Announcing
GUIPlot Version 3.4

Improvements from 3.2 to 3.4 (version 3.3 was only released in Beta):

• Download Files Directly Using HTTP or FTP Protocols
  Specify a URL and download data directly for graphical display. Data can be provided by server-side scripts or static files; any data that can be transferred using the standard http:// or ftp:// protocols.

• Plot Updates
  Plots can be updated either manually or automatically to keep up with changing data files. Combined with the file download capability mentioned above, this is ideal for monitoring log files on servers, production systems, etc.

• New Data Parsing Function
  A new function for parsing data was added to make dealing with inconsistent files easier. In addition to the C function (one field, or column of data), the V (value) function now serves the same purpose, but no error will be generated if the column (or field) does not exist. Instead, the point that would be plotted will simply be ignored. Optionally, a value can be returned when the column does not exist. For example, "V10:-1" will return the value of -1 for each line (row) of data that has fewer than 10 fields.

• More Large File Support
  There is a file load dialog box that can be displayed just before a data file loads that lets you define selective criteria for loading only specific data into memory. Also, you can tell the program to load X out of every Y lines of data for loading samples of the file. This lets you statistically examine very large files without having to wait for them to load and be processed.

• Full Window Crosshairs
  During interactive operations, the cursor is switched to full window crosshairs to make it easier to select specific points of data.

• Load Data Files Without Browsing
  Browsing for a file to open in windows can be very slow and awkward when browsing folders with a large number of files over slow network connections. This problem has been solved with an optional way to load data files by simply typing their full path. A list of recently used files (and URL's) is kept to help simplify the process.

• File List
  A plot can be made up of any number of files, loaded together to produce a single plot. The File List function lists the names of the loaded files in the order they were loaded.

• Miscellaneous
  As usual, there are many refinements, improved help file, and inevitable bug fixes.

Improvements from 3.1 to 3.2 are mostly bug fixes:

• Large File Support
  The View window used to stop scrolling properly with file sizes greater than 32767 lines. The limit is now over 4 million lines. There is also a preliminary feature enabled on the options menu as Prompt Before File Load. Currently, the only operational function on this window lets you read 1 out of every X lines, thus letting you read a sample of a large file.

• Bug Fixes
  There were many bug fixes throughout the program. Since I have never received a bug report, I will assume no one saw them but me and I will not try to list them here. This version is extremely stable since, unfortunately, I have not had time to add any new functionality. I do, however, use it often, as do my colleagues. It is, therefore, continuously and extensively tested. Version 3.2 is the fruition of that extensive testing and resultant fixes.

Improvements from 3.0 to 3.1

• Smart Axis Scaling
  Scale marks are now placed in much more intuitive locations (10, 20, 30, etc instead of 11, 22, 33, etc)

• Copy text to clipboard in view window
  Right click on text in the view window to copy a word, a line or a selection to the clipboard for pasting into formulas, other programs, etc.

• Histogram improvements
  Bins can now be defined by specifying a reference value and the size of the bins. Also, histogram axis setup is now much smarter and more concise.

Improvements from 2.0 to 3.0

• Supports Dates
  Fully year 2000 compliant

• Optional Separate X Formula
  Each Y formula can now have its own X formula so completely independent X-Y plots can be rendered on the same graph. The one X formula is still available as the default and for boolean conditions that apply to all formulas

• Faster
  GUIPlot's internal data storage structure was completely rewritten to provide the fastest possible plotting of large data files (Windows 95 users will notice the most significant improvement)

• Ignore points
  Now you can toss out points temporarily by holding down the CTRL and SHIFT keys while drawing a box around the unwanted points. This differs from excluding points in that it only affects the selected points. Excluding removes any points associated with the entire record (line of data from the file), including points from other formulas that you might want to see. There is also improved error handling that allows you to simply ignore errors and plot all valid points

• String Boolean conditions on formulas
  Plot data only from lines that contain (or don't contain) a specified string

• New view window provides fast viewing of large files
  An entirely new view window that does not load the file but simply displays it instantly with many new search features

• Resize zoom area on zoom plots
  In addition to the nudge that was introduced in version 2.0, you can now use the <> keys to increase or decrease the range of the zoom area to fine tune your detail views

• Context menu in plot setup window
  The formula operations can be quickly accessed by right-clicking on a formula. This is just an example of the many improvements throughout the program that help increase efficiency of use (like the Tile command on the Window menu)

Return to GUIPlot home page