## Format

The format of the tic-mark labels can be set with the set format command or with the set tics format or individual set {axis}tics format commands.

Syntax:

         set format {<axes>} {"<format-string>"} {numeric|timedate|geographic}
         show format

where 4#4axes5#5 is either x, y, xy, x2, y2, z, cb or nothing (which applies the format to all axes). The following two commands are equivalent:

         set format y "%.2f"
         set ytics format "%.2f"

The length of the string is restricted to 100 characters. The default format is `"`% h`"`, `"`$%h$`"` for LaTeX terminals. Other formats such as `"`%.2f`"` or `"`%3.0em`"` are often desirable. `"`set format`"` with no following string will restore the default.

If the empty string `""` is given, tics will have no labels, although the tic mark will still be plotted. To eliminate the tic marks, use unset xtics or set tics scale 0.

Newline (2#2n) and enhanced text markup is accepted in the format string. Use double-quotes rather than single-quotes in this case. See also syntax (p. ). Characters not preceded by `"`%`"` are printed verbatim. Thus you can include spaces and labels in your format string, such as `"`%g m`"`, which will put `"` m`"` after each number. If you want `"`%`"` itself, double it: `"`%g %%`"`.

See also set xtics (p. ) for more information about tic labels, and set decimalsign (p. ) for how to use non-default decimal separators in numbers printed this way. See also http://www.gnuplot.info/demo/electron.html`electron demo (electron.dem).`

Subsections

- Gprintf
- Format specifiers
- Time/date specifiers
  - Examples