How to get larger font size for inputdlg, MATLAB ver 2019a

I am using MATLAB 2019a (the latest MATLAB version my network administration allows) and I have been unable to change the font size for the input boxes for inputdlg. How can I do this?

Some things I have tried:

opts.Interpreter = 'tex';
opts.Resize = 'on';
dlgtitle = 'Simulation Inputs';
prompt = {'\fontsize{12} Input #0:', ...
    'Input #1:','Input #2','Input #3', ...
    '\fontsize{12} Input #4:', ...
    'Input #5:','Input #6:'};
fieldsize = [2 45; 1 45; 1 45; 1 45; 1 45; 1 45; 1 45];
definput = {'\fontsize{12} 0.3', ...
    '60','29','60', ...
    '\fontsize{12} 0', ...
    '377','-385'};   % default values
%answer = inputdlg(prompt,dlgtitle,fieldsize,definput);
answer = inputdlg(prompt,dlgtitle,fieldsize,definput,opts);

This code produces the input dialog box with the 'prompt' values with the font size specified. However, the definput values are not. I just get the text '\fontsize{12} Input #0:' and '\fontsize{12} 0.3' without any change in the font size.

I got the '\fontsize' code from:

https://www.mathworks.com/help/matlab/ref/inputdlg.html

BTW, I found the instructions for the dialog box settings to be cryptic and they have nowhere near enough examples to show what they mean, especially since the syntax has to be perfect for the commands to work.

I also notice that the command:

set(0, 'DefaultUICOntrolFontSize', 12);

works just fine for listdlg for making the fonts larger, but has no effect on inputdlg. That is just irritating.

I did look at this answer that implies that the fontsize in the input boxes can be changed, but the answer was unhelpful and more about the box size:

https://www.mathworks.com/matlabcentral/answers/1693605-problem-with-fontsize-on-inputdlg

Answer 1

[Voss]

The Accepted Answer in the thread you linked to actually contains all the information you need.

The only thing I would clarify is in reference to what Walter said in his comment: "You might need to copy some other functions as well." I needed to copy two functions (in addition to copying and renaming inputdlg.m itself) in order to get it to work (in R2022a):

• <matlabroot>\toolbox\matlab\uitools\private\getnicedialoglocation.m
• <matlabroot>\toolbox\matlab\uitools\private\setdefaultbutton.m

After copying those files, renaming inputdlg.m to inputdlg_modified.m, and changing the line in inputdlg_modified.m that uses FactoryUicontrolFontSize to use DefaultUicontrolFontSize instead, as described in the linked thread, I ran the following code:

opts.Resize = 'on';

dlgtitle = 'Simulation Inputs';

prompt = {'Input #0:', ...

'Input #1:','Input #2','Input #3', ...

'Input #4:', ...

'Input #5:','Input #6:'};

fieldsize = [2 45; 1 45; 1 45; 1 45; 1 45; 1 45; 1 45];

definput = {'0.3', ...

'60','29','60', ...

'0', ...

'377','-385'}; % default values

fs_uic = get(groot(),'DefaultUIControlFontSize');

set(groot(),'DefaultUIControlFontSize',16);

answer = inputdlg_modified(prompt,dlgtitle,fieldsize,definput,opts);

set(groot(),'DefaultUIControlFontSize',fs_uic);

and got the following input dialog window:

[Anne Davenport]

Unfortunately, the following part of your answer does not fix the problem:

--------------------------------

The only thing I would clarify is in reference to what Walter said in his comment: "You might need to copy some other functions as well." I needed to copy two functions (in addition to copying and renaming inputdlg.m itself) in order to get it to work (in R2022a):

• <matlabroot>\toolbox\matlab\uitools\private\getnicedialoglocation.m
• <matlabroot>\toolbox\matlab\uitools\private\setdefaultbutton.m

--------------------------------

As stated in my original question -- and in the subject line of this question -- the latest version of MATLAB available on my network is 2019a. I cannot change that.

If changing the fontsize in the input boxes in inputdlg is not available, I can deal with that. I would just like to know if I've just missed how to do it.

[Voss]

I tested the solution on R2017b just now (the only other release available to me at the moment) and it works there.

What happens when you try it in R2019a?

Do you get an error message? If so, post the error message.

Do you get no errors, but the dialog box looks the same as default? If so:

• verify that you have changed your copied version of inputdlg to refer to 'DefaultUicontrolFontSize' instead of 'FactoryUicontrolFontSize'
• verify that you are calling the copy of inputdlg not the original
• verify that you are setting the root property 'DefaultUicontrolFontSize' to your preferred value before calling the copy of inputdlg

[Anne Davenport]

No go.

While I can get the code for inputdlg with:

edit inputdlg.m

Then I can re-name it in my working directory inputdlg_mod.m

And I can get the code for and tack this one into it.

edit getnicedialoglocation.m

But when I try to get the code for: setdefaultbutton.m with:

edit setdefaultbutton.m

I get an error message saying that the file does not exist. Note that the MATLAB I am using is on a large group licesnse through the internet and I wonder if that is part of the problem -- though I don't know why I don't get the same error for 'getnicedialoglocation.m'.

At this point, I have to say that the solution to what I'm looking for is comically complex, especially since I can get the same fontsize change that I'm looking for with ' listdlg ' with just one line of code.

[Voss]

Rather than using edit to open those files in the editor, first open inputdlg.m and find an instance of each of those, e.g., 'getnicedialoglocation', then right-click on it and select 'Open "getnicedialoglocation"' (or place the cursor on it and hit crtl+d, in Windows).

In my tests, that works when edit would give you the error about the file not existing. So you should be able to open both files in the editor doing that. Then, for each file, select "Save Copy As ..." in the menu under the Save button in the editor toolbar, and save it to your working directory.

(Don't forget to modify inputdlg_mod.m to use DefaultUicontrolFontSize in place of FactoryUicontrolFontSize, but don't make any other changes to it.)

I agree, it's an involved solution for something that is trivial in similar cases; it's because inputdlg uses a Factory setting which cannot be changed (whereas listdlg uses the Default setting which can be changed - and this is what the whole rigmarole is about - making a version of inputdlg that uses the Default instead of the Factory setting). An alternative solution would be to build your own inputdlg function, but that would involve much more work than this.

[DGM]

Private functions like setdefaultbutton() aren't going to be picked up by edit() or open() even though they do exist in your version and MATLAB knows where they are. That's a consequence of where the files are stored. It can be misleading at first, but that's just something you'll get used to if you're messing around under the hood.

You could use your file manager to copy them directly, but using the context menu like Voss suggests is much more convenient than trying to hunt down each file.

[Walter Roberson]

The following has been checked against R2019a, and should work for Windows, MacOS, or Linux

if ~exist('private', 'dir'); mkdir('private'); end

PR = fullfile(matlabroot, 'toolbox/matlab/uitools/private');
copyfile( fullfile(PR, 'getnicedialoglocation.m', 'private/'));
copyfile( fullfile(PR, 'setdefaultbutton.m'), 'private/');

[Anne Davenport]

While I appreciate the information and your looking into this, and I'm glad to know what the issues are, I have to drop this.

I started with the assumption that this wouldn't be too hard since it's so simple with listdlg. But it isn't

But the larger font is a 'Nice to Have' thing on my project. I'll just deal with the smaller fonts. If Mathworks comes up with a less complex method for changing the fontsize for inputdlg, I'll come back a look at this. For now, I'm out of time and I have to move on.