axesm-Based Map Properties

Angular unit of measure — Controls the units of measure used for angles (including latitudes and longitudes) in the map. All input data are assumed to be in the given units; 'degrees' is the default. For more information on angle units, see Angle Representations and Angular Units in the Mapping Toolbox™ User's Guide.

Display aspect — Controls the orientation of the base projection of the map. When the aspect is 'normal' (the default), north in the base projection is up. In a transverse aspect, north is to the right. A cylindrical projection of the whole world would look like a landscape display under a 'normal' aspect, and like a portrait under a 'transverse' aspect. Note that this property is not the same as projection aspect, which is controlled by the Origin property vector discussed later.

Coordinate shift for projection calculations — Modifies the position of the map within the axes. The projected coordinates are shifted in the x-direction by the amount of FalseEasting. The FalseEasting is in the same units as the projected coordinates, that is, the units of the first element of the Geoid axesm-based map property. False eastings and northings are sometimes used to ensure nonnegative values of the projected coordinates. For example, the Universal Transverse Mercator uses a false easting of 500,000 meters.

Coordinate shift for projection calculations — Modifies the position of the map within the axes. The projected coordinates are shifted in the y-direction by the amount of FalseNorthing. The FalseNorthing is in the same units as the projected coordinates, that is, the units of the first element of the Geoid axesm-based map property. False eastings and northings are sometimes used to ensure nonnegative values of the projected coordinates. For example, the Universal Transverse Mercator uses a false northing of 0 in the northern hemisphere and 10,000,000 meters in the southern.

This property is read-only.

Projection-based orientation — This read-only property fixes the orientation of certain projections (such as the Cassini and Wetch). When empty, which is true for most projections, the user can alter the orientation of the projection using the third element of the Origin property. When fixed, the fixed orientation is always used.

Reference spheroid definition — The spheroid (ellipsoid or sphere) for calculating the projections of any displayed map objects. It can be an referenceSphere, referenceEllipsoid, or oblateSpheroid object, or a two-element vector of the form [semimajor_axis eccentricity]. The default value is an ellipsoid vector representing the unit sphere: [1 0].

Geographic latitude limits of the display area — Expressed as a two-element vector of the form [southern_limit northern_limit]. This property can be set for many typical projections and geometries, but cannot be used with oblique projections or with globe, for example. When applicable, the MapLatLimit property may affect the origin latitude if the Origin property is not set explicitly when calling axesm. It may also determine the value used for FLatLimit.

Geographic longitude limits of the display area — Expressed as a two-element vector of the form [western_limit eastern_limit]. This property can be set for many typical projections and geometries, but cannot be used with oblique projections or with globe, for example. When applicable, the MapLonLimit property may affect the origin longitude if the Origin property is not set explicitly when calling axesm. It may also determine the value used for FLonLimit.

Projection standard parallels — Sets the standard parallels of projection. It can be an empty, one-, or two-element vector, depending upon the projection. The elements are in the same units as the axesm-based map AngleUnits. Many projections have specific, defining standard parallels. When an axesm-based map is based upon one of these projections, the parallels are set to the appropriate defaults. For conic projections, the default standard parallels are set to 15ºN and 75ºN, which biases the projection toward the northern hemisphere.

For projections with one defined standard parallel, setting the parallels to an empty vector forces recalculation of the parallel to the middle of the map latitude limits. For projections requiring two standard parallels, setting the parallels to an empty vector forces recalculation of the parallels to one-sixth the distance from the latitude limits (e.g., if the map latitude limits correspond to the northern hemisphere [0 90], the standard parallels for a conic projection are set to [15 75]). For azimuthal projections, the MapParallels property always contains an empty vector and cannot be altered.

See the Mapping Toolbox User's Guide for more information on standard parallels.

Map projection — Sets the projection, and hence all transformation calculations, for the axesm-based map. It is required in the creation of the axesm-based map. It must be a member of the recognized projection set, which you can list by typing getm('MapProjection') or maps. For more information on projections, see the Mapping Toolbox User's Guide. Some projections set their own defaults for other properties, such as parallels and trim limits.

