Interactive Plotting - Get another plot via clicking point in current figure

Hi there, I'm currently looking into making my graphs more interactive. I'm running a simulation conducted using 2 for loops and a bvp4c code. Basically, the resulting plot creates 4 lines (4 cycles of the outer for loop) which are made up of 10 points (10 cycles of the inner for loop).

My desire is that for any one of these points, I want to be able to click ont it, which in turn opens another plot of purpose for which I can define in the code.

Is this possible and if so, if anyone one could point me in the right direction that would be much appreciated!

Cheers,

Nick

Answer 1

[José-Luis]

Here is a script that will plot four lines and after that highlight the closest point to your click. To select a point use left click, to finish the selection use the right click. The script will keep on going until a right click is detected:

 aH = axes;
 lH(1) = plot(aH,rand(10,1),'bs');
 hold on
 lH(2) = plot(aH,rand(10,1),'ro');
 lH(3) = plot(aH,rand(10,1),'k+');
 lH(4) = plot(aH,rand(10,1),'g^'); % some lines
 set(lH,'hittest','off'); % so you can click on the Markers
 hold on; 
 set(aH,'ButtonDownFcn',@getCoord); % Defining what happens when clicking
 uiwait(f) %so multiple clicks can be used

And the function getCoord() should be placed in the path and look as follows:

function getCoord(aH,evnt)
drawnow
f = ancestor(aH,'figure');
click_type = get(f,'SelectionType');
ptH = getappdata(aH,'CurrentPoint');
delete(ptH)
if strcmp(click_type,'normal')
    %Finding the closest point and highlighting it
    lH = findobj(aH,'Type','line');
    minDist = realmax;
    finalIdx = NaN;
    finalH = NaN;
    pt = get(aH,'CurrentPoint'); %Getting click position
    for ii = lH'
        xp=get(ii,'Xdata'); %Getting coordinates of line object
        yp=get(ii,'Ydata');
        dx=daspect(aH);      %Aspect ratio is needed to compensate for uneven axis when calculating the distance
        [newDist idx] = min( ((pt(1,1)-xp).*dx(2)).^2 + ((pt(1,2)-yp).*dx(1)).^2 );
        if (newDist < minDist)
            finalH = ii;
            finalIdx = idx;
            minDist = newDist;
        end
    end
    xp=get(finalH,'Xdata'); %Getting coordinates of line object
    yp=get(finalH,'Ydata');
    ptH = plot(aH,xp(finalIdx),yp(finalIdx),'k*','MarkerSize',20);
    setappdata(aH,'CurrentPoint',ptH);

elseif strcmp(click_type,'alt')
    %do your stuff once your point is selected   
    disp('Done clicking!');
    % HERE IS WHERE YOU CAN PUT YOUR STUFF
    uiresume(f);
end

[Nick]

Hi José-Luis, many thanks for your answer, it has been quite helpful.

I am having trouble though with the correct syntax as to how differentiate between the different resulting plots that occur as a result of which point is clicked (A different figure will be produced for each point clicked on).

Also, is there anyway it can be modified such that it only requires one left click to open up the corresponding figure as opposed to one left then three right clicks?

Thanks,

Nick

[José-Luis]

I don't understand. You don't get extra plots with the codes I posted. If what you mean is that you want to create different plots for each point you click, then you need to modify the code inside

 if strcmp(click_type,'normal')
    %whatever you want to do after each click
 end

Also, when do you need three right clicks? The code will stop running uiresume() after the first one.

Answer 2

[Justin Cantrell]

@Nick Did you figure this out ? I have the same problem. Thanks

[Luke Coniker]

Hey Justin did you ever figure this out? I having the same problem. Thanks for any help!