MATLAB: Matlab 2014b: Copying just the legend from existing figure into subplot

2014b legend

Hi there,

I'm looking for how to get the legend from an existing saved figure and load it as the legend in a figure of subplots.

In 2013 I used to be able to do:

h1 = hgload('file.fig');
leg_ax = findobj(h1,'type','axes','Tag','legend','-not','Tag','Colorbar');
s6 = subplot(2,3,3);
copyobj(leg_ax,get(s6,'Parent'));

Thanks, Ashley

Best Answer

One way is to save and reuse just the legend object itself, e.g.,

        plot(1:5,2:6,1:5,0:4); 
         hleg=legend('First Line', 'Second Line');
            save tst hleg
            clear hleg
            load tst hleg
        figure;      
        s6 = subplot(2,3,3);
        plot(10:10:50,(2:6).^2,10:10:50,(0:4).^2);
          legend(hleg.String{:})

Related Solutions

MATLAB: Legend error. What did I do wrong here

The "width" figures contain multiple lines on top of each other just like in your last question.

To demonstrate, open the width0.fig and look at the number of objects on the axes.

h = openfig('width0.fig');
h.Children.Children
%     2×1 Line array:
%     
%       Line

%       Line

You'll see two line objects. If you only want to copy one of them,

copyobj(h.Children.Children(1),ax);
%                           ^^^

MATLAB: How to get handle to legend in a specific axes

Legends are parented by the figure, not the axes, so you get a list of figure children like this:

>> get( gcf, 'Children' )
ans = 
  6×1 graphics array:
  Legend    (a, b)
  Axes
  Legend    (a, b)
  Axes
  Legend    (a, b)
  Axes

so I guess if you have the axes handle you may be able to search the figure's child list for the index of that axes, then take the legend handle previous to it (The child objects seem to be stored in reverse order and legends are apparently stored after their respective axes even if not added in that order - I tested creating all the axes and plots first, then all the legends and it still gave the above order)

As ever with having to fish out handles to graphics objects after the fact it is hacky and potentially brittle though.

So, like the joke about an Irishman in a small town being asked how to get to Dublin, answering 'Well, if I were you I wouldn't start from here!', if at all possible I would always keep hold of all my handles when I create the plots if I'm going to need them later on.

I would also give an explicit axes handle to the legend and plotting calls.

Best Answer

Related Solutions

MATLAB: Legend error. What did I do wrong here

MATLAB: How to get handle to legend in a specific axes

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