linkaxes
Synchronize limits of specified 2-D axes
Syntax
linkaxes(ax)
linkaxes(ax,'option')
Description
Use linkaxes to synchronize the individual
axis limits across several figures or subplots within a figure. Calling linkaxes makes
all input axes have identical limits. Linking axes is best when you
want to zoom or pan in one subplot and display the same range of data
in another subplot.
Note:
Use |
linkaxes(ax) links the x-
and y-axis limits of the axes specified in the
vector ax. You can link any number of existing
plots or subplots. The ax input should be a vector
of Cartesian axes objects. Entering an array of values results in
an error message.
linkaxes(ax,' links
the axes' option')ax according to the specified option.
The 'option' argument can be one of these
values:
'x' | Link x-axis only. |
'y' | Link y-axis only. |
'xy' | Link x-axis and y-axis. |
'off' | Remove linking. |
See the linkprop function
for more advanced capabilities that allow you to link object properties
on any graphics object.
Examples
Create Subplots and Link Their Axes
Create a figure with three subplots and plot data in each subplot. Link the x-axes and y-axes for the three subplots. The linkaxes function uses the limits from the first axes passed to it. Panning or zooming into one of the subplots displays the same range of data in the other two subplots.
figure
ax1 = subplot(2,2,1);
x1 = linspace(0,6);
y1 = sin(x1);
plot(x1,y1)
ax2 = subplot(2,2,2);
x2 = linspace(0,10);
y2 = sin(2*x2);
plot(x2,y2)
ax3 = subplot(2,2,[3,4]);
x3 = linspace(0,16);
y3 = sin(6*x3);
plot(x3,y3)
linkaxes([ax1,ax2,ax3],'xy')
To remove the linking, use linkaxes([ax1,ax2,ax3],'off').
Use Specific Subplot to Determine Limits for All Subplots
Load the count.dat data set which returns a three-column array named count. Create a new figure with three subplots and return the axes handles. In each subplot, create a bar graph.
load count.dat figure ax1 = subplot(3,1,1); bar(count(:,1),'g'); ax2 = subplot(3,1,2); bar(count(:,2),'b'); ax3 = subplot(3,1,3); bar(count(:,3),'m');
Link the x-axes and y-axes limits using linkaxes with the argument 'xy'. Base the limits on the third subplot by passing its axes handle, ax3, as the first input to linkaxes.
linkaxes([ax3,ax2,ax1],'xy');
If you zoom in on one subplot, then the other two subplots behave in the same manner. To enable interactive zooming, use zoom on. To disable zooming, use zoom off.
Link x-Axes And Change Axis Limits
Load the count.dat data set which returns a three-column array named count. Create a new figure with two subplots and return the axes handles. In each subplot, create a bar graph.
load count.dat figure ax1 = subplot(2,1,1); bar(count(:,1),'g'); ax2 = subplot(2,1,2); bar(count(:,2),'b');
Link the x-axes for the two subplots.
linkaxes([ax1,ax2],'x');
Set the x-axis limits for the second subplot. Setting the limits overrides the limits initially set by linkaxes. Changing the x-axis limits effects both subplots.
ax2.XLim = [4.5,9.5];
If you pan either subplot, then both subplots pan uniformly in the x-direction, but only one subplot moves in the y-direction. To enable interactive panning, use pan on. To disable panning, use pan off.