# How to plot line in time series format?

**URL:** <https://forum.generic-mapping-tools.org/t/how-to-plot-line-in-time-series-format/2924>\
**Category:** Q&A\
**Created:** [May 14, 2022, 3:23pm UTC](https://forum.generic-mapping-tools.org/t/how-to-plot-line-in-time-series-format/2924 "2022-05-14T15:23:51Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![sidiq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5e9695/32.png) [@sidiq](https://forum.generic-mapping-tools.org/u/sidiq)\
**Post date:** [May 14, 2022, 3:23pm UTC](https://forum.generic-mapping-tools.org/t/how-to-plot-line-in-time-series-format/2924/1 "2022-05-14T15:23:51Z")

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Hi, I have tide gauge data. I want to plot it in time series format (DD:HH:MM). I have already tried it but got an error. Can anyone help me?  
Here is my code and my data

gmt begin tidegauge png  
gmt basemap -JX7.0c/3.0c -R17:19:46/18:03:00/-0.4/0.4 -Ba  
psxy time.dat -W1,green --FORMAT\_DATE\_IN=dd:hh:mm  
gmt end show[time.dat](https://forum.generic-mapping-tools.org/uploads/short-url/tJO2SdYhzRLvXRN6tcmkUJATSXg.dat) (522.5 KB)

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**Author:** ![Esteban82](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex047/user_avatar/forum.generic-mapping-tools.org/esteban82/32/54_2.png) [@Esteban82](https://forum.generic-mapping-tools.org/u/Esteban82)\
**Post date:** [May 14, 2022, 5:09pm UTC](https://forum.generic-mapping-tools.org/t/how-to-plot-line-in-time-series-format/2924/2 "2022-05-14T17:09:23Z")

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Hi!! What error did you get?

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**Author:** ![mkononets](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex047/user_avatar/forum.generic-mapping-tools.org/mkononets/32/4029_2.png) [@mkononets](https://forum.generic-mapping-tools.org/u/mkononets)\
**Post date:** [May 14, 2022, 5:29pm UTC](https://forum.generic-mapping-tools.org/t/how-to-plot-line-in-time-series-format/2924/3 "2022-05-14T17:29:57Z")

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> [@sidiq](#):
>
> psxy time.dat -W1,green --FORMAT\_DATE\_IN=dd:hh:mm

`gmt` is missing here. should be  
`gmt psxy time.dat -W1,green --FORMAT_DATE_IN=dd:hh:mm`

UPD time.dat contains multiple values per each `dd:hh:mm value`. You should add seconds or use only one value per each minute. One measurement per minute should be good enough resolution for tide gauge data.  
17:19:46 0.0308012  
17:19:46 0.0308012  
17:19:46 0.0308012  
17:19:46 0.0308012  
17:19:46 0.0308012  
17:19:46 0.0408018  
17:19:46 0.0408018  
17:19:46 0.0408018  
17:19:46 0.0408018  
17:19:46 0.0408018  
17:19:46 0.0408018  
17:19:46 0.0408018  
17:19:46 0.0408018  
17:19:46 0.0408018  
17:19:46 0.0408018  
17:19:46 0.0408018  
17:19:46 0.0408018  
17:19:46 0.0408018  
17:19:46 0.0408018  
17:19:46 0.0408018  
17:19:46 0.0408018  
17:19:46 0.0408018  
17:19:46 0.0408018

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**Author:** ![pwessel](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex047/user_avatar/forum.generic-mapping-tools.org/pwessel/32/30_2.png) [@pwessel](https://forum.generic-mapping-tools.org/u/pwessel)\
**Post date:** [May 16, 2022, 6:55am UTC](https://forum.generic-mapping-tools.org/t/how-to-plot-line-in-time-series-format/2924/4 "2022-05-16T06:55:45Z")

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There is no thing such as dd:hh:mm - that is a made-up format that mixes days and clocks. You would have to turn that into something sensible, see ISO8601 for conventions.