MATLAB: Multiple plots using a method on single axis

for loopMATLABplot

I have a method that plots an array of data onto an axes in my GUI. I want to be able to call this method in a for loop and all the data that is plotted be on the same axes and not reset every time the method is called. Is this possible?

Best Answer

Sure, just set hold on for the figure after the first plot...

NB: To cycle colors/linestyles you'll have to increment and pass a color/linestyle argument for each; otherwise Matlab starts counting over from the beginning of the default order. I think this is a glaring weakness in the controllability as it's such a common desire to add incrementally as opposed to always having all the data that can make a single call in which case the colors/linestyles do cycle automagically. But, several requests for it as an enhancement over the years went unheeded so I've given up... :(

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MATLAB: Issues exiting from a while loop when the figure is closed

My suggestion is to not use the figure handle but the axes handle instead (they get a new number each time):

h=axes;
while ishandle(h),
    data = rand(10000,10); %process 1
    plot(data); hold on %plot results of process 1
    pause(1)%this is supposed to mimic a second process
    plot(mean(data,2),':k'); hold off %plot the result of process 2
    drawnow
end

This way, if you close the window during the 1 second break, a new window will open, plotting process 2, but then the loop will end. If you even want to avoid this, I could only imagine to ask for the existence of h right before the plotting, e.g.

while...
  data=...; 
  data2=...;
  if ishandle(h)
    plot(data)
     plot(data2)
  end
end

MATLAB: Automating line markers, colors…

This is what I always do:

x = linspace(1,2*pi,250);
v = 1:5;
y = cos(v'*x);
h = colormap(jet(5));
figure(1)
plot(x,y(1,:),'Color', h(1,:))
hold on
for k1 = 2:5
    plot(x,y(k1,:), 'Color',h(k1,:))
end
hold off
grid

Slightly cumbersome, but automated and effective. Experiment with the colormap to get the result you want.

You probably have to build the marker array yourself.

NOTE — R2014b now cycles the colours without having to do anything special.

Best Answer

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MATLAB: Issues exiting from a while loop when the figure is closed

MATLAB: Automating line markers, colors…

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