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. It has been fixed in gnuplot 4.4.

  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 octave-headers`

  - Fedora

    `yum install octave-devel`