Calling Gnuplot from c Using Pipes... Again!

Here's another way of calling gnuplot. I like this method because it provides a standalone function that plots your results. Here's the code:

#include <stdio.h>
#include <stdlib.h>
#include <math.h>
void plotResults(double* xData, double* yData, int dataSize);
int main() {
  int i = 0;
  int nIntervals = 100;
  double intervalSize = 1.0;
  double stepSize = intervalSize/nIntervals;
  double* xData = (double*) malloc((nIntervals+1)*sizeof(double));
  double* yData = (double*) malloc((nIntervals+1)*sizeof(double));
  xData[0] = 0.0;
  double x0 = 0.0;
  for (i = 0; i < nIntervals; i++) {
      x0 = xData[i];
      xData[i+1] = x0 + stepSize;
  }
  for (i = 0; i <= nIntervals; i++) {
      x0 = xData[i];
      yData[i] = sin(x0)*cos(10*x0);
  }
  plotResults(xData,yData,nIntervals);
  return 0;
}
void plotResults(double* xData, double* yData, int dataSize) {
  FILE *gnuplotPipe,*tempDataFile;
  char *tempDataFileName;
  double x,y;
  int i;
  tempDataFileName = "tempData";
  gnuplotPipe = popen("c:\\gnuplot\\bin\\pgnuplot -persist","w");
  if (gnuplotPipe) {
      fprintf(gnuplotPipe,"plot \"%s\" with lines\n",tempDataFileName);
      fflush(gnuplotPipe);
      tempDataFile = fopen(tempDataFileName,"w");
      for (i=0; i <= dataSize; i++) {
          x = xData[i];
          y = yData[i];            
          fprintf(tempDataFile,"%lf %lf\n",x,y);        
      }        
      fclose(tempDataFile);        
      printf("press enter to continue...");        
      getchar();        
      remove(tempDataFileName);        
      fprintf(gnuplotPipe,"exit \n");    
  } else {        
      printf("gnuplot not found...");    
  }
} 

This code should run as is. Of course, feel free to take the plot function and use it in your own codes.

Cite as:
Saad, T. "Calling Gnuplot from c Using Pipes... Again!". Weblog entry from Please Make A Note. https://pleasemakeanote.blogspot.com/2009/05/calling-gnuplot-from-c-using-pipes.html?m=0