1.3 Getting started

After the program KUPLOT is installed properly and the environment variables are set, the program can be started by typing: 'kuplot' at the operating systems prompt. Information about how to compile and install the program can be found in the file INSTALL on the top level of the distribution directory. All array sizes that might need to be adjusted to your needs are defined in the file `kuplot.inc'. Check the comments within this file for an explanation of the various variables.

 

Table 1.1: Used symbols

Symbol	Description
"text"	Text given in double quotes is to be understood as typed.
<text>	Text given in angled brackets, is to be replaced by an appropriate value, if the corresponding line is used in KUPLOT. It could, for example be the actual name of a file, or a numerical value.
'text'	Text in single quotes exclusively refers to KUPLOT commands.
[text]	Text in square brackets describes an optional parameter or command. If omitted, a default value is used, else the complete text given in the square brackets is to be typed.
{text | text}	Text given in curly brackets is a list of alternative parameters. A vertical line separates two alternative, mutually exclusive parameters.

The program uses a command language to interact with the user. The command 'exit' terminates the program and returns control to the shell. All commands of KUPLOT consist of a command verb, optionally followed by one or more parameters. All parameters must be separated from one another by a comma `,'. There is no predefined need for any specific sequence of commands. KUPLOT is case sensitive, all commands and alphabetic parameters MUST be typed in lower case letters. If KUPLOT has been compiled using the '-DREADLINE' option (see installation files) basic line editing  and recall of commands is possible. For more information refer to the reference manual or check the online help using ('help command input'). Names of input or output files are to be typed, as they will be expected by the shell. If necessary include a path to the file. Only the first four letters of any command verb are significant, all commands may be abbreviated to the shortest unique possibility. At least a single space is needed between the command verb and the first parameter. No comma is to precede the first parameter. A line can be marked as comment by inserting a `#' as first character in the line.

The symbols used throughout this manual to describe commands, command parameters, or explicit text used by the program KUPLOT are listed in Table 1.1. All new features and changes are marked like this$\star$]$\star$on the margin of the page.