gnuplot documentation

96 gnuplot 4.3 70 SET-SHOW
The third plot will also correctly ignore the middle line, but the plotted line will not connect the points
at (2,20) and (4,40).
There is no default character for missing, but in many cases any non-parsible string of characters found
where a numerical value is expected will be treated as missing data.
70.14.3 Set datafile separator
The command set datafile separator "" tells gnuplot that data fields in subsequent input
files are separated by rather than by whitespace. The most common use is to read in csv
(comma-separated value) files written by spreadsheet or database programs. By default data fields are
separated by whitespace.
Syntax:
Examples:
set datafile separator {"" | whitespace}
# Input file contains tab-separated fields
set datafile separator "\t"
# Input file contains comma-separated values fields
set datafile separator ","
70.14.4 Set datafile commentschars
The set datafile commentschars command allows you to tell gnuplot what characters are used in
a data file to denote comments. Gnuplot will ignore rest of the line behind the specified characters if
either of them is the first non-blank character on the line.
Syntax:
set datafile commentschars {""}
show datafile commentschars
unset commentschars
Default value of the string is "#!" on VMS and "#" otherwise.
Then, the following line in a data file is completely ignored
# 1 2 3 4
but the following
1 # 3 4
produces rather unexpected plot unless
set datafile missing ’#’
is specified as well.
Example:
set datafile commentschars "#!%"
70.14.5 Set datafile binary
The set datafile binary command is used to set the defaults when reading binary data files. The
syntax matches precisely that used for commands plot and splot. See binary (p. 66) for details about
.
Syntax: