How to add a single legent with multiple subplots with out overlapping on plots?

Hello All,

I am trying to add a add a common legend for all my subplots in a graph. But I dont have extra space for the legend to add on the plots. They are overlapping on one another. I need something like in the image. Can some one please hlp me with it. My code is as follows:

Thanks in advance.

Z = readtable('Excel.xlsx') ;

data = table2array(Z) ;

subplot(2,3,1)

plot(data(:,1), data(:,2), 'ks', 'linewidth', 1);

hold on

plot(data(:,3), data(:,4), 'linewidth', 2);

hold on

plot(data(:,5), data(:,6), 'linewidth', 2);

hold on

plot(data(:,7), data(:,8), 'linewidth', 2);

hold off

annotation('textbox', [0.25, 0.77, 0.1, 0.1], 'String', "X", 'FontSize',12)

grid on

xlabel('x');

ylabel('y');

subplot(2,3,2)

plot(data(:,1), data(:,2), 'ks', 'linewidth', 1);

hold on

plot(data(:,3), data(:,4), 'linewidth', 2);

hold on

plot(data(:,5), data(:,6), 'linewidth', 2);

hold on

plot(data(:,7), data(:,8), 'linewidth', 2);

hold off

annotation('textbox', [0.53, 0.77, 0.1, 0.1], 'String', "X", 'FontSize',12)

grid on

xlabel('x');

ylabel('y');

subplot(2,3,3)

plot(data(:,1), data(:,2), 'ks', 'linewidth', 1);

hold on

plot(data(:,3), data(:,4), 'linewidth', 2);

hold on

plot(data(:,5), data(:,6), 'linewidth', 2);

hold on

plot(data(:,7), data(:,8), 'linewidth', 2);

hold off

annotation('textbox', [0.811, 0.77, 0.1, 0.1], 'String', "X", 'FontSize',12)

grid on

xlabel('x');

ylabel('y');

title('Tangential velocity fluctuations')

subplot(2,3,4)

plot(data(:,1), data(:,2), 'ks', 'linewidth', 1);

hold on

plot(data(:,3), data(:,4), 'linewidth', 2);

hold on

plot(data(:,5), data(:,6), 'linewidth', 2);

hold on

plot(data(:,7), data(:,8), 'linewidth', 2);

hold off

annotation('textbox', [0.25, 0.32, 0.1, 0.1], 'String', "X", 'FontSize',12)

grid on

xlabel('x');

ylabel('y');

subplot(2,3,5)

plot(data(:,1), data(:,2), 'ks', 'linewidth', 1);

hold on

plot(data(:,3), data(:,4), 'linewidth', 2);

hold on

plot(data(:,5), data(:,6), 'linewidth', 2);

hold on

plot(data(:,7), data(:,8), 'linewidth', 2);

hold off

annotation('textbox', [0.53, 0.32, 0.1, 0.1], 'String', "X", 'FontSize',12)

grid on

xlabel('x');

ylabel('y');

subplot(2,3,6)

plot(data(:,1), data(:,2), 'ks', 'linewidth', 1);

hold on

plot(data(:,3), data(:,4), 'linewidth', 2);

hold on

plot(data(:,5), data(:,6), 'linewidth', 2);

hold on

plot(data(:,7), data(:,8), 'linewidth', 2);

hold off

annotation('textbox', [0.811, 0.32, 0.1, 0.1], 'String', "X", 'FontSize',12)

grid on

xlabel('x');

ylabel('y');

fig = gcf;

fig.Position(3) = fig.Position(3) + 250;

legend('Plot1', 'Plot2', 'Plot3', 'Plot4', 'Location', 'bestoutside', 'FontSize',10);

Lgnd = legend('show');

lgd.FontSize = 18;

Lgnd.Position(1) = 0.8;

Lgnd.Position(2) = 0.4;

sgtitle(["titel"])

x0=12;

y0=2;

width=1200;

height=760;

set(gcf,'position',[x0,y0,width,height])

set(gcf,'PaperOrientation','landscape');

[Kevin Holly]

Z = readtable('Excel.xlsx') ;

Warning: Column headers from the file were modified to make them valid MATLAB identifiers before creating variable names for the table. The original column headers are saved in the VariableDescriptions property.
Set 'VariableNamingRule' to 'preserve' to use the original column headers as table variable names.

data = table2array(Z) ; 
subplot(2,3,1)
plot(data(:,1), data(:,2), 'ks', 'linewidth', 1);
hold on
plot(data(:,3), data(:,4), 'linewidth', 2);
hold on
plot(data(:,5), data(:,6), 'linewidth', 2);
hold on
plot(data(:,7), data(:,8), 'linewidth', 2);
hold off
annotation('textbox', [0.25, 0.77, 0.1, 0.1], 'String', "X", 'FontSize',12)
grid on
xlabel('x');
ylabel('y');
subplot(2,3,2)
plot(data(:,1), data(:,2), 'ks', 'linewidth', 1);
hold on
plot(data(:,3), data(:,4), 'linewidth', 2);
hold on
plot(data(:,5), data(:,6), 'linewidth', 2);
hold on
plot(data(:,7), data(:,8), 'linewidth', 2);
hold off
annotation('textbox', [0.53, 0.77, 0.1, 0.1], 'String', "X", 'FontSize',12)
grid on
xlabel('x');
ylabel('y');
subplot(2,3,3)
plot(data(:,1), data(:,2), 'ks', 'linewidth', 1);
hold on
plot(data(:,3), data(:,4), 'linewidth', 2);
hold on
plot(data(:,5), data(:,6), 'linewidth', 2);
hold on
plot(data(:,7), data(:,8), 'linewidth', 2);
hold off
annotation('textbox', [0.811, 0.77, 0.1, 0.1], 'String', "X", 'FontSize',12)
grid on
xlabel('x');
ylabel('y');
title('Tangential velocity fluctuations')
subplot(2,3,4)
plot(data(:,1), data(:,2), 'ks', 'linewidth', 1);
hold on
plot(data(:,3), data(:,4), 'linewidth', 2);
hold on
plot(data(:,5), data(:,6), 'linewidth', 2);
hold on
plot(data(:,7), data(:,8), 'linewidth', 2);
hold off
annotation('textbox', [0.25, 0.32, 0.1, 0.1], 'String', "X", 'FontSize',12)
grid on
xlabel('x');
ylabel('y');
subplot(2,3,5)
plot(data(:,1), data(:,2), 'ks', 'linewidth', 1);
hold on
plot(data(:,3), data(:,4), 'linewidth', 2);
hold on
plot(data(:,5), data(:,6), 'linewidth', 2);
hold on
plot(data(:,7), data(:,8), 'linewidth', 2);
hold off
annotation('textbox', [0.53, 0.32, 0.1, 0.1], 'String', "X", 'FontSize',12)
grid on
xlabel('x');
ylabel('y');
subplot(2,3,6)
plot(data(:,1), data(:,2), 'ks', 'linewidth', 1);
hold on
plot(data(:,3), data(:,4), 'linewidth', 2);
hold on
plot(data(:,5), data(:,6), 'linewidth', 2);
hold on
plot(data(:,7), data(:,8), 'linewidth', 2);
hold off
annotation('textbox', [0.811, 0.32, 0.1, 0.1], 'String', "X", 'FontSize',12)
grid on
xlabel('x');
ylabel('y');
fig = gcf;
fig.Position(3) = fig.Position(3) + 250;
legend('Plot1', 'Plot2', 'Plot3', 'Plot4', 'Location', 'bestoutside', 'FontSize',10);
Lgnd = legend('show');
lgd.FontSize = 18;
Lgnd.Position(1) = 0.8;
Lgnd.Position(2) = 0.4;
sgtitle(["titel"])
x0=12;
y0=2;
width=1200;
height=760;
set(gcf,'position',[x0,y0,width,height])

set(gcf,'PaperOrientation','landscape');

[Vishnuvardhan Naidu Tanga]

Hello @Kevin Holly,

Thank you for the reply. But is it possible to have it completely outside of the plots, not in between.

Answer 1

[Star Strider]

An alternative —

Z = readtable('https://www.mathworks.com/matlabcentral/answers/uploaded_files/1161928/Excel.xlsx', 'VariableNamingRule','preserve') ;
data = table2array(Z) ; 
subplot(2,4,1)
plot(data(:,1), data(:,2), 'ks', 'linewidth', 1);
hold on
plot(data(:,3), data(:,4), 'linewidth', 2);
% hold on
plot(data(:,5), data(:,6), 'linewidth', 2);
% hold on
plot(data(:,7), data(:,8), 'linewidth', 2);
hold off
pos = get(gca,'Position');                                                                          % ADDED
annotation('textbox', [pos(1)+0.1, 0.77, 0.1, 0.1], 'String', "X", 'FontSize',12)
% annotation('textbox', [0.25, 0.77, 0.1, 0.1], 'String', "X", 'FontSize',12)     % CHANGED
grid on
xlabel('x');
ylabel('y');
subplot(2,4,2)
plot(data(:,1), data(:,2), 'ks', 'linewidth', 1);
hold on
plot(data(:,3), data(:,4), 'linewidth', 2);
hold on
plot(data(:,5), data(:,6), 'linewidth', 2);
hold on
plot(data(:,7), data(:,8), 'linewidth', 2);
hold off
pos = get(gca,'Position');                                                                          % ADDED
annotation('textbox', [pos(1)+0.1, 0.77, 0.1, 0.1]+[0.01 0 0 0], 'String', "X", 'FontSize',12)
% annotation('textbox', [0.53, 0.77, 0.1, 0.1]+[0.01 0 0 0], 'String', "X", 'FontSize',12)
grid on
xlabel('x');
ylabel('y');
subplot(2,4,3)
plot(data(:,1), data(:,2), 'ks', 'linewidth', 1);
hold on
plot(data(:,3), data(:,4), 'linewidth', 2);
hold on
plot(data(:,5), data(:,6), 'linewidth', 2);
hold on
plot(data(:,7), data(:,8), 'linewidth', 2);
hold off
pos = get(gca,'Position');                                                                          % ADDED
annotation('textbox', [pos(1)+0.1, 0.77, 0.1, 0.1]+[0.81*0.01 0 0 0], 'String', "X", 'FontSize',12)
% annotation('textbox', [0.811, 0.77, 0.1, 0.1]+[0.81*0.01 0 0 0], 'String', "X", 'FontSize',12)
grid on
xlabel('x');
ylabel('y');
title('Tangential velocity fluctuations')
subplot(2,4,5)
plot(data(:,1), data(:,2), 'ks', 'linewidth', 1);
hold on
plot(data(:,3), data(:,4), 'linewidth', 2);
hold on
plot(data(:,5), data(:,6), 'linewidth', 2);
hold on
plot(data(:,7), data(:,8), 'linewidth', 2);
hold off
pos = get(gca,'Position');                                                                          % ADDED
annotation('textbox', [pos(1)+0.1, 0.32, 0.1, 0.1]+[0.25*0.01 0 0 0], 'String', "X", 'FontSize',12)
% annotation('textbox', [0.25, 0.32, 0.1, 0.1]+[0.25*0.01 0 0 0], 'String', "X", 'FontSize',12)
grid on
xlabel('x');
ylabel('y');
subplot(2,4,6)
plot(data(:,1), data(:,2), 'ks', 'linewidth', 1);
hold on
plot(data(:,3), data(:,4), 'linewidth', 2);
hold on
plot(data(:,5), data(:,6), 'linewidth', 2);
hold on
plot(data(:,7), data(:,8), 'linewidth', 2);
hold off
pos = get(gca,'Position');                                                                          % ADDED
annotation('textbox', [pos(1)+0.1, 0.32, 0.1, 0.1]+[0.53*0.01 0 0 0], 'String', "X", 'FontSize',12)
% annotation('textbox', [0.53, 0.32, 0.1, 0.1]+[0.53*0.01 0 0 0], 'String', "X", 'FontSize',12)
grid on
xlabel('x');
ylabel('y');
subplot(2,4,7)
plot(data(:,1), data(:,2), 'ks', 'linewidth', 1);
hold on
plot(data(:,3), data(:,4), 'linewidth', 2);
hold on
plot(data(:,5), data(:,6), 'linewidth', 2);
hold on
plot(data(:,7), data(:,8), 'linewidth', 2);
hold off
pos = get(gca,'Position');                                                                          % ADDED
annotation('textbox', [pos(1)+0.1, 0.32, 0.1, 0.1]+[0.81*0.01 0 0 0], 'String', "X", 'FontSize',12)
% annotation('textbox', [0.811, 0.32, 0.1, 0.1]+[0.81*0.01 0 0 0], 'String', "X", 'FontSize',12)
grid on

xlabel('x');
ylabel('y');
fig = gcf;
fig.Position(3) = fig.Position(3) + 250;
legend('Plot1', 'Plot2', 'Plot3', 'Plot4', 'Location', 'bestoutside', 'FontSize',10);
Lgnd = legend('show');
lgd.FontSize = 18;
Lgnd.Position(1) = 0.8;
Lgnd.Position(2) = 0.4;
hsp2448 = subplot(2,4,[4 8]);
% get(hsp2448)
hsp2448.Visible = 'off';
Lgnd.Position = hsp2448.Position+[0 +0.25 0 -0.55];                       % Change Last 3 Values As Required
sgtitle(["titel"])
x0=12;
y0=2;
width=1200;
height=760;
set(gcf,'position',[x0,y0,width,height])

set(gcf,'PaperOrientation','landscape');

.

[Vishnuvardhan Naidu Tanga]

Hallo @Star Strider

Thank you for the reply. I tried it but I am getting the following error.

Invalid or deleted object.

Error in Turbint_all_Prof2 (line 150)

Lgnd.Position = hsp2448.Position+[0 +0.25 0 -0.55];

[Star Strider]

My pleasure!

