaging
intervals is not necesarily the same even
for evenly spaced data. If sampling is also
set, sampling is performed before averaging.
Default: 1 (no averaging).
min= float Minimum value of the ordinate axis; if not
supplied, an auto-scaling value will be
used.
max= float Maximum value of the ordinate axis; if not
supplied, an auto-scaling value will be
used.
step= float Ordinate axis step size for labeled tick
marks; if not supplied, an auto-scaling
value will be used.
plot_width= float Plot width, in points.
plot_height= float Plot height, in points.
plot_ctr_x= float x-coordinate of the plot center, in
points.
plot_ctr_y= float y-coordinate of the plot center, in
points.
line_width= float Thickness of connecting lines, in
points; if not supplied, an auto-scaled
value will be used, depending on the
number of points plotted. A 0-value
implies device-dependent printer-
resolution.
symbol_size= float Symbol diameter, in points (the symbols
are filled circles); if not supplied, an
auto-scaled value will be used, depend-
ing on the number of points plotted. A
0-value implies point-plotting at
device-dependent printer resolution.
title_font= name self-descriptive; must be a recognized
PostScript font name; default: Helvetica
label_font= name self-descriptive; default: Times-
BoldItalic
axis_font= name self-descriptive; default: Helvetica
EXAMPLES
FILES
/soidata/info/prog_rec/lev/ser/XXXXXX.record.rdb
/CM/tables/PSPlotHead.psh
SEE ALSO
DIAGNOSTICS
The module returns -1 if the directory thought to contain
the header files is not readable, or if there are no values
matching the selection criteria in the requested interval.
BUGS
There is no capability of selecting the time abscissa: if
the data-record contains a value for T_OBS it is used; if
not, the value for T_REF is used. If there is no value for
either of these keywords, the record is skipped.
Plotting of parameters in date-time format is not very well
supported; the values are treated as floating-point numbers
in the standard SOI internal format for purposes of axis-
labeling and numerical tests.
Parameter values which are not numeric or in date-time for-
mat are treated as missing, with no warnings issued.
Auto-scaling of data with zero range can cause failure.
The generated PostScript is not properly processed by the HP
LaserJet 8100 DN.
AUTHOR
Rick Bogart
HISTORY
2002-05-02 SOI Version 4.?