Call to Subplot is Adding Axis to Current Figure

I'm creating a figure and then later adding a subplot to it. When I get the axis handle from the call to subplot, it is adding an axis to what I think is the current figure.

%pre-allocate graphics objects for holding figures
figs = gobjects(2,1);

%create figures and store in variable figs
for i1 = 1:length(figs)
    figs(i1) = figure;
end

%create the upper axis of a 2x1 subplot and get the handle
%this call is also adding an axis to figs(2) for some reason
ax = subplot(2,1,1,'Parent',figs(1))

If I add a call to

set(0,'CurrentFigure',figs(1))

just before

ax = subplot(2,1,1,'Parent',figs(1))

then it won't create an axis on the second figure. Can anyone explain this phenomenon? Is there a better solution than my workaround of having to set the current figure before any of these calls?

[Adam Danz]

What version of matlab are you using?

The script in your first block works correctly when I run it.

[Shawn Treacy]

I'm using 2019a. What are you using?

EDIT: Can you please stop editing that comment instead of creating a chain? It makes for some goofy looking responses.

[A. Sawas]

I did not get this problem ... I am using 2018b

[Shawn Treacy]

That's strange. I don't have 2018b to test, but I checked it on 2018a and 2019a and have the same issue.

I wonder if it could be related to some startup code that I added to get the zoom/pan/etc... functions back on the toolbar.

set(groot,'defaultFigureCreateFcn','addToolbarExplorationButtons(gcf)')
set(groot,'defaultAxesCreateFcn','set(get(gca,''Toolbar''),''Visible'',''off'')')

I'm wondering if that second call is the problem.

Answer 1

[Adam]

Yes, that does seem a slightly odd thing to have in the startup file and is indeed the cause of this behaviour (I just tested with and without it).

I have the first line in my startup file also, but not the second line.

Try replacing that line with the following in your startup instead:

set(groot,'defaultAxesCreateFcn',@(ax,~)set(ax.Toolbar,'Visible','off'))

[Shawn Treacy]

Perfect, thank you.

[Adam Danz]

More info on those commands here:

https://www.mathworks.com/matlabcentral/answers/419036-what-happened-to-the-figure-toolbar-in-r2018b-why-is-it-an-axes-toolbar-how-can-i-put-the-buttons

[Shawn Treacy]

That's great. It addresses the problems that come from uses gcf and gca. The better startup commands seem to be:

set(groot,'defaultFigureCreateFcn',@(fig,~)addToolbarExplorationButtons(fig))

set(groot,'defaultAxesCreateFcn',@(ax,~)set(ax.Toolbar,'Visible','off'))