Origin and orientation for projection calculations — Sets the map origin for all projection calculations. The latitude, longitude, and orientation should be in the axesm-based map AngleUnits. Latitude and longitude refer to the coordinates of the map origin; orientation refers to an angle of skewness or rotation about the axis running through the origin point and the center of the earth. The default origin is 0º latitude and a longitude centered between the map longitude limits. If a scalar is entered, it is assumed to refer to the longitude; if a two-element vector is entered, the default orientation is 0º, a normal projection. If an empty origin vector is entered, the origin is centered on the map longitude limits. For more information on the origin, see the Mapping Toolbox User's Guide.

This property is read-only.

Number of standard parallels — This read-only property contains the number of standard parallels associated with the projection. See the Mapping Toolbox User's Guide for more information on standard parallels.

Scale factor for projection calculations — Modifies the size of the map in projected coordinates. The geographic coordinates are transformed to Cartesian coordinates by the map projection equations and multiplied by the scale factor. Scale factors are sometimes used to minimize the scale distortion in a map projection. For example, the Universal Transverse Mercator uses a scale factor of 0.996 to shift the line of zero scale distortion to two lines on either side of the central meridian.

Zone for certain projections — Specifies the zone for certain projections. A zone is a region on the globe that has a special set of projection parameters. In the Universal Transverse Mercator Projection, the world is divided into quadrangles that are generally 6 degrees wide and 8 degrees tall. The number in the zone designation refers to the longitude range, while the letter refers to the latitude range. Most projections use the same parameters for the entire globe, and do not require a zone.

Frame visibility — Controls the visibility of the display frame box. When the frame is 'off' (the default), the frame is not displayed. When the frame is 'on', an enclosing frame is visible. The frame is a patch that is plotted as the lowest layer of displayed map objects. Regardless of its display status, the frame always operates in terms of trimming map data.

Frame plotting precision — Sets the number of points to be used in plotting the frame for display. The default value is 100, which for a rectangular frame results in a plot with 100 points for each side, or a total of 400 points. The number of points required for a reasonable display varies with the projection. Cylindrical projections such as the Miller require very few. Projections resulting in more complex frames, such as the Werner, look better with higher densities. The default value is generally sufficient.

Color of displayed frame edge — Specifies the color used for the displayed frame. You can specify an RGB triplet, a hexadecimal color code, a color name, or a short name. By default, the frame edge is displayed in black.

For a custom color, specify an RGB triplet or a hexadecimal color code.

Alternatively, you can specify some common colors by name. This table lists the named color options, the equivalent RGB triplets, and hexadecimal color codes.

Here are the RGB triplets and hexadecimal color codes for the default colors MATLAB^® uses in many types of plots.

Color of displayed frame face — Specifies the color used for the displayed frame face. You can specify an RGB triplet, a hexadecimal color code, a color name, or a short name. The default, 'none', means no face color is filled in.

For a custom color, specify an RGB triplet or a hexadecimal color code.

Alternatively, you can specify some common colors by name. This table lists the named color options, the equivalent RGB triplets, and hexadecimal color codes.

Here are the RGB triplets and hexadecimal color codes for the default colors MATLAB uses in many types of plots.

Latitude limits of map frame relative to projection origin — The map frame encloses the area in which data and graticule lines are plotted and beyond which they are trimmed. For non-oblique and non-azimuthal projections, which have quadrangular frames, this property controls the north-south extent of the frame. If a projection is made oblique by the inclusion of a non-zero rotation angle (the third element of the Origin vector), FLatLimit still applies, but in the rotated latitude-longitude system rather than in the geographic system. In the case of azimuthal projections, which have circular frames, FLatLimit takes the special form [-Inf radius] where radius is the spherical distance (in degrees or radians, depending on the AngleUnits property of the projection) from the projection origin to the edge of the frame.

Frame edge line width — Sets the line width of the displayed frame edge. The value is a scalar representing points, which is 2 by default.

Longitude limits of map frame relative to projection origin — The map frame encloses the area in which data and graticule lines are plotted and beyond which they are trimmed. For non-oblique and non-azimuthal projections, which have quadrangular frames, this property controls the east-west extent of the frame. If a projection is made oblique by the inclusion of a non-zero rotation angle (the third element of the Origin vector), FLonLimit still applies, but in the rotated latitude-longitude system rather than in the geographic system. The FLonLimit property is ignored for azimuthal projections.

This property is read-only.

