I have two types of data/plot and I want to group them for clarification. For example, lets say I have this four data plots
set key box
pl x, x**2, sin(x), cos(x)
And the legend box comes out to be something like
But what I want is something like this, (with two box for each group and a custom heading for each group)
How do I do this? Is this type of legend possible with gnuplot?
There is no straightforward option to create two keys, but there are definitely several workarounds that will need manual adjustment. One approach could be creating a two-column key:
set key maxrows 3 width 5
plot keyentry t "Polynomial", x t "x", x**2 t "x²", keyentry t "Trigonometry", sin(x), cos(x)
Another approach might be based on the multiple keys section in the manual.
I fear, that there is no bulit-in solution in Gnuplot for that. But you can try with multiplot:
set key box
set key width 3
set multiplot
set key at screen 0.45,0.95
set key title "Polynomial"
plot[-10:10][-20:100] x t 'x', x**2 t 'x^2'
set key at screen 0.65,0.95
set key title "Trigonometrical"
plot[-10:10][-20:100] sin(x) lc 3, cos(x) lc 4
unset multiplot
EDIT
As Eldrad wrote, you can fine tuning this solution by setting the margins and unsetting the tics and border of the second plot. Eg.:
set key box
set key width 3
set multiplot
set lmargin screen 0.05
set rmargin screen 0.95
set bmargin screen 0.05
set tmargin screen 0.95
set key at screen 0.45,0.95
set key title "Polynomial"
set tics
set border
plot[-10:10][-20:100] x t 'x', x**2 t 'x^2'
set key at screen 0.65,0.95
set key title "Trigonometrical"
unset tics
set border 0
plot[-10:10][-20:100] sin(x) lc 3, cos(x) lc 4
unset multiplot