# Call to colorbar hangs script **URL:** \ **Category:** Q&A\ **Tags:** gmt\ **Created:** [August 24, 2021, 11:28pm UTC](https://forum.generic-mapping-tools.org/t/call-to-colorbar-hangs-script/2024 "2021-08-24T23:28:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![parkersprinkle](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex047/user_avatar/forum.generic-mapping-tools.org/parkersprinkle/32/1080_2.png) [@parkersprinkle](https://forum.generic-mapping-tools.org/u/parkersprinkle)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2021, 11:28pm UTC](https://forum.generic-mapping-tools.org/t/call-to-colorbar-hangs-script/2024/1 "2021-08-24T23:28:04Z")
I have a working script that freezes when I call colorbar. The script run perfectly when I comment out the colobar line. I’m running 6.1.1 on MacOSX 10.14.6 sample from script: `gmt begin bcdmap1` `gmt set MAP_ANNOT_OBLIQUE 34 FORMAT_GEO_MAP ddd.mmF PS_MEDIA=A2` `gmt grdimage @earth_relief_01s -R-20/20/-20/20+uk -JM-106.9563713/34.05913412/30c -Cregion.cpt` `gmt colorbar -Dx8c/1c+w12c/0.5c+jTC+h` `...` `gmt end show` ---
**Author:** ![maxrjones](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex047/user_avatar/forum.generic-mapping-tools.org/maxrjones/32/2698_2.png) [@maxrjones](https://forum.generic-mapping-tools.org/u/maxrjones)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2021, 11:46pm UTC](https://forum.generic-mapping-tools.org/t/call-to-colorbar-hangs-script/2024/2 "2021-08-24T23:46:03Z")
There is a space between `-` and `Cregion.cpt` in your call to `grdimage`. Since -C is not set in grdimage, `colorbar` reads from standard input. ---
**Author:** ![parkersprinkle](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex047/user_avatar/forum.generic-mapping-tools.org/parkersprinkle/32/1080_2.png) [@parkersprinkle](https://forum.generic-mapping-tools.org/u/parkersprinkle)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2021, 5:10pm UTC](https://forum.generic-mapping-tools.org/t/call-to-colorbar-hangs-script/2024/3 "2021-08-25T17:10:42Z")
@maxrjones Looks like that space was a typo from pasting the code. It’s not in my actual script and the issue remains. ---
**Author:** ![maxrjones](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex047/user_avatar/forum.generic-mapping-tools.org/maxrjones/32/2698_2.png) [@maxrjones](https://forum.generic-mapping-tools.org/u/maxrjones)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2021, 5:27pm UTC](https://forum.generic-mapping-tools.org/t/call-to-colorbar-hangs-script/2024/4 "2021-08-25T17:27:17Z")
A similar problem could occur if GMT cannot find `region.cpt`. Is this file in your working directory? ---
**Author:** ![parkersprinkle](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex047/user_avatar/forum.generic-mapping-tools.org/parkersprinkle/32/1080_2.png) [@parkersprinkle](https://forum.generic-mapping-tools.org/u/parkersprinkle)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2021, 7:21pm UTC](https://forum.generic-mapping-tools.org/t/call-to-colorbar-hangs-script/2024/5 "2021-08-25T19:21:16Z")
@maxrjones yes it is the working directory ---
**Author:** ![maxrjones](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex047/user_avatar/forum.generic-mapping-tools.org/maxrjones/32/2698_2.png) [@maxrjones](https://forum.generic-mapping-tools.org/u/maxrjones)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2021, 7:42pm UTC](https://forum.generic-mapping-tools.org/t/call-to-colorbar-hangs-script/2024/6 "2021-08-25T19:42:28Z")
Does the script work if you replace the colorbar command with the line below? `gmt colorbar -Dx8c/1c+w12c/0.5c+jTC+h -Cregion.cpt` ---
**Author:** ![parkersprinkle](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex047/user_avatar/forum.generic-mapping-tools.org/parkersprinkle/32/1080_2.png) [@parkersprinkle](https://forum.generic-mapping-tools.org/u/parkersprinkle)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2021, 8:01pm UTC](https://forum.generic-mapping-tools.org/t/call-to-colorbar-hangs-script/2024/7 "2021-08-25T20:01:00Z")
@maxrjones So…step in the right direction. No hanging the script, but I’m getting black colorbars?? I was under the impression that if I had used -Cregion.cpt in the session gmt would recognize and continue to use that. Didn’t seem to be the case here. Additionally, why black instead of using the region.cpt colormap? ---
**Author:** ![maxrjones](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex047/user_avatar/forum.generic-mapping-tools.org/maxrjones/32/2698_2.png) [@maxrjones](https://forum.generic-mapping-tools.org/u/maxrjones)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2021, 8:06pm UTC](https://forum.generic-mapping-tools.org/t/call-to-colorbar-hangs-script/2024/8 "2021-08-25T20:06:30Z")
Yes, your interpretation of modern mode colormaps is correct. I will look into the problem there but this should provide an immediate solution. Can you share region.cpt? It is not possible to tell why the colorbar is black without more information. ---
**Author:** ![parkersprinkle](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex047/user_avatar/forum.generic-mapping-tools.org/parkersprinkle/32/1080_2.png) [@parkersprinkle](https://forum.generic-mapping-tools.org/u/parkersprinkle)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2021, 8:15pm UTC](https://forum.generic-mapping-tools.org/t/call-to-colorbar-hangs-script/2024/9 "2021-08-25T20:15:37Z")
@maxrjones Ah…the issue is that I had the region.cpt file at a ridiculously small interval `gmt makecpt -Cdem2 -D -V -T1524/3524/0.1 > region.cpt` The very fine increment was causing the colorbar to look black…I’ve changed the increment to something reasonable like 10 and the colorbar looks normal now! Thanks for your suggestions! ---
**Author:** ![maxrjones](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex047/user_avatar/forum.generic-mapping-tools.org/maxrjones/32/2698_2.png) [@maxrjones](https://forum.generic-mapping-tools.org/u/maxrjones)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2021, 8:18pm UTC](https://forum.generic-mapping-tools.org/t/call-to-colorbar-hangs-script/2024/10 "2021-08-25T20:18:34Z")
Glad it works now 🙂