Empty figure window when plotted from Python

Hi,

I tried to plot a MATLAB figure using a MATLAB funciton from Python script.

I used the following MATLAB funtion (plot_test.m) to draw a simple line graph:

function h = plot_test()
    clear; close all;
    h = plot(1:10, 2:11, 'o:')
    grid on;
end

I called the MATLAB funciton from Python (plot_test.py):

import matlab.engine
eng = matlab.engine.start_matlab()
h = eng.plot_test()
input("Press Enter to quit...")
eng.quit()

The MATLAB figure window was opened. But it was empty.

Could you help me?

The system environments are as follows:

• MATLAB: R2023b
• Python: 3.11.8
• OS: Fedora Linux 6.8.6-100.fc38.x86_64
• Shell: bash 5.2.26
• Resolution: 1680x1050
• Gnome:44.1

I suspect that the resolution might have some impact on this result because when I run the same code in another Fedora machine with 1920x1080 monitor, it shows the graph.

[vidyesh]

Can you share MATLAB version and python version as well.

Answer 1

[Debadipto]

Hi @SHC,

To ensure that the MATLAB figure is correctly displayed when called from a Python script, you can make modifications to the MATLAB function to explicitly set the figure's visibility and to force immediate rendering of the plot. Here's how you can adjust your "plot_test.m" MATLAB function:

function h = plot_test()

clear; close all;

figure('Visible', 'on'); % Explicitly set the figure to be visible

h = plot(1:10, 2:11, 'o:');

grid on;

drawnow; % Force MATLAB to draw the figure's content immediately

pause(0.1); % Introduce a brief pause to ensure the content is fully rendered

end

Hope it helps!

[S. Cho]

Thank you but it did not work.

Answer 2

[Angelo Yeo]

MATLAB has a system requirement for Linux. If the requirements do not meet your system, it might work unexpectedly.

See system-requirements-release-2023b-linux.pdf