adjust scale of axes

While plotting a simple function (y=10.^x) I used the editor to adjust the scale on the y-axis. I little box appeared on the bottom of my screen and let me do just that. For some reason I can't do that anymore, the little box doesn't appear anymore. What happened and how can I fix it?

Thank you very much1

roswitha

Answer 1

[Cris LaPierre]

Sorry, but not sure what that may be. What version of MATLAB are you using? Was this in a live script or a figure window?

One way to do this in a figure window is, in the menu bar, select View > Property Editor (r2018b).

[Ursula Class]

Thank you, Cris, for trying to help. I am using R2016b and I am very inexperienced. I tried what you suggested, but there is nothing there for me to adjust. Prior to this "event", I could (in the editor/property menu) adjust the x-/ and/or y-axis any way I wanted. I assume that by mistake I hit a button that hides the window with that capability from me, but I cannot figure out how to undo that.

[Cris LaPierre]

No, I suspect those steps wouldn't work in 2016b.

I think you were looking at the plot tools. Click on the 'display plot tools' icon in the figure toolbar to open it. An image of it is included in the Alternatives section on the plotbrowser doc page.

To see where this might be in context of the rest of the menu bar, see this old blog post using r2010b.

[Ursula Class]

thanks again, Cris, but I am unable to fix this. I try to use the tools in the figure toolbar, but there is no option to change the scale of the axis.

I typed in the command window :axis ([-10 10 -2 10]), the x-axis shows up correctly with a range from -10 to 10, but the y-axis has (as in my previous attempts) always this highly annoying factor 10^4, so I don't get to see the area I am really interested in much detail. I just don't know what to do.

Ursula

[Cris LaPierre]

Did you get plot tools to open? To see the options for scaling the axis in the plot tools, you would need to first click on an axis.

If it helps, check out this video (starting around 1:15)

To get the axis properties, he clicks on the axis at 1:27. His computer is a little slow, so it takes a couple seconds for it to show up.

Notice when he zooms in at 1:32 to set the X Label. The field under it is X Limits. Under that is X Scale.

I'm not sure this is what you want. Could you share a screenshot of what you are seeing?

Here's what I see when I run the following code:

x=-10:10;
y=10.^x;
plot(x,y)
axis([-10 10 -2 10])

[Ursula Class]

I send here two screenshots, one "hide plot tools", the other "show plot tools". When I click on "show plot tools" I don't get a menu that would allow me to make choices. I am sure matlab is functioning just fine, it is me who just doesn't get it. I watched the video you sent along, makes a lot of sense, but again, I don't seem to have these choices. Are they being offered and for some reason I can't see them on my screen? Did I possibly hit a button that makes these menus/choices not appear?

I am so grateful that you invest your time into this silly but very frustrating problem. Thank you!

[Cris LaPierre]

I'm out of ideas. But as you've already discovered, you can set limits and scale programatically. That is how I would do it.

If typing axis([-10 10 -2 10]) still displays a 10^4 multiplication factor on your y-axis, something is not working correctly. It might be worth reaching out to technical support.

[Ursula Class]

Thank you, Cris, for trying so hard. I'll take your suggestion and I'll contact technical support. Ursula