Hi All,

Seems I have an xargs stdin problem that I don't understand.

I have a script (call it myscript.sh) that takes the names of one or more file(s) specified on the command line and creates a single gnuplot command file containing multiple records, one for each specified file. Each of those records is terminated by a gnuplot "pause -1" command that suspends execution until the user presses the enter key. Sort of like this:

gnuplot commands for first .dat file
pause -1


gnuplot commands for second .dat file
pause -1

etc,etc,etc

If I run 'myscript.sh file1.dat file2.dat', it works as expected and gnuplot waits for me to press the enter key before moving onto the next plot.

But, if I do something like 'ls file*.dat | xargs myscript.sh' gnuplot runs through all of the plots without waiting for me to press enter.

So, gnuplot is getting something from stdin effectively making my pause commands useless.

Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

Maybe you would like to use
this should solve the problem. My assumption is that the behaviour comes through the way xargs is calling your script or due to the piping.

Best regards Norbert

Thanks Norbert,

I am aware of the technique you suggested...unfortunately it is not optimal for me in this case. By placing multiple records in a single gnuplot command file, one window opens (I am running this under X) and I have to place it with a mouse click. Then, as I press enter, new plots come up in the same window until I get through all of them.

Using your suggestion, a new window opens for each instance...each would have to be placed with the mouse before plot generation. It would work, but in some cases I have a large volume of plots to look through and the extra mousing would slow things down too much.

Thanks for taking the time to answer