This routine obtains a colour index. A string is obtained from the parameter system. The interpretation of this string provides a number of ways to specify the colour index requested. The options are as follows.

• ’ MAX’ – The maximum (non-reserved) colour index, i.e. the highest colour index used for the display of an image.

• ’ MIN’ – The minimum non-reserved colour index, i.e. the lowest colour index used for the display of an image.

• An integer – The actual colour index. It is constrained between 0 and the highest colour index.

• A named colour – Uses the named colour from the palette, and if it is not present, the nearest colour from the palette is selected.

• An HTML code – Has the form " #aabbcc" (or " @aabbcc" - for use in contexts where " #" is a comment character, e.g. KAPPA style files) where a, b and c are hexadecimal digits, and " aa" , " bb" and " cc" give red, blue, and green intensities normalised to a maximum of " ff" (256).

CALL KPG1_PACOL( PNCOL, LP, UP, COLIND, STATUS )

PNCOL = CHARACTER $\ast$ ( $\ast$ ) (Given)

LP = INTEGER (Given)

UP = INTEGER (Given)

COLIND = INTEGER (Returned)

STATUS = INTEGER (Given and Returned)

• A PGPLOT image-display workstation must be open and active.