---
name: "plstart"
section: "3plplot"
platform: "linux"
package: "plplot-doc"
version: "5.15.0+dfsg2-15"
release: "Debian 13 (Trixie)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/plstart"
---

# plstart(3plplot)

Initialization

## NAME

**plstart** - Initialization

## SYNOPSIS

**plstart**(*devname*, *nx*, *ny*)

## DESCRIPTION

Alternative to [**plstar**(3plplot)](/plstar/3plplot.md) for initializing the plotting package.  The device name keyword for the desired output device must be supplied as an argument.  These keywords are the same as those printed out by [**plstar**(3plplot)](/plstar/3plplot.md).  If the requested device is not available, or if the input string is empty or begins with \`\`?'', the prompted start up of [**plstar**(3plplot)](/plstar/3plplot.md) is used.  This routine also divides the output device page into *nx* by *ny* subpages, each of which may be used independently.  The subroutine [**pladv**(3plplot)](/pladv/3plplot.md) is used to advance from one subpage to the next.

Redacted form: General: **plstart(devname, nx, ny)**

This function is not used in any examples.

## ARGUMENTS

- *devname* (**PLCHAR\_VECTOR**(3plplot), input)

  An ascii character string containing the device name keyword of the required output device.  If *devname* is NULL or if the first character of the string is a \`\`?'', the normal (prompted) start up is used.

- *nx* (**PLINT**(3plplot), input)

  Number of subpages to divide output page in the x direction.

- *ny* (**PLINT**(3plplot), input)

  Number of subpages to divide output page in the y direction.

## AUTHORS

Many developers (who are credited at http://plplot.org/credits.php) have contributed to PLplot over its long history.

## SEE ALSO

PLplot documentation at http://plplot.org/documentation.php.