I am not certain what the problem could be, since it worked when I ran it.

This call:

hsp2448 = subplot(2,4,[4 8]);

must be part of the code for my code to work, and it must be approximately in the locaition I put it in the code.

Did you copy and paste my code (that should work) or change your existing code (that might not and so could be the problem)? (My code also contains a number of other tweaks to accommodate the annotation object to put it in approximately the correct position in each subplot as well, since I’m changing the subplot positions in my code.)

[Vishnuvardhan Naidu Tanga]

Hallo @Star Strider

I have used your same code and made necessary changes what i need. It works. Thankyou for the reply and the answer.

[Star Strider]

As always, my pleasure!

[Kevin Holly]

Looks like my answer got deleted, so reposting here. I used nexttile instead of subplot.

Z = readtable('https://www.mathworks.com/matlabcentral/answers/uploaded_files/1161928/Excel.xlsx', 'VariableNamingRule','preserve') ;
data = table2array(Z);
tiledlayout(2,3)
nexttile
plot(data(:,1), data(:,2), 'ks', 'linewidth', 1);
hold on
plot(data(:,3), data(:,4), 'linewidth', 2);
hold on
plot(data(:,5), data(:,6), 'linewidth', 2);
hold on
plot(data(:,7), data(:,8), 'linewidth', 2);
hold off
annotation('textbox', [0.25, 0.77, 0.1, 0.1], 'String', "X", 'FontSize',12)
grid on
xlabel('x');
ylabel('y');
nexttile
plot(data(:,1), data(:,2), 'ks', 'linewidth', 1);
hold on
plot(data(:,3), data(:,4), 'linewidth', 2);
hold on
plot(data(:,5), data(:,6), 'linewidth', 2);
hold on
plot(data(:,7), data(:,8), 'linewidth', 2);
hold off
annotation('textbox', [0.53, 0.77, 0.1, 0.1], 'String', "X", 'FontSize',12)
grid on
xlabel('x');
ylabel('y');
nexttile
plot(data(:,1), data(:,2), 'ks', 'linewidth', 1);
hold on
plot(data(:,3), data(:,4), 'linewidth', 2);
hold on
plot(data(:,5), data(:,6), 'linewidth', 2);
hold on
plot(data(:,7), data(:,8), 'linewidth', 2);
hold off
annotation('textbox', [0.811, 0.77, 0.1, 0.1], 'String', "X", 'FontSize',12)
grid on
xlabel('x');
ylabel('y');
title('Tangential velocity fluctuations')
nexttile
plot(data(:,1), data(:,2), 'ks', 'linewidth', 1);
hold on
plot(data(:,3), data(:,4), 'linewidth', 2);
hold on
plot(data(:,5), data(:,6), 'linewidth', 2);
hold on
plot(data(:,7), data(:,8), 'linewidth', 2);
hold off
annotation('textbox', [0.25, 0.32, 0.1, 0.1], 'String', "X", 'FontSize',12)
grid on
xlabel('x');
ylabel('y');
nexttile
plot(data(:,1), data(:,2), 'ks', 'linewidth', 1);
hold on
plot(data(:,3), data(:,4), 'linewidth', 2);
hold on
plot(data(:,5), data(:,6), 'linewidth', 2);
hold on
plot(data(:,7), data(:,8), 'linewidth', 2);
hold off
annotation('textbox', [0.53, 0.32, 0.1, 0.1], 'String', "X", 'FontSize',12)
grid on
xlabel('x');
ylabel('y');
nexttile
plot(data(:,1), data(:,2), 'ks', 'linewidth', 1);
hold on
plot(data(:,3), data(:,4), 'linewidth', 2);
hold on
plot(data(:,5), data(:,6), 'linewidth', 2);
hold on
plot(data(:,7), data(:,8), 'linewidth', 2);
hold off
annotation('textbox', [0.811, 0.32, 0.1, 0.1], 'String', "X", 'FontSize',12)
grid on
xlabel('x');
ylabel('y');
fig = gcf;
fig.Position(3) = fig.Position(3) + 250;
legend('Plot1', 'Plot2', 'Plot3', 'Plot4', 'Location', 'bestoutside', 'FontSize',10);
Lgnd = legend('show');
Lgnd.FontSize = 18;
Lgnd.Position(1) = 0.8;
Lgnd.Position(2) = 0.4;
sgtitle(["titel"])
x0=12;
y0=2;
width=1200;
height=760;
set(gcf,'position',[x0,y0,width,height])
Lgnd.Layout.Tile = 'east';

[Star Strider]

I noticed it was missing.

I have no idea how it got deleted, and just assumed you deleted it. Rena Berman might have some insight into that.