pdf-generationgnuplotcairopangocairo

pdfcairo 'unknown or ambiguous terminal type' in gnuplot


After upgrading gnuplot from 4.6 to 5.0.1, I encounter the following error:

set terminal pdfcairo size 3.0in,2.25in font ',8'
             ^
"plot.plt", line 114: unknown or ambiguous terminal type; type just 'set terminal' for a list

How can I fix it?

PS: pdfcairo works fine in the previous version (4.6).

I install the gnuplot by the following command:

#build it:
./configure --with-cairo 
make

#install it:
sudo make install

As described in GNUPLOT Version 5.0.1 Release Notes, the pdfcairo is included by default.

Cairo/pango/wxWidgets This set of terminals includes

pngcairo, pdfcairo, epscairo, and cairolatex for output to a file

wxt for interactive display All of these will be built by default if the configuration script finds the required libcairo, libpango, libcairo, libwxgtk, and related support libraries To disable these terminals:

./configure --without-cairo ./configure --with-cairo --disable-wxt


Solution

  • I fix it with the kind reminder of @Christoph.

    To tackle this issue, install the dependency libraries for cairo-based terminals by the follwoing command:

    sudo apt-get install libcairo2-dev
    sudo apt-get install libpango1.0-dev
    

    And then compile gnuplot again:

    #build it:
    cd gnuplot-5.0.1 ; ./configure ; make
    
    #install it:
    sudo make install
    

    Now, everything is fine. Enjoy it:-)

    gnuplot> set term
    
    Available terminal types:
           cairolatex  LaTeX picture environment using graphicx package and Cairo backend
               canvas  HTML Canvas object
                  cgm  Computer Graphics Metafile
              context  ConTeXt with MetaFun (for PDF documents)
                corel  EPS format for CorelDRAW
                 dumb  ascii art for anything that prints text
                  dxf  dxf-file for AutoCad (default size 120x80)
                eepic  EEPIC -- extended LaTeX picture environment
                  emf  Enhanced Metafile format
                emtex  LaTeX picture environment with emTeX specials
             epscairo  eps terminal based on cairo
             epslatex  LaTeX picture environment using graphicx package
                  fig  FIG graphics language for XFIG graphics editor
                 hpgl  HP7475 and relatives [number of pens] [eject]
                latex  LaTeX picture environment
                   mf  Metafont plotting standard
                   mp  MetaPost plotting standard
                 pcl5  HP Designjet 750C, HP Laserjet III/IV, etc. (many options)
             pdfcairo  pdf terminal based on cairo
             pngcairo  png terminal based on cairo
           postscript  PostScript graphics, including EPSF embedded files (*.eps)
    Press return for more: