MATLAB: Is is possible to control the order of inherited class properties

classMATLABoopproperties

Consider two simple classes, where one inherits from the other:
First class:
classdef Example_Class_1 < handle 
    properties
        Property1
        Property2
    end
end
Second class:
classdef Example_Class_2 < Example_Class_1 
    properties
        Property3
    end
end
Now, if I create an Example_Class_2 object, its properties are listed as follows:
Example_Class_2
ans = 
  Example_Class_2 with properties:
    Property3: []
    Property1: []
    Property2: []
Is there some alternative syntax I can use when defining Example_Class_2, such that Property1 and Property 2 (the inherited properties) appear before Property3 when an Example_Class_2 object is created?

Best Answer

Following the advice of William Warriner, here is what can be done. Change Example_Class_2 as follows:
classdef Example_Class_2 < Example_Class_1 & matlab.mixin.CustomDisplay
    properties
        Property3
    end
    methods (Hidden)
        function value = properties( obj )
            propList = sort( builtin("properties", obj) );
            if nargout == 0
                disp(propList);
            else
                value = propList;
            end
        end
        function value = fieldnames( obj )
            value = sort( builtin( "fieldnames", obj ) );
        end
    end
    methods (Access = protected)
        function group = getPropertyGroups( obj )
            props = properties( obj );
            group = matlab.mixin.util.PropertyGroup( props );
        end
    end
end
Now, properties are listed in alphabetical order, both when displayed on the command line, and when returned as a cell array (with e.g. propList = properties(Example_Class_2))
Of course, you don't have to use sort() to re-order the property list in the properties method. In my case, I needed a different ordering and just used
propList = builtin("properties", obj);
propList = propList([<my custom indices order>]);
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