MATLAB: Multicolumn legend

columnlegendMATLABmultiple

I would like to be able to create a legend to have a number of columns given (for default the legend function has an unique column in Matlab). In the code written below, for example, I need three columns in the legend so this would have two rows lines and three column lines.
X = 0:pi/100:0.25*pi;
Y1 = sin(X);
Y2 = cos(X);
Y3 = tan(X);
Y4 = 0.5;
fh = figure('toolbar','none','menubar','none','Units','characters');
Pan1 = uipanel(fh,'Units','normalized','Position',[0 0 0.5 1],'title',...
    'Panel1');
Pan2 = uipanel(fh,'Units','normalized','Position',[0.5 0 0.5 1],'title',...
    'Panel2');
haxes = axes('Parent',Pan2,'Units', 'normalized','Position',...
[0.125 0.1 0.75 0.75]);
hplot = plot(haxes,X,Y1,X,Y2,X,Y3,X,Y4);
xlabel(haxes,'Time (second)');
ylabel(haxes,'Amplitude (meter)');
title(haxes,'Trigonometric functions');
Ley = {'Sine function','Cosine function','Tangent function','Constant'};
legend(haxes,Ley,'Location','SouthOutside');
I have tried to use the application called gridlegend on the Matlab File Exchange replacing
legend(haxes,Ley,'Location','SouthOutside');
with
gridLegend(hplot,2,Ley,'Location','SouthOutside');
and
gridLegend(hplot,3,Ley,'Location','SouthOutside');
However, the results obtained are not valid because of the legend's contents appears overlapped and inclusive, for the case 3, is wrong.
P.D. I have tried the columnlegend application in Matlab File Exchange but I need that legend location to be SouthOutside, so it does not work for me.

Best Answer

MATLAB was not designed to produce publication quality graphs. People have hammered on MATLAB to push its capabilities. If neither columnlegend nor gridlegend can do it, there is likely no easy solution. You need to (1) loosen your constraints (e.g., choose a location other than SouthOutside), (2) be willing to code it your self, (3) create a plot as close as you can and then edit it with a graphics editing program (e.g., Iinkscape or GIMP), or (4) choose a program designed to make nice looking graphs (e.g., Pgfplots).
Related Question