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Chapter 1. Introduction

Table of Contents

Kpl Revision History

Kpl is a program for two- and three-dimensional graphical presentation of data sets and functions. Moreover multidimensional nonlinear parameter fits of functions to data sets can be performed using the Levenberg-Marquardt algorithm. Also general linear least square parameter fits are possible. A  D-Bus interface can be used to control Kpl by other applications and scripts.

All settings necessary for a complete description of the presentation can be saved in plot files. These files as well as data files may be chosen by command line parameters, using the File menu, or by drag and drop.

Automatic scaling and normalization allow the easy graphical presentation of data. Also parameter fits can be performed automatically.

The settings of a presentation may be changed using dialogs for editing the plot items. Additional data sets and functions can be displayed in the same as well as in different data windows.

Kpl Revision History

  • Version 5.0 (January 8, 2017)

    • Version for KDE Frameworks 5

    • Different line types selectable for arrow, arc, rectangle, and ellipse items

    • Export as PDF, PNG, PPM, BMP, JPEG, TIFF, or SVG image file

    • Improved calculation of bounding box

  • Version 4.1 (June 21, 2015)

    • Library split-off for use of Kpl graphics in other applications

    • Multiple function items can be fitted simultaneously to the same array item

    • New D-Bus function addFunFitItem

    • D-Bus function addSplineFitItems renamed to addSplineFitItem

    • Improved logarithmic autoscaling

    • Improved selection of function library files

    • Function libraries are reloaded when plot files are reloaded

    • Module definition files no longer necessary for selection of functions

    • Multithreading used optionally for evaluation of 2D and 3D functions

    • Improved Autoplot and Autofit setting dialogs

    • Pattern fill style can be preset for Autoplot and Autofit settings

    • Czech translation

  • Version 4.0 (June 14, 2011)

    • Version for KDE 4

    • K menu entry moved to category Education/Mathematics

    • Status bar shows informations about item under mouse pointer

    • Coordinates in arrow dialog now can be entered as those of head, center or end

    • Double headed checkbox in arrow dialog

    • Image items can be rotated

    • Parameter files may contain empty lines and comment lines (starting with #)

    • Parameter files with more than one column are loaded correctly

    • Item list can now be docked at the main window

    • Cut, copy and paste of items, also between different instances of Kpl

    • Export file type can be selected to be Encapsulated PostScript or PostScript

    • PostScript preview uses the program currently associated to PostScript files

    • D-Bus interface

  • Version 3.3 (December 28, 2005)

    • Multiple spline items can be fitted simultaneously to the same array item

    • x and y values of array, function, and spline items can be shifted

    • Square checkbox in rectangle dialog, circle checkbox in ellipse dialog, circular arc checkbox in arc dialog

    • Colored symbol pixmaps are displayed in item list

    • Text of legend and text items is displayed in item list

    • Buttons of items dialog are disabled when action cannot be applied

    • Relative symbol size can be preset in Autoplot settings

    • Notifications about completed plots and parameter fits can be set

    • Needs KDE 3.x

  • Version 3.2 (February 7, 2004)

    • Pattern filled areas given by arrays, functions, splines, rectangles and ellipses

    • New item for embedding of EPS image files

    • New scale bar item

    • New DCOP functions for image and scale bar items

    • PostScript preview

    • Option to print PostScript output files

    • Frame items can be kept closed in tree view

    • Error model function argument for parameter fits or smoothing spline fits can be chosen to be x or y column

    • Decimal symbol of data files can be chosen to be point or comma (needs KDE 3.1)

    • Context menu for visible items

    • NaN (not a number) and inf (infinity) in data files are ignored in plots

    • K menu entry moved to category Office

    • Spanish translation

  • Version 3.1 (April 2, 2003)

    • Root finding for functions and cubic splines

    • Items can be moved by drag and drop within the item list

    • New or copied items can be inserted before the current item

    • Middle mouse button can be used to rescale a frame

    • Format and precision settings now affect function range values

  • Version 3.0 (September 30, 2002)