Bounds on FLatLimit — This read-only property sets bounds on the values that axesm and setm will accept for the MapLatLimit and FLatLimit properties, which is necessary because some map projections cannot display the entire globe without extending to infinity. For example, TrimLat is [-90 90] degrees for most cylindrical projections and [-86 86] degrees for the Mercator projection because the north-south scale becomes infinite as one approaches either pole.

This property is read-only.

Bounds on FLonLimit — This read-only property sets bounds on the values that axesm and setm will accept for the MapLonLimit and FLonLimit properties, which is necessary because some map projections cannot display the entire globe without extending to infinity. For example, TrimLon is [-135 135] degrees for most conic projections.

Grid visibility — Controls the visibility of the display grid. When the grid is 'off' (the default), the grid is not displayed. When the grid is 'on', meridians and parallels are visible. The grid is plotted as a set of line objects.

Grid z-axis setting — Sets the z-axis location for the grid when displayed. Its default value is infinity, which is displayed above all other map objects. However, you can set this to some other value for stacking objects above the grid, if desired.

Color of the displayed grid — Specifies the color used for the displayed grid. You can specify an RGB triplet, a hexadecimal color code, a color name, or a short name. By default, the map grid is displayed in black.

For a custom color, specify an RGB triplet or a hexadecimal color code.

Alternatively, you can specify some common colors by name. This table lists the named color options, the equivalent RGB triplets, and hexadecimal color codes.

Here are the RGB triplets and hexadecimal color codes for the default colors MATLAB uses in many types of plots.

Grid line style — Determines the style of line used when the grid is displayed. You can specify any line style supported by the MATLAB line function. The default line style is a dotted line (that is, ':').

Grid line width — Sets the line width of the displayed grid. The value is a scalar representing points, which is 0.5 by default.

Exceptions to grid meridian limits — Allows specific meridians of the displayed grid to extend beyond the grid meridian limits to the poles. The value must be a vector of longitudes in the appropriate angle units. For longitudes so specified, grid lines extend from pole to pole regardless of the existence of any grid meridian limits. This vector is empty by default.

Grid meridian plotting precision — Sets the number of points to be used in plotting the grid meridians. The default value is 100 points. The number of points required for a reasonable display varies with the projection. Cylindrical projections such as the Miller require very few. Projections resulting in more complex shapes, such as the Werner, look better with higher densities. The default value is generally sufficient.

Grid meridian limits — Establishes latitudes beyond which displayed grid meridians do not extend. By default, this property is empty, so the meridians extend to the poles. There are two exceptions to the meridian limits. No meridian extends beyond the map latitude limits, and exceptions to the meridian limits for selected meridians are allowed (see above).

Grid meridian interval or specific locations — Establishes the interval between displayed grid meridians. When a scalar interval is entered in the axesm-based map MLineLocation, meridians are displayed, starting at 0º longitude and repeating every interval in both directions, which by default is 30º. Alternatively, you can enter a vector of longitudes, in which case a meridian is displayed for each element of the vector.

Exceptions to grid parallel limits — Allows specific parallels of the displayed grid to extend beyond the grid parallel limits to the International Date Line. The value must be a vector of latitudes in the appropriate angle units. For latitudes so specified, grid lines extend from the western to the eastern map limit, regardless of the existence of any grid parallel limits. This vector is empty by default.

Grid parallel plotting precision — Sets the number of points to be used in plotting the grid parallels. The default value is 100. The number of points required for a reasonable display varies with the projection. Cylindrical projections such as the Miller require very few. Projections resulting in more complex shapes, such as the Bonne, look better with higher densities. The default value is generally sufficient.

Grid parallel limits — Establishes longitudes beyond which displayed grid parallels do not extend. By default, this property is empty, so the parallels extend to the date line. There are two exceptions to the parallel limits. No parallel extends beyond the map longitude limits, and exceptions to the parallel limits for selected parallels are allowed (see above).

Grid parallel interval or specific locations — Establishes the interval between displayed grid parallels. When a scalar interval is entered in the axesm-based map PLineLocation, parallels are displayed, starting at 0º latitude and repeating every interval in both directions, which by default is 15º. Alternatively, you can enter a vector of latitudes, in which case a parallel is displayed for each element of the vector.

