How can I create a class method which can be called to modify various class properties repeatedly

Hello! I have a class with a number of properties, and I want to write a method which can be called within the class and use properties as arguments in order to change the value of the input properties. Something like this.

classdef myClass < handle
    properties
        property1
        property2
        property3
        property4
    end
    methods
        function output = myFunction(input)
            output = input;
        end
        % constructor
        function object = myClass
            % call the same function to modify various propeties
            object.property1 = myFunction(object.property2); 
            object.property3 = myFunction(object.property4);
        end
    end
end

I know this code doesnt work and I have been using a handle class so my methods can modify properties. I know that the first argument generally has to be the object but I have no use for it in the function. Is there a way to pass properties and modify them similar to above? Any help would be great thanks!

[Chris]

This is a little confusing. If you have no use for the object, what is the point of modifying its properties?

A static function will work as a normal function, and you can pass it whatever you like, and get an output in return--but it won't have any effect on your object, because you haven't given it an object to act on. (The constructor is a unique case. For everything else, the object needs to exist in order to modify it.)

classdef myClass < handle
    properties
        property1
        property2 = 1
        property3
        property4 = 3
    end
    methods
        % constructor
        function object = myClass
            % call the same function to modify various propeties
            object.property1 = myClass.myFunction(object.property2); 
            object.property3 = myClass.myFunction(object.property4);
        end
    end

    methods(Static)
        function output = myFunction(input)
            output = input;
        end
    end
end

For another take: A class is like an object factory. It contains the instructions to create objects and swap out parts, but you can't swap parts until the object has been built, and swapping parts requires returning the object to the factory. (You could, however, order custom builds with input arguments to the constructor)

[Matt Kutcher]

Ok maybe it would have been more clear if I posted the class I’m actually using. Essentially what I’m trying to do is pass a property to a method which will perform some calculations and assign it to another property. I don’t have a great understanding of OOP in MATLAB, but I thought the constructor method is used to create an instance of the class then when I use the object.property notation I can modify the properties of that I object. It that right?

[Matt Kutcher]

@Chris I actually just managed to figure it out! I had tried previously using a static function but when calling it I never used the obj. notation in front to the function handle. Its now working how I want, thanks for the help!