from numpy import reshape
from pylab import *

NX=80
NY=80

# read gnuplot x-y-z datafile, skip empty lines
d=[i.strip().split() for i in
	open("sampledata.txt").readlines()
	if len(i.strip()) > 0]
# tranpose the list of lists
d=zip(*d)
# convert strings to floats
X=[float(i) for i in d[0]]
Y=[float(i) for i in d[1]]
Z=[float(i) for i in d[2]]
# reshape them to be 2D arrays
X=reshape(X,(NX,NY))
Y=reshape(Y,(NX,NY))
Z=reshape(Z,(NX,NY))
# finally plot it
cset=contour(X,Y,Z,colors='black')
clabel(cset,fmt="%1.1f",fontsize=9)
savefig('pylab.eps')