Common problems - Frequently asked questions about Octave (with answers)
Description: Frequently asked questions about Octave (with answers)

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## 9 Common problems

This list is probably far too short. Feel free to suggest additional questions (preferably with answers!)

- Octave takes a long time to find symbols.

  Octave uses the `genpath` function to recursively add directories to the list of directories searched for function files. Check the list of directories with the `path` command. If the path list is very long check your use of the `genpath` function.

- When plotting Octave occasionally gives me errors like ‘`gnuplot> 9 0.735604 line 26317: invalid command`’.

  There is a known bug in gnuplot 4.2 that can cause an off by one error while piping data to gnuplot. The relevant gnuplot bug report can be found at http://sourceforge.net/tracker/index.php?func=detail&aid=1716556&group_id=2055&atid=102055

  If you have obtained your copy of Octave from a distribution please file a bug report requesting that the fix reported in the above bug report be included.

- I cannot install a package. Octave complains about a missing `mkoctfile`.

  Most distributions split Octave into several packages. The script `mkoctfile` is then part of a separate package:

  - Debian/Ubuntu

    `aptitude install octave3.0-headers`

  - Fedora

    `yum install octave-devel`