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. The set dummy command changes these default dummy variable names. For example, it may be more convenient to call the dummy variable t when plotting time functions:

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

Syntax:

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

Examples:

        set dummy u,v
        set dummy ,s

to set both dummy variables to u and v or set only the second variable to s.

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