MPLOT3—A system‐independent plotting package

Abstract This paper describes a general purpose plotting package which enables sets of data points to be plotted on a variety of output devices by simply specifying the mnemonic name and without any programming on the part of the users. A plot can be produced with the default options from a simple data file which can be expanded to call in many extra facilities. Options include scaling, automatic selection of axes and their markings, and identification of curves/shapes by varying‐length dashed lines, different symbols or colours. English and Greek characters can be written at any angle and size. Clipping or voiding facilities are provided to confine plotting inside or outside a given area. The package is expandable to allow new facilities to be added. The present form has been arrived at through feedback from the users over the last four years and has found a wide variety of applications in a scientific environment.