Dummy

The set dummy command changes the default dummy variable names.

Syntax:

        set dummy <dummy-var>{,<dummy-var>}
        show dummy

By default, gnuplot assumes that the independent variable for the plot command is x, and the independent variables for the splot command are x and y. They are called the dummy variables because it is just a notation to indicate the independent variables. It may be more convenient to call a dummy variable by a more physically meaningful or conventional name. For example, when plotting time functions:

        set dummy t
        plot sin(t), cos(t)

Examples:

        set dummy u,v
        set dummy ,s

The second example sets the second variable to s.

The set parametric command also changes the dummy variables (to t for plot and u,v for splot).