MATLAB: Changing subplot axis label using subplot handle

Question

I have a figure with 2 subplots, and I'd like to set the axis labels. I have assigned the handles P1 and P2 to the two subplots, e.g.

P1 = subplot(2,1,1);
P2 = subplot(2,1,2);

After plotting my data, I can do things like:

set(P1, 'YLim', [0 2])

but when I try changing the xlabel,

set(P1, 'Xlabel', 'This is the X label')

I get an error:

??? Error using ==> set Value must be a handle

I've tried changing case 'xlabel' and a few other things, but the documentation wasn't any help. Any ideas?

Answer 1

That's because the value for 'XLabel' is actually a handle to another object. To see its properties, do this:

get( get(P1,'XLabel') );

Now, there's a property in there called 'String'. You should do this:

set( get(P1,'XLabel'), 'String', 'This is the X label' );