How do I set axis label with column header in gnuplot?

Question

My question is very simple. Suppose I have a datafile with column headers, like as follows

first second
1 1 
2 1
3 6
4 9

In gnuplot how do

Answer 1

To elaborate the suggestion of @andyras, here is how you can do it:

datafile = 'filename.txt'
firstrow = system('head -1 '.datafile)
set xlabel word(firstrow, 1)
set ylabel word(firstrow, 2)
plot datafile using 1:2

You must plot with the explicit using statement, otherwise gnuplot will complain about bad data on line 1.

Answer 2

I don't think this feature is built in to gnuplot; you would probably have to use an awk-like utility to pull those labels out of a datafile.

You could try submitting a feature request on gnuplot's sourceforge site, and get feedback from the developers there.

Answer 3

I think it is supported. You are just supposed to be able to use "":

plot 'file' using "first":"second"

Although, if you want to do math in your using specification, you'll need the column("") function, too

plot 'file' using "first":(column("second")-(column("thrid"))

(Using only quoted header names with the math didn't work for me, anyway.)