M2014b+ graphics, changing legend orientation ex post

Under new Matlab graphics, changing the legend orientation does not work well if the legend was created with all 4 output arguments, i.e. [LEGH,OBJH,OUTH,OUTM] = legend(...). On the other hand, the behavior seems to be fine when the legend was created using only LEGH = legend(...). Specifically I have encountered the problem that the legend shape gets adjusted but the legend contents stay according to the original legend orientation which makes my figures look unacceptable.

%%Works properly

figure;
hold on;
p1=plot(1:10);
p2=plot(10:-1:1);
lghandle=legend([p1;p2],{'Line 1','Line 2'});
set(lghandle,'orientation','horizontal');

%%Does not work properly

figure;
hold on;
p1=plot(1:10);
p2=plot(10:-1:1);
[lghandle,l2,l3,l4]=legend([p1;p2],{'Line 1','Line 2'});
set(lghandle,'orientation','horizontal');

Is this a bug?

Answer 1

[Adam]

Well, that help for that particular overload does state:

"Note: This syntax is not recommended. It creates a legend that does not support all graphics features. Instead, use the lgd = legend(__) syntax to return the legend object and set Legend Properties."

so I guess that would explain any odd behaviour.

[Jakub Rysanek]

...and how would you retrieve the handles to text fields inside the legend?

[Adam]

I haven't really used legend, but I assume now that it is a graphics object in its own right that the one returned argument, 'lgd' is a legend object which you can interrogate to get various properties out of so I assume these would be included in there.

[Jakub Rysanek]

...the 'itemText' property which used to work in earlier versions is now empty and the usual sniffing point, the 'children' property, does not contain any information either. I am working with a simple line plot()