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GeographicScalebar Properties

Geographic scale bar appearance and behavior

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GeographicScalebar properties control the appearance and behavior of the GeographicScalebar object stored in a GeographicAxes or MapAxes (Mapping Toolbox™) object.

By changing property values, you can modify certain aspects of the scale bar. Access the GeographicScalebar object using the Scalebar property of the GeographicAxes or MapAxes object. Use dot notation to query and set properties.

geoplot(1:10,1:10)
gx = gca;
v = gx.Scalebar.Visible;
gx.Scalebar.Visible = "off";

Appearance

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Background transparency, specified as a value in the range [0, 1]. A value of 1 means opaque and a value of 0 means transparent.

Example: gx.Scalebar.BackgroundAlpha = 0.2;

Background color, specified as an RGB triplet, a hexadecimal color code, a color name, or a short color name.

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

  • An RGB triplet is a three-element row vector whose elements specify the intensities of the red, green, and blue components of the color. The intensities must be in the range [0,1], for example, [0.4 0.6 0.7].

  • A hexadecimal color code is a string scalar or character vector that starts with a hash symbol (#) followed by three or six hexadecimal digits, which can range from 0 to F. The values are not case sensitive. Therefore, the color codes "#FF8800", "#ff8800", "#F80", and "#f80" are equivalent.

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

Color NameShort NameRGB TripletHexadecimal Color CodeAppearance
"red""r"[1 0 0]"#FF0000"

Sample of the color red

"green""g"[0 1 0]"#00FF00"

Sample of the color green

"blue""b"[0 0 1]"#0000FF"

Sample of the color blue

"cyan" "c"[0 1 1]"#00FFFF"

Sample of the color cyan

"magenta""m"[1 0 1]"#FF00FF"

Sample of the color magenta

"yellow""y"[1 1 0]"#FFFF00"

Sample of the color yellow

"black""k"[0 0 0]"#000000"

Sample of the color black

"white""w"[1 1 1]"#FFFFFF"

Sample of the color white

"none"Not applicableNot applicableNot applicableNo color

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

RGB TripletHexadecimal Color CodeAppearance
[0 0.4470 0.7410]"#0072BD"

Sample of RGB triplet [0 0.4470 0.7410], which appears as dark blue

[0.8500 0.3250 0.0980]"#D95319"

Sample of RGB triplet [0.8500 0.3250 0.0980], which appears as dark orange

[0.9290 0.6940 0.1250]"#EDB120"

Sample of RGB triplet [0.9290 0.6940 0.1250], which appears as dark yellow

[0.4940 0.1840 0.5560]"#7E2F8E"

Sample of RGB triplet [0.4940 0.1840 0.5560], which appears as dark purple

[0.4660 0.6740 0.1880]"#77AC30"

Sample of RGB triplet [0.4660 0.6740 0.1880], which appears as medium green

[0.3010 0.7450 0.9330]"#4DBEEE"

Sample of RGB triplet [0.3010 0.7450 0.9330], which appears as light blue

[0.6350 0.0780 0.1840]"#A2142F"

Sample of RGB triplet [0.6350 0.0780 0.1840], which appears as dark red

Example: gx.Scalebar.BackgroundColor = [0 0 1];

Example: gx.Scalebar.BackgroundColor = "b";

Example: gx.Scalebar.BackgroundColor = "none";

Example: gx.Scalebar.BackgroundColor = "#0000FF";

Line color, specified as an RGB triplet, a hexadecimal color code, a color name, or a short color name.

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

  • An RGB triplet is a three-element row vector whose elements specify the intensities of the red, green, and blue components of the color. The intensities must be in the range [0,1], for example, [0.4 0.6 0.7].

  • A hexadecimal color code is a string scalar or character vector that starts with a hash symbol (#) followed by three or six hexadecimal digits, which can range from 0 to F. The values are not case sensitive. Therefore, the color codes "#FF8800", "#ff8800", "#F80", and "#f80" are equivalent.

