Sometimes it is useful to show the mean values on the graphs. The "show means" field can be used to achieve this. This field takes the following formatted input:
[-]n[:fmt]
where "n" is the number of mean values to display (starting from smallest forward message size) and "fmt" is the gnuplot format to use to display the values. If "n" is negative, than abs(n) smallest and largest message size means will be displayed. This is useful at times, for example, when by using "-1" for "n" the means for 4 byte message and 64KB message are shown in the graph. This satisfies the times when not all the means need to be shown, but means for small and large messages need to be seen. "fmt" is optional. Format values that can be used are:
The acceptable formats are:
Format Explanation
%f floating point notation
%e or %E exponential notation; an "e" or "E" before the power
%g or %G the shorter of %e (or %E) and %f
%x or %X hex # not meaningful for usage here
%o or %O octal # not meaningful for usage here
%t mantissa to base 10
%l mantissa to base of current logscale
%s mantissa to base of current logscale; scientific power
%T power to base 10
%L power to base of current logscale
%S scientific power
%c character replacement for scientific power
%P multiple of pi # not meaningful for usage here.
Default values of "fmt" is "%.1t" which shows the matissa to base 10 with one decimal point. Most other sensible values to use are "%.2t" or at most "%.3t" as too many digits cause the labels to run into each other.
"n" is a numeric value that controls how many mean values will be shown. If you enter "1" than just the mean for the first sample, typically 4 byte forward message size, will be displayed. If you enter 15 than all 15 mean values will be displayed. Some times it is useful to use 1:%.3t as format.
Typical values used for "n" are either 1 or 15. Mean values are displayed on the graph slightly above each curve.
