begin

Initiate a new GMT session using modern mode

Synopsis

gmt begin [prefix] [formats] [ -V[level] ] [ –PAR=value ]

Note: No space is allowed between the option flag and the associated arguments.

Description

The begin tells GMT to begin a new modern session. If your script only makes a single plot then this is the most straightforward way to specify the name and format(s) of your plots. However, if multiple illustrations will be made then you will need to use figure as well.

Optional Arguments

prefix
Name-stem used to construct the single final figure name. Extensions are appended automatically from your formats selection [gmtsession].
formats
Give one or more comma-separated graphics extensions from the allowable graphics formats [pdf].
-V[level] (more ...)
Select verbosity level [c].
-^ or just -
Print a short message about the syntax of the command, then exits (NOTE: on Windows just use -).
-+ or just +
Print an extensive usage (help) message, including the explanation of any module-specific option (but not the GMT common options), then exits.
-? or no arguments
Print a complete usage (help) message, including the explanation of all options, then exits.
–PAR=value
Temporarily override a GMT default setting; repeatable. See gmt.conf for parameters.
Format Explanation
bmp Microsoft Bit Map
eps Encapsulated PostScript
jpg Joint Photographic Experts Group Format
pdf Portable Document Format [Default]
png Portable Network Graphics (opaque)
PNG Portable Network Graphics (transparent)
ppm Portable Pixel Map
ps Plain PostScript
tif Tagged Image Format File

Examples

To initiate a new modern session that should produce a single map called Figure_2 represented by both a PDF and a PNG raster image, we would run

gmt begin Figure_2 pdf,png

If the modern session is only used for computations and no illustration is made then we do not need to give any further arguments

gmt begin

Should we give such a command and still produce a plot then it will automatically be called gmtsession.pdf.

See Also

clear, docs, end, figure, subplot, gmt