QDP Files

The quickest and most convenient way to use PLT is with a QDP file. A QDP file is an ASCII text file that contains a rectangular array of data. Since QDP files are ASCII they are easy to create and highly portable to different computer systems. All QDP files must contain a two dimensional array of data. The row-column location of a number in the file determines the row-column index in the data array passed to PLT. It is possible, but not necessary, to include QDP and/or PLT commands at the top of the QDP file. These commands often serve to document the data. All the QDP program does is to read the file, and to pass the information to the PLT subroutine.

In order to try out the examples in this chapter and the next, you should first create a ``DEMO.QDP'' file that contains the following:

   1   1  16
   2   4   9
   3   9   4
   4  15   1          ! Yes 15 and NOT 16

This example illustrates that QDP files can contain comments. Comments begin with the comment character ! and continue to the end of the line. The above example contains the comment ``Yes 15 and NOT 16''. Comments are completely ignored. This documentation will often include a comment with the example commands. When trying out the command, you do not need to type the comment; however, if you do type it, then no harm will be done.

The QDP data lines are free format and the numbers can be separated by spaces, a comma, or tabs. Every row should contain the same number of columns; however, if some data are missing, you can enter the word NO instead of an actual number. QDP translates the NO into the PLT no-data flag; which will be ignored by PLT.