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

Color NameShort NameRGB TripletHexadecimal Color CodeAppearance
"red""r"[1 0 0]"#FF0000"

Sample of the color red

"green""g"[0 1 0]"#00FF00"

Sample of the color green

"blue""b"[0 0 1]"#0000FF"

Sample of the color blue

"cyan" "c"[0 1 1]"#00FFFF"

Sample of the color cyan

"magenta""m"[1 0 1]"#FF00FF"

Sample of the color magenta

"yellow""y"[1 1 0]"#FFFF00"

Sample of the color yellow

"black""k"[0 0 0]"#000000"

Sample of the color black

"white""w"[1 1 1]"#FFFFFF"

Sample of the color white

"none"Not applicableNot applicableNot applicableNo color

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

RGB TripletHexadecimal Color CodeAppearance
[0 0.4470 0.7410]"#0072BD"

Sample of RGB triplet [0 0.4470 0.7410], which appears as dark blue

[0.8500 0.3250 0.0980]"#D95319"

Sample of RGB triplet [0.8500 0.3250 0.0980], which appears as dark orange

[0.9290 0.6940 0.1250]"#EDB120"

Sample of RGB triplet [0.9290 0.6940 0.1250], which appears as dark yellow

[0.4940 0.1840 0.5560]"#7E2F8E"

Sample of RGB triplet [0.4940 0.1840 0.5560], which appears as dark purple

[0.4660 0.6740 0.1880]"#77AC30"

Sample of RGB triplet [0.4660 0.6740 0.1880], which appears as medium green

[0.3010 0.7450 0.9330]"#4DBEEE"

Sample of RGB triplet [0.3010 0.7450 0.9330], which appears as light blue

[0.6350 0.0780 0.1840]"#A2142F"

Sample of RGB triplet [0.6350 0.0780 0.1840], which appears as dark red

Note

Setting properties of the parent axes can affect the scale bar.

  • When the parent is a geographic axes, setting the AxisColor property for the axes sets the EdgeColor property for the scale bar to the same value.

  • When the parent is a map axes, setting the OutlineColor property for the axes sets the EdgeColor property for the scale bar to the same value.

However, setting properties of the scale bar does not affect the parent axes. To prevent the axes property value from overriding the scale bar property value, set the axes value first, and then set the scale bar value.

Example: gx.Scalebar.EdgeColor = "b";

Example: gx.Scalebar.EdgeColor = "blue";

Example: gx.Scalebar.EdgeColor = [0 0 1];

Example: gx.Scalebar.EdgeColor = "#0000FF";

Line width, specified as a positive value in point units. One point equals 1/72 inch.

Note

Setting the LineWidth property for the parent axes sets the LineWidth property for the scale bar to the same value. However, setting the scale bar property does not set the axes property. To prevent the axes property value from overriding the scale bar property value, set the axes value first, and then set the scale bar value.

Example: gx.Scalebar.LineWidth = 2;

State of visibility, specified as 'on' or 'off', or as numeric or logical 1 (true) or 0 (false). A value of 'on' is equivalent to true, and 'off' is equivalent to false. Thus, you can use the value of this property as a logical value. The value is stored as an on/off logical value of type matlab.lang.OnOffSwitchState.

  • 'on' — Display the object.

  • 'off' — Hide the object without deleting it. You still can access the properties of an invisible object.

Font

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Font name, specified as a supported font name or 'FixedWidth'. To display and print text properly, you must choose a font that your system supports. The default font depends on your operating system and locale.

To use a fixed-width font that looks good in any locale, use 'FixedWidth'. The fixed-width font relies on the root FixedWidthFontName property. Setting the root FixedWidthFontName property causes an immediate update of the display to use the new font.

Note

Setting the FontName property for the parent axes sets the FontName property for the scale bar to the same value. However, setting the scale bar property does not set the axes property. To prevent the axes property value from overriding the scale bar property value, set the axes value first, and then set the scale bar value.

Example: gx.Scalebar.FontName = "Cambria";

Font size, specified as a scalar numeric value.

Note

Setting the FontSize property for the parent axes sets the FontSize property for the scale bar to the same value. However, setting the scale bar property does not set the axes property. To prevent the axes property value from overriding the scale bar property value, set the axes value first, and then set the scale bar value.

When using the font size stored in the parent axes, the scale bar scales the font size to 80% of the axes font size.

Example: gx.Scalebar.FontSize = 12;

Character thickness, specified as 'normal' or 'bold'.

MATLAB uses the FontWeight property to select a font from those fonts available on your system. Not all fonts have a bold font weight. Therefore, specifying a bold font weight still can result in the normal font weight.

Note

Setting the FontWeight property for the parent axes sets the FontWeight property for the scale bar to the same value. However, setting the scale bar property does not set the axes property. To prevent the axes property value from overriding the scale bar property value, set the axes value first, and then set the scale bar value.

