MATLAB: Plotting on .fig file (in new window if possible)

Question

Hello,

I am trying to open a figure and plot additional data on it. The figure was given to me as a .fig file so I do not have the data to recreate it.

To open the file, I am using the following code:

fig = openfig('filename');

However that opens it in the script tab and not as a new figure window. How can I open it in a new figure window like all my other plots?

Once I have that opened (regardless of in new window or not), how do I plot on it?

I am trying

openfig('filename')
hold on
plot(x,y)

But that doesn't seem to be working.

Any help is greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

Answer 1

Figures are container objects that cannot be directly drawn to. You can only plot() into axes. Axes are contained inside figures or inside uipanels (or a small number of other container types.)

In order to draw, you will need to either select an existing axes or else create a new axes inside the figure.

%get the figure
fig = openfig('filename');
%pull out the right axes
fig_axes = findobj(fig, 'type', 'axes');
selected_axes_idx = 2;   %set as appropriate for your purpose
ax = fig_axes(selected_axes_idx);
%do the additional drawing
hold(ax, 'on');
x = linspace(-2*pi,2*pi);
y1 = cos(x);
plot(ax, x, y1, 'color', 'b');
hold(ax, 'off');