    • Version for KDE 3

    • New items for 3D surface plots of arrays and functions

    • New item for smoothing spline interpolation

    • New decoration item: arc

    • Rectangle and ellipse items can be rotated

    • New DCOP functions for 3D, spline, and arc items

    • Autoscaling reflects only the ranges of active items

    • Symbol size can be set individually for each array, function, or legend item

    • Combobox for several standard page formats

    • x-axis and y-axis can be placed on both sides

    • First numbers on x- and y-axis dont have to be at left or bottom end, respectively

    • Parameter fits for huge and tiny data values improved

  • Version 2.3.0 (October 12, 2001)

    • Needs KDE 2.2

    • Residuals of parameter fits can be displayed

    • Arrays optionally can be saved within plot files

    • Separator for exported files can be set

    • Parameters of function items can be applied directly

    • New DCOP function: activateItem()

    • Improved selection and activation in dialog Items

    • Dialogs improved for KDE standard compliance

    • Return type of boolean DCOP functions changed to int to avoid problems

  • Version 2.2 (May 22, 2001)

    • Data and plot files optionally can be added to the current plot

    • New decoration items: text, line, arrow, rectangle, ellipse

    • Position of items can be changed by dragging with the mouse

    • Reload button in Array dialog

    • Empty lines in data files are ignored

    • x-axis and y-axis can optionally be placed on top side or on right side, respectively

    • Japanese translation

  • Version 2.1.1 (January 27, 2001)

    • Bug fixes

  • Version 2.1 (January 22, 2001)

    • DCOP interface

    • Logarithmic scales

    • Only modified files are reloaded periodically

    • Position of toolbar saved in configuration file

    • Improved New Item dialog

    • New array or function items inherit the normalization factors of preceeding items

  • Version 2.0 (November 21, 2000)

    • Needs KDE 2.0, optimized for KDE 2

    • Toolbar configuration item in Settings menu

    • Save absolute paths item in Settings menu

    • Improved double value input validation

    • Spinboxes in array dialog are updated

    • Unicode text in .plo files (recode your old .plo files to UTF8 when they contain non-ASCII characters)

    • Size of dialog windows can be changed

    • Polish translation

  • Version 1.2 (August 10, 2000)

    • Undo/Redo Actions

    • Package for KDE 2 beta available

  • Version 1.1 (May 5, 2000)

    • Multidimensional parameter fits

    • Improved parameter fit dialog

    • Increased printing resolution

    • Both portrait and landscape PostScript output

    • More examples

  • Version 1.0 (February 21, 2000)

    • Buttons to open symbol selection dialog show actual symbol

    • Improved internationalization

    • Extended help

    • More examples

  • Version 0.4 (January 14, 2000)

    • General linear least square parameter fit

    • Long parameter fit runs can be terminated by user

    • Output format for parameter files and dialogs can be changed

    • Output format for status bar is set according to screen resolution

    • Item dialog is modeless now

    • Multiple input files at commandline and at Drag and Drop

    • Both KDE and Qt Drag and Drop protocols supported

    • Session management

    • Function value buffers for faster redrawing

    • More example functions

  • Version 0.3 (September 28, 1999)

    • Plot items can be deactivated to hide them (temporarily)

    • Sequence of plot items can be changed easily

    • Improved reading of plot files by use of KSimpleConfig

    • New plot files save the (de)activation state of items

    • Improved recognition of .plo files by file name

    • No multiselection necessary for parameter fitting when only one function and one array item are present

  • Version 0.2 (July 29, 1999)

    • Needs KDE 1.1

    • Powered by KDevelop

    • Nonlinear parameter fit

    • Positions of menu bar and toolbar saved in configuration file

    • Popup menus with icons

    • Statusbar includes short help

    • Close item in File menu

    • Open Recent item in File menu

    • (De)activation of unsaved changes warning

    • Menu and toolbar items for magnification increasing/decreasing

    • Configure Key Bindings item in Options menu

    • Context menu

    • Improved painting by use of pixmap buffer

    • Function parameters may be saved separately in ASCII files

    • Function values may be exported in ASCII files

    • Optional display of function source in parameter dialogs

    • Optional calculation of bounding box for PostScript files (using Ghostscript)

    • MimeType for kpl plot files

  • Version 0.1 (April 13, 1999, first release)

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