MATLAB: How to insert the MATLAB figure (.fig) files into multiple subplots

copyobjMATLAB

I have two MATLAB figure (.fig) files which I would like to insert into the subplots of a new figure.

Best Answer

In order to copy MATLAB figure (.fig) files into multiple subplots use the following commands:

h1 = openfig('test1.fig','reuse'); % open figure
ax1 = gca; % get handle to axes of figure
h2 = openfig('test2.fig','reuse');
ax2 = gca;
% test1.fig and test2.fig are the names of the figure files which you would % like to copy into multiple subplots
h3 = figure; %create new figure
s1 = subplot(2,1,1); %create and get handle to the subplot axes
s2 = subplot(2,1,2);
fig1 = get(ax1,'children'); %get handle to all the children in the figure
fig2 = get(ax2,'children');
copyobj(fig1,s1); %copy children to new parent axes i.e. the subplot axes
copyobj(fig2,s2);

For additional information on the COPYOBJ function, refer to the following documentation:

https://www.mathworks.com/help/matlab/ref/copyobj.html

Attached are 2 scripts which will demonstrate how to place multiple FIG files into different subplots.

The file 'savfigs.m' creates 2 figures and saves them into the current working directory. Please run this file first.

The file 'copyaxes.m' opens these figures and then copies them to the different subplot axes.

Related Solutions

MATLAB: How to subplot graphs with more than 4 y-axis in a figure

Use the ploty4 version attached. I have modified it to do what you want. You can use it like this:

h1 = subplot(2,1,1);
x = 0:10;
y1=x; y2=x.^2; y3=x.^3; y4=x.^4;
[ax,hlines] = plotyyyy(h1,x,y1,x,y2,x,y3,x,y4);
h2 = subplot(2,1,2);
x = 0:10;
y1=x; y2=x.^2; y3=x.^3; y4=x.^4;
[ax,hlines] = plotyyyy(h2,x,y1,x,y2,x,y3,x,y4);

my output:

MATLAB: How to superimpose plots from 2 (.fig) files

Hello Francis,

You were on the right track, but you only made one subplot. I'm assuming, since you're using subplot, that you want two separate axes on the figure. Here's a quick example of how you can do it with copyobj:

% Setup the figures
hFig1 = figure;
plot(1:10)
hold on
plot(2:20)
hFig2 = figure;
plot(10:-1:1)
hold on
plot(1:10)
% Create new figure and copy over
hFigTarget = figure;
hAxTar1 = subplot(2, 1, 1, 'Parent', hFigTarget);
hAxTar2 = subplot(2, 1, 2, 'Parent', hFigTarget);
hAx1 = hFig1.Children; % Assuming there's just one child
hAx2 = hFig2.Children;
copyobj(hAx1.Children, hAxTar1)
copyobj(hAx2.Children, hAxTar2)

Another way to do it would be to just copy over both axes, and change their 'Position' or 'OuterPosition' properties to simulate what subplot does. I personally find that this works pretty well to simulate subplots:

hAx1.Units = 'normalized';
hAx1.OuterPosition = [0 0.5 1 0.5];
hAx2.Units = 'normalized';
hAx2.OuterPosition = [0 0 1 0.5];

-Cam

Best Answer

Related Solutions

MATLAB: How to subplot graphs with more than 4 y-axis in a figure

MATLAB: How to superimpose plots from 2 (.fig) files

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