Each .PLOT record produces a plot file of requested outputs using frequency, time, or values of a .VARY element as the independent variable. The format for PLOT records is as follows:
.PLOT T1 T2 T3 T4 ... F1 F2 ...
where
T1 : Analysis type code. Plots of the .AC analysis results are requested with T1 = 'AC'. Plots of the TRANsient analysis results are requested with T1 = 'TR'.
T1 = 'CLR' will clear any previous plot requests. This can be useful in combination with the ALTGO feature so that new or revised plots can be requested. If T1 = 'CLR' the remaining fields on the .PLOT record, if any, are ignored.
T2 : Plot format code. Currently supported forms are:
'80' - 80 column ASCII printer plot.
'132' - 132 column ASCII printer plot.
'PNG' - Generates a Portible Network Graphics image of the requested plot. The image file will have the extension '.png'.
'X11' - Display the plot in a new X window. An X server must be running to support this option.
'PS' - Create a PostScript file of the plot. The postscript file will have the extension '.ps'.
'PDF' - Create a Portable Document Format file of the plot. The file will have the extension '.pdf'.
T3 : This field is used for two different purposes. If the plot is to have either frequency or time as the independent variable then T3 identifies the first dependent variable (see below). If the plot is to use the values of a variable element (specified on a .VARY record) as the independent variable, then T3 is used to identify the variable element by name and the variable name will be used to label the independent axis of the plot. If T3 is the name of a .VARY element then the values of the .VARY element will be used as the values of the independent variable.
(T3), T4, T5, ... : If T3 names a .VARY element, the plot will use the values of the named element as the independent variable and T4, T5, ... are used to name the requested dependent (output) variables. If T3 does not name a .VARY element, then T3, T4, T5, ... are used to name the requested dependent (output) variables. Up to 5 dependent variables may be requested on a single .PLOT record. Variable names must exist in the current circuit description and are limited to the names of VM and AM elements in the circuit description, the names defined on .CALC records (see .CALC record description), or the pre-defined names listed below.
Each output variable name may optionally be FOLLOWED by a '<' or a '>' to indicate the first or second part of a two part output variable respectively. This convention allows plotting, for example, the magnitude (first part, '<') or phase (second part, '>') from an output request in the .AC analysis mode. Note that the options '<' and '>' only make sense for 'AC' plot requests where the variables have two parts and are ignored if encountered on 'TR' plot requests. If a '<' or '>' is not included, the first part of the requested output variable is assumed.