[ubuntu-uk] Curve-fitting program or package (a gnuplot example)

[Robin Menneer]

On 3/2/07, Robin Menneer <robinmenneer at gmail.com> wrote:
> On 2/26/07, Robert McWilliam <rmcw at allmail.net> wrote:
> > On Mon, 26 Feb 2007 15:55:28 +0000
> > "Robin Menneer" <robinmenneer at gmail.com> wrote:
> > > On 2/25/07, Tony Arnold <tony.arnold at manchester.ac.uk> wrote:
> > > > Use Synaptic! Search for gnuplot and then install it. Presumably,
> > > > you've used Synaptic before to install stuff?
> > >
> > > This is the first time I've tried to use  Synaptic Search and have
> > > got as far as being asked for a package but failed to get the files
> > > listed by you. I've got the .tar file into desktop but failed to link
> > > it up with Synaptic. It's no good people raving about weaning
> > > ordinary folk out of windows if they are subsequently let loose in
> > > such unfriendly territory.
> > >
> >
> > A .tar sounds like the source for gnuplot which is not the easiest way
> > to install software in ubuntu.
> >
> > An overview of the package management system is available at:
> > https://help.ubuntu.com/6.10/ubuntu/desktopguide/C/add-applications.html
> >
> > The gnuplot packages are in universe (community supported packages)
> > rather than main, which is not enabled by default, the instructions for
> > enabling this are at:
> > https://help.ubuntu.com/6.10/ubuntu/desktopguide/C/extra-repositories.html#id2580924
> >
> > [snip]
> > >
> > > Having used DOS for many years, I am not afraid of the concept of
> > > using terminal, but just of the brute force that i may mistakedly
> > > misdirect in my ignorance.   The warning in Synaptic *You can render
> > > your system unusable* frightens the life out of me.  I'd rather
> > > abandon Ubuntu than foul up my machine.  Thanks, Robin
> > >
> >
> > That warning is about messing up your ubuntu install, it is very
> > unlikely that anything you do in software could cause actual do damage
> > to the hardware.
> >
> > ________________________________________________________
> > Robert McWilliam     rmcw at allmail.net    www.ormiret.com
> >
> > Klingon function calls do not have 'parameters' -- they have
> > 'arguments'
> >         -- and they ALWAYS WIN THEM.
> >
> Upon reflection, I'm having to give up the search for a curve-fitting
> program which is simple enough for me  to use.  This is a major
> disappointment with Ubuntu - I have downloaded Di and Inkscape using
> the Add/Rremove facility with ease and joy - just a pity neither would
> do what I need to be done.  It seems to me that Ubuntu is a bit of a
> con in that much of it is lovely and easy to use, a positive joy, then
> all of a sudden life gets very serioius and one has to be a bit of a
> programmer to get the things that one wants. I have spent a couple of
> days looking around the web, there are quite a lot of Linux packages
> which contain curve-fitting but contain much else and are too complex
> for me.
> Curvefitting is not an especially rare facility to want and I feel a
> bit let down by those others who have given me the impression (not
> always here in this Ubuntu list I must quickly add) that all will be
> sweetness and light. Open Office is another case in point where it
> promises to plot graphs but actually fails to do it properly.   I feel
> guilty having taken up other people's time to no avail.  Thank you
> everybody.
> > --
> > ubuntu-uk at lists.ubuntu.com
> > https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-uk
> > https://wiki.kubuntu.org/UKTeam/
> >
>
Postscript.  Found (eventually) at www.xru.org.index.asp a program
which I used on line (on a mac), is very simple, and apart from not
drawing the graph, did all I wanted, including giving me the points
for me to draw.  It should be part of the Ubuntu package.