Creating additional figures continuing from one data set

I have an array of positions over time I want to plot as a 2d graph/position trace. However I am dealing with at least 30 data sets so want to create figures with a maximum of say 10 per figure. So I'd have results 1-10 11-20 21-30 as separate but comparable figures. I'm struggling to write the code so that I don't end up with multiple figures of 1-10 or 30 figures each with one plot.

Thanks for any help.

[madhan ravi]

datas?

[Kevin Chng]

Do you mind to share what you have tried? It will be easier to understand what you mean.

[Charles Cooper]

Kevin - unfortunately as it's a work thing I don't know how management would react, but have essentially tried:

plts = totaldata/10
for i = 1:plts
figure
hold on
plot(data,t)
hold off
end

But no luck as I am having a brain block on moving the reference through the data matrix.

Hope that makes things clearer

[Kevin Chng]

It's okay. no worries

Answer 1

[Walter Roberson]

for filenumber = 1 : 30 
filename = ....
load data from filename here 
fignum = ceil(filenumber/10)
spnum = 1 + mod(filenumber - 1, 10);
fig = figure(fignum);
ax = subplot(2, 5, spnum, 'Parent', fig) ;
plot(ax, x, y)
title(ax, filename)
end

[Charles Cooper]

If I literally wanted separate figs rather than sub plots, can I combine the ax and fig lines from above?

[Kevin Chng]

I guess you may change fig = figure(fignum); to

figure;

skip the next line

ax = subplot(2, 5, spnum, 'Parent', fig)

then

plot(x, y)

Then you will have 30 figures at the end of program.

[Walter Roberson]

Isn't that the opposite of what you were asking for? You wanted to avoid having 30 figures.

It would be possible to plot multiple files per axes, either as subplot of one figure or as separate figures for each multiple-line plot.

[Charles Cooper]

To clarify and reiterate from initial post: I want 3 graphs with 10 plots on each. I don't really like sub plots in the same figure window as the work machines don't have great screens. Hence the issue as like you've said I want to avoid 30 figures, and I don't want 1 figure screen with smaller axes for each of the 3 sub plots.

I feel like I'm missing an obvious solution for this. Either that or I'm asking for an awkward thing...

[Walter Roberson]

numfile = 30;
for filenumber = 1 : numfile
  filename = ....
  load data from filename here
  [~, basename, ~] = fileparts(filename); 
  fignum = ceil(filenumber/10)
  spnum = 1 + mod(filenumber - 1, 10);
  fig = figure(fignum);
  if spnum == 1
    ax = axes('parent', fignum);
    plot(ax, x, y, 'DisplayName', basename);
    hold(ax, 'on');
  else
    plot(ax, x, y, 'DisplayName', basename);
  end
  if spnum == 10 || filenumber == numfile
    hold(ax, 'off')
    legend('show');
    drawnow();
  end
end

In the above code, the colors and styles for the lines will be chosen automatically. In particular, by default there are only 7 different line colors, so #8, #9 and #10 of each figure will use the same colors as #1 and #2 and #3 respectively. By default for most setups, they will use the same line style (solid) as well. You can adjust that by changing

        ax = axes('parent', fignum);

to

        ax = axes('parent', fignum, 'LineStyleOrder', '-|--');

in which case although #8, #9, #10 will have the same color as #1, #2, #3, the line will change to dashed instead of solid.

A legend will be created labeling each line as the basic filename without directory or file extension.

The above code does not assume that the number of datasets is an exact multiple of 10.

[Charles Cooper]

Walter - Thank you, could you put this code as your answer so I can mark it correct? Very helpful :)

[Walter Roberson]

That comment is under my answer, so you can just Accept the answer. It is common (pretty much expected) that the final solution will require some fine tuning that will appear in comments.