MATLAB: Return figure handle from a function

figurefunctionsgraphicslinereturn figures

I have a function that plots two variables and returns the plot handle. This function is currently returning a line object instead of a figure. How can I force MATLAB to return a figure?

    %%Plotting function
function li = liner(a,b)
 li = plot(a,b);
end

%% From prompt >> a =0:1:10; >> c = liner(a, 2*a); >> class(c)

ans =

    'matlab.graphics.chart.primitive.Line'

Best Answer

function FigH = liner(a,b)
LineH = plot(a,b);
FigH  = ancestor(LineH, 'figure');
end

This replies the figure the plot is created it. This works if the figure was opened before, or implicitely by the plot command. If you want a new figure in every case:

function FigH = liner(a,b)
FigH = figure;
plot(a,b);
end

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This can occur if you are using GCF in your callback function. GCF is a convenience function that returns the handle of the root object's "CurrentFigure" property. This property can only hold a figure whose handle is visible, i.e. the HandleVisibility is "on" (or "callback" while a callback is executing). If the figure's "HandleVisibility" is "off", then its handle will not be stored in the root object's "CurrentFigure" property. In this case, GCF will return either another figure (whose "HandleVisibility" is "on") or a new figure (if there are no figures with the appropriate "HandleVisibility" value).

Instead of GCF, you should use either GCBF, or the handle of the figure from the "handles" structure. GCBF will return the handle of the figure that contains the current callback object, i.e. the last object interacted with. The "handles" structure should contain the handle for the figure automatically, unless its Tag was modified and can not be used as a fieldname.

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