Crossing axis and labels in matlab

Question

I just can't find it. How to set up axis and labels in matlab so they cross at zero point, with the labels just below the axis not on left/bottom of the plot ?

If I didn't make myself clear - I just want the plot to look like like we all used to draw it when in school. Axes crossing, 4 quadrants, labels right below axis, curve ... as it goes.

Anyone knows how to set it up ?

Nilsson

To clarify, Idigas wants the plot to look like upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/37/… (I think). – Nosey

@Jitse Niesen - exactly. While I was searching for the image, you already found it. – Nilsson

Answer 1

You should check out two submissions on The MathWorks File Exchange:

• PlotAxisAtOrigin by Shanrong Zhang
• axescenter by Matt Fig

Hopefully these will work with whatever MATLAB version you have (the submission from Matt Fig is the most recently updated one).

Radiolocation

@Idigas: I understand what you want now. I updated my answer accordingly. – Radiolocation

Hmm, yes I found the first one (the image "upstairs" is from it. But I've been having problems with it when manipulating it.). They both seem like workarounds to me ... do you mean to tell me matlab doesn't support something like this normally ? ... checking out the second one. – Nilsson

@Idigas: There's nothing like this currently built-in to MATLAB. You either have to create this sort of thing yourself or find a FEX submission from someone who already has. ;) – Radiolocation

Good to know. Anyway, I managed to get the second one working, so that will have to do for now. Appreciate the help in clearing this out for me. – Nilsson

Answer 2

As of Matlab release R2015b, this can be achieved with the axis property XAxisLocation and YAxisLocation being set to origin.

In other words,

x = linspace(-5,5);
y = sin(x);
plot(x,y)

ax = gca;
ax.XAxisLocation = 'origin';
ax.YAxisLocation = 'origin';

Example is taken from MATLAB official documentation:

• Display Axis Lines through Origin
• Controlling Axis Location

Teston

+1, one thing to note, it only works for 2D views. One linked question asks about 3D axes, in which case the above properties have no effect. – Nysa