Hi, the ---input option to the gnuplot command takes a filename to read in some prefabricated gnuplot plot script. I wonder if it could be arranged to also use a string variable? The aim is to use 'outfile --buffer=...' and avoid temporary files altogether. In principle I guess there could be some ambiguity whether '--input=s' refers to a file with name 's' or to a string variable (especially on *nix systems where file name extensions are not so common). My suggestion would be to look for a defined variable first, despite the minor backwards incompatibility. thanks, sven