GrADS is started by entering the command: grads
Before initialising the graphics output environment, GrADS will prompt for landscape or portrait mode. Landscape is 11 x 8.5 inches (usually what you want). Portrait is 8.5 x 11 inches, primarily used for producing vertically oriented hardcopy output. The actual size of the window will not, of course, be 11 x 8.5 inches (or 8.5 x 11 inches), but instead will be whatever size you chose by using your workstation's window manager. But GrADS will treat the window as if it were one of the above sizes, so it is best to size the window with approximately the proper aspect ratio.
After answering this prompt, a graphics output window will be opened. You may move or resize this window at any time.
You will enter GrADS commands from the text window where you started GrADS from. Graphics output will appear in the graphics window in response to the commands you enter. You will thus need to make the text window the "active" window; the window that receives keyboard input.
You may specify the following options as arguments to the 'grads' command when GrADS is started:
-b Run grads in batch mode. No graphics output window is opened.
-l Run grads in landscape mode. The Portrait vs. Landscape question is not asked.
-p Run grads in portrait mode.
-c Execute the supplied command as the 1st GrADS command after GrADS is started. An example:
grads -c "run profile.gs"
These options may be used in combinations. For example:
grads -blc "run batch.gs"
Would run grads in batch mode, using landscape orientation (thus no questions are asked at startup); and execute the command:
"batch.gs" upon startup.