Example: gx.Scalebar.FontWeight = "bold";

Font color, specified as an RGB triplet, a hexadecimal color code, a color name, or a short color name.

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

  • An RGB triplet is a three-element row vector whose elements specify the intensities of the red, green, and blue components of the color. The intensities must be in the range [0,1], for example, [0.4 0.6 0.7].

  • A hexadecimal color code is a string scalar or character vector that starts with a hash symbol (#) followed by three or six hexadecimal digits, which can range from 0 to F. The values are not case sensitive. Therefore, the color codes "#FF8800", "#ff8800", "#F80", and "#f80" are equivalent.

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

Color NameShort NameRGB TripletHexadecimal Color CodeAppearance
"red""r"[1 0 0]"#FF0000"

Sample of the color red

"green""g"[0 1 0]"#00FF00"

Sample of the color green

"blue""b"[0 0 1]"#0000FF"

Sample of the color blue

"cyan" "c"[0 1 1]"#00FFFF"

Sample of the color cyan

"magenta""m"[1 0 1]"#FF00FF"

Sample of the color magenta

"yellow""y"[1 1 0]"#FFFF00"

Sample of the color yellow

"black""k"[0 0 0]"#000000"

Sample of the color black

"white""w"[1 1 1]"#FFFFFF"

Sample of the color white

"none"Not applicableNot applicableNot applicableNo color

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

RGB TripletHexadecimal Color CodeAppearance
[0 0.4470 0.7410]"#0072BD"

Sample of RGB triplet [0 0.4470 0.7410], which appears as dark blue

[0.8500 0.3250 0.0980]"#D95319"

Sample of RGB triplet [0.8500 0.3250 0.0980], which appears as dark orange

[0.9290 0.6940 0.1250]"#EDB120"

Sample of RGB triplet [0.9290 0.6940 0.1250], which appears as dark yellow

[0.4940 0.1840 0.5560]"#7E2F8E"

Sample of RGB triplet [0.4940 0.1840 0.5560], which appears as dark purple

[0.4660 0.6740 0.1880]"#77AC30"

Sample of RGB triplet [0.4660 0.6740 0.1880], which appears as medium green

[0.3010 0.7450 0.9330]"#4DBEEE"

Sample of RGB triplet [0.3010 0.7450 0.9330], which appears as light blue

[0.6350 0.0780 0.1840]"#A2142F"

Sample of RGB triplet [0.6350 0.0780 0.1840], which appears as dark red

Note

Setting properties of the parent axes can affect the scale bar.

  • When the parent is a geographic axes, setting the AxisColor property for the axes sets the FontColor property for the scale bar to the same value.

  • When the parent is a map axes, setting the FontColor property for the axes sets the FontColor property for the scale bar to the same value.

However, setting properties of the scale bar does not affect the parent axes. To prevent the axes property value from overriding the scale bar property value, set the axes value first, and then set the scale bar value.

Example: gx.Scalebar.FontColor = "b";

Example: gx.Scalebar.FontColor = "blue";

Example: gx.Scalebar.FontColor = [0 0 1];

Example: gx.Scalebar.FontColor = "#0000FF";

Character slant, specified as 'normal' or 'italic'.

Not all fonts have both font styles. Therefore, the italic font might look the same as the normal font.

Note

Setting the FontAngle property for the parent axes sets the FontAngle property for the scale bar to the same value. However, setting the scale bar property does not set the axes property. To prevent the axes property value from overriding the scale bar property value, set the axes value first, and then set the scale bar value.

Example: gx.Scalebar.FontAngle = "italic";

Font smoothing, specified as 'on' or 'off', or as numeric or logical 1 (true) or 0 (false). A value of 'on' is equivalent to true, and 'off' is equivalent to false. Thus, you can use the value of this property as a logical value. The value is stored as an on/off logical value of type matlab.lang.OnOffSwitchState.

  • 'on' — Use antialiasing to make text appear smoother on the screen.

  • 'off' — Do not use antialiasing. Use this setting if the text seems blurry.

Note

The FontSmoothing property will have no effect in a future release. Font smoothing will be enabled regardless of the value of the property.

Example: gx.Scalebar.FontSmoothing = "off";

Parent/Child

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This property is read-only.

Parent, specified as a GeographicAxes object or MapAxes object.

Note

Scale bar objects are not listed in the Children property of the parent object.

This property is read-only.

Scale bar objects have no children.

Version History

Introduced in R2019a

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See Also

Properties