Select italic or normal font for all grid labels — Selects the character slant for all displayed grid labels. 'normal' specifies nonitalic font. 'italic' and 'oblique' specify italic font.

Text color for all grid labels — Sets the color of all displayed grid labels. You can specify an RGB triplet, a hexadecimal color code, a color name, or a short name.

For a custom color, specify an RGB triplet or a hexadecimal color code.

Alternatively, you can specify some common colors by name. This table lists the named color options, the equivalent RGB triplets, and hexadecimal color codes.

Here are the RGB triplets and hexadecimal color codes for the default colors MATLAB uses in many types of plots.

Font family name for all grid labels — Sets the font for all displayed grid labels. To display and print properly, FontName must be a font that your system supports.

Font size — An integer specifying the font size to use for all displayed grid labels, in units specified by the FontUnits property. The default point size is 9.

Units used to interpret the FontSize property — When set to normalized, the toolbox interprets the value of FontSize as a fraction of the height of the axes. For example, a normalized FontSize of 0.1 sets the text characters to a font whose height is one-tenth of the axes' height. The default units ('points') are equal to 1/72 of an inch.

Select bold or normal font — The character weight for all displayed grid labels.

Labeling format for grid — Specifies the format of the grid labels. If 'compass' is employed (the default), meridian labels are suffixed with an “E” for east and a “W” for west, and parallel labels are suffixed with an “N” for north and an “S” for south. If 'signed' is used, meridian labels are prefixed with a “+” for east and a “-” for west, and parallel labels are suffixed with a “+” for north and a “-” for south. If 'none' is selected, straight latitude and longitude numerical values are employed, so western meridian labels and southern parallel labels will have a “-”, but no symbol precedes eastern and northern (positive) labels.

Label rotation — Determines whether the meridian and parallel labels are displayed without rotation (the default) or rotated to align to the graticule. This option is not available for the Globe display.

Specify units and formatting for grid labels — The display of meridian and parallel labels is controlled by the axesm-based map LabelUnits property, as described in the following table.

LabelUnits does not have a default of its own; instead it defaults to the value of AngleUnits at the time the axesm-based map is constructed, which itself defaults to degrees. Although you can specify 'dm' and 'dms' for LabelUnits, these values are not accepted when setting AngleUnits.

Toggle display of meridian labels — Specifies whether the meridian labels are visible or not.

Specify meridians for labeling — Meridian labels need not coincide with the displayed meridian lines. Labels are displayed at intervals if a scalar in the axesm-based map MLabelLocation is entered, starting at the prime meridian and repeating at every interval in both directions. If a vector of longitudes is entered, labels are displayed at those meridians. The default locations coincide with the displayed meridian lines, as specified in the MLineLocation property.

Specify parallel for meridian label placement — Specifies the latitude location of the displayed meridian labels. If a scalar latitude is specified, all meridian labels are displayed at that latitude. If 'north' is specified, the maximum of the MapLatLimit is used; if 'south' is specified, the minimum of the MapLatLimit is used. If 'equator' is specified, a latitude of 0º is used.

Specify significant digits for meridian labels — Specifies to which power of ten the displayed labels are rounded. For example, if MLabelRound is -1, labels are displayed down to the tenths. The default value of MLabelRound is 0; that is, displayed labels have no decimal places, being rounded to the ones column (10⁰).

Toggle display of parallel labels — Specifies whether the parallel labels are visible or not.

Specify parallels for labeling — Parallel labels need not coincide with the displayed parallel lines. Labels are displayed at intervals if a scalar in the axesm-based map PLabelLocation is entered, starting at the equator and repeating at every interval in both directions. If a vector of latitudes is entered, labels are displayed at those parallels. The default locations coincide with the displayed parallel lines, as specified in the PLineLocation property.

Specify meridian for parallel label placement — Specifies the longitude location of the displayed parallel labels. If a longitude is specified, all parallel labels are displayed at that longitude. If 'east' is specified, the maximum of the MapLonLimit is used; if 'west' is specified, the minimum of the MapLonLimit is used. If 'prime' is specified, a longitude of 0º is used.

Specify significant digits for parallel labels — Specifies to which power of ten the displayed labels are rounded. For example, if PLabelRound is -1, labels are displayed down to the tenths. The default value of PLabelRound is 0; that is, displayed labels have no decimal places, being rounded to the ones column (10⁰).