Grace (plotting tool)

Grace stands for GR aphing, A dvanced C omputation and E xploration of data." It is a WYSIWYG 2D plotting tool for the X Window System and Motif. Grace runs on practically any version of Unix-like operating system. It has also been successfully ported to VMS, OS/2, and Windows 9*/NT/2000/XP (on Cygwin). (From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)

Steps for Rhel 5 based Open Client Build:

1. Download the following packages (i.e. to your Desktop):
   http://w3.tap.ibm.com/w3ki03/download/attachments/200000169169/xmgrace-5.1.19-36.i586.rpm
   http://w3.tap.ibm.com/w3ki03/download/attachments/200000169169/grace-libs.tar.gz
   
   
2. Open a terminal session (right click on desktop or locate terminal from the menu)
3. Use the CD command to change directory to the downloaded files

   cd $HOME/Desktop

4. Manually install the lib packages with:

   sudo tar -zxvf grace-libs.tar.gz -C /usr/lib

   
   

5. Then install the Grace package with:

   rpm -ivh xmgrace-5.1.19-36.i586.rpm --nodeps

6. grace is now installed, type the command grace:

   [user@system Desktop]$ grace
   grace:1>

7. To start the Graphical tool, issue the command xmgrace
   (users may want to create a launcher on their desktops)

   [user@system Desktop]$ xmgrace

"VERY Quick" Introduction:

(use the user manual for details on how to use Grace.)

1. Start the GUI version: xmgrace (return).
2. Select/check the output medium and canvas size in File/Device Setup.
3. If needed, set the graph size ('Viewport' in Plot/Graph Appearance).
4. Load your data with Data/Import/ASCII. 'Load as': 'Single set' for two-column ASCII data, 'Block data' for multi-column ASCII data.
5. Adjust the scales, axis labels and tick marks in Plot/Axis properties. Acknowledge all changes with 'Apply'.
6. Adjust lines, symbols, legends in Plot/Set appearance.
7. Adjust titles, plot frame and legend display in Plot/Graph Appearance.
8. Data can be manipulated in Data/Transformations. To shift a data set by 20 to the left, e.g., in 'Evaluate Expression' select the same set on the left and the right, and say Formula: y=y-20. As you'll probably notice, Grace can do MUCH more than that. Explore at your leisure.
9. When you like your plot, select File/Print. That's it!
   (info used from the Grace users guide)