subplot

Arguments

m, n, p

integers > 0. (m,n) = numbers of rows and columns of the virtual grid. p = index of the targeted cell.

mnp

an integer with decimal notation mnp

Description

subplot(m,n,p) or subplot(mnp) virtually grids the current graphic window or uicontrol frame into a m-by-n matrix of rectangular sub-areas (cells), and selects the p^th cell for receiving the forthcoming drawings.

Into the grid, cells are indexed along each row, starting from the top row. Hence, the last cell of the first row is the p = n^th one. The cell on the row #i and the column #j has the index p=(i-1)*n+j.

When the selected cell matches exactly an existing axes, subplot(…) just sets it as the current axes, and returns.

Otherwise, subplot(…) creates an empty axes covering the selected cell, ready to receive forthcoming plotting contents.

Examples

clf
subplot(221)
plot2d()

subplot(222)
plot3d()

subplot(2,2,3)
param3d()

subplot(2,2,4)
bar3d()

A more complex layout, but still gridable:

clf
subplot(1,2,2)
Matplot1()
xtitle("Matplot1() example","","")

subplot(2,2,1)
histplot
delete(findobj("type","Legend"))

subplot(2,2,3)
title("Smaller plots:", "fontsize",3)

subplot(2,4,5)
polarplot()

subplot(2,4,6)
param3d()
xtitle("","","","")

Usage on uicontrol frames :

x = -4:0.05:4;

f = figure(...
    "default_axes","off", ...
    "toolbar","none", ...
    "name","subplot in frames", ...
    "backgroundColor",[1 1 1]*0.97);

// Frame #1
b = createBorder("titled", "Frame #1");
uicontrol(f, ...
    "style", "frame", ...
    "units","normalized", ...
    "border", b, ...
    "position", [0.03 0.83 0.94 0.15]);

// Frame #2
b(2) = "Frame #2";
fr2 = uicontrol(f, ...
    "style", "frame", ...
    "units","normalized", ...
    "border", b, ...
    "position", [0.03 0.03 0.60 0.8]);

a2 = newaxes(fr2);
subplot(1,2,1)
plot(x, tanh(x)), title("tanh")

subplot(2,2,2)
plot(x, sinh(x)), title("sinh")

// Frame #3
b(2) = "Frame #3";
fr3 = uicontrol(f, ...
    "style", "frame", ...
    "units","normalized", ...
    "border", b, ...
    "position", [0.65 0.03 0.32 0.8]);

a3 = newaxes(fr3);
subplot(2,1,1)
plot(2*x, sinc(2*x)), title("sinc")

subplot(2,1,2)
plot(2*x, sin(2*x)), title("sin")

// Back to Frame #2
sca(a2);
subplot(2,2,4)
plot(x, cosh(x)), title("cosh")

--> gcf().children
 ans  =
3 by 1 matrix of handles:
=========================
uicontrol
uicontrol
uicontrol

--> gcf().children(1).children
 ans  =
2 by 1 matrix of handles:
=========================
Axes
Axes

--> gcf().children(2).children
 ans  =
3 by 1 matrix of handles:
=========================
Axes
Axes
Axes

--> gcf().children(3).children
 ans  =
    []

See also

• xsetech — set the sub-window of a graphics window for plotting
• newaxes — Creates a new Axes entity
• axes_properties — description of the axes entity properties

History