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rlim

Set or query r-axis limits for polar axes

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Syntax

rlim(limits)
rlim(limitmode)
rl = rlim
m = rlim("mode")
___ = rlim(pax,___)

Description

Specify Limits

rlim(limits) specifies the r-axis limits for the current polar axes. Specify limits as a two-element vector of the form [rmin rmax], where rmax is a numeric value greater than rmin.

example

rlim(limitmode) specifies automatic or manual limit selection. The limitmode can have either of two values:

  • "auto" — Enable automatic limit selection. MATLAB® chooses the r-axis limits.

  • "manual" — Freeze the r-axis limits at their current value. Use this option if you want to retain the current limits when adding new data to the polar axes using the hold on command.

example

Query Limits

rl = rlim returns a two-element vector containing the limits for the current polar axes.

example

m = rlim("mode") returns the current value of the limits mode, which is either 'auto' or 'manual'. By default, the mode is automatic unless you specify limits or set the mode to manual.

Specify Target Axes

___ = rlim(pax,___) uses the polar axes specified by pax instead of the current polar axes. Specify pax as the first input argument. Include additional input or output arguments only if the original syntax supported them.

example

Examples

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Open Live Script

Create a polar plot and change the r-axis limits.

theta = 0:0.01:2*pi;
rho = sin(2*theta).*cos(2*theta);
polarplot(theta,rho)
rlim([0 1])

Figure contains an axes object with type polaraxes. The polaraxes object contains an object of type line.

Set the limits back to the original values. 

rlim('auto')

Figure contains an axes object with type polaraxes. The polaraxes object contains an object of type line.

Open Live Script

Create a polar plot using negative radius values. By default, polarplot reflects negative values through the origin.

theta = linspace(0,2*pi);
rho = sin(theta);
polarplot(theta,rho)

Figure contains an axes object with type polaraxes. The polaraxes object contains an object of type line.

Change the limits of the r-axis so it ranges from -1 to 1.

rlim([-1 1])

Figure contains an axes object with type polaraxes. The polaraxes object contains an object of type line.

Open Live Script

Create a polar plot and return the r-axis limits. 

theta = 0:0.01:2*pi;
rho = sin(2*theta).*cos(2*theta);
polarplot(theta,rho)

Figure contains an axes object with type polaraxes. The polaraxes object contains an object of type line.

rl = rlim
rl = 1×2

         0    0.5000
Open Live Script

Set the limits for a specific polar axes by specifying the polar axes object as the first input to rlim. Otherwise, rlim sets the limits for the current axes.

pax = polaraxes;
rlim(pax,[0 5])

Figure contains an axes object with type polaraxes. The polaraxes object is empty.

Input Arguments

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Minimum and maximum limits, specified as a two-element vector of the form [rmin rmax], where rmax is a numeric value greater than rmin. You can specify both limits, or specify one limit and let MATLAB automatically calculate the other.

  • To automatically set the minimum limit to the minimum data value, specify the first element as -inf, for example, rlim([-inf 0]).

  • To automatically set the maximum limit to the maximum data value, specify the second element as inf, for example, rlim([0 inf]).

When you specify the limits, the RLim property for the polar axes object updates to the specified values and the RLimMode property changes to 'manual'.

Example: rlim([0 1])

Limit mode, specified as one of the following values:

  • "auto" — Enable automatic limit selection, which is based on the total span of the data. If you plot into the axes multiple times, the limits update to encompass all the data. You can use this option if you change the limits and want to set them back to the default values.

  • "manual" — Freeze the limits at the current values. Use this option if you want to retain the current limits when adding new data to the axes using the hold on command.

When you specify this argument, MATLAB sets the RLimMode property of the axes to the value you specify. However, the RLimMode property changes to "manual" whenever you set the r-axis limits explicitly, either by calling rlim(limits), or by setting the value of the RLim property on the axes.

Polar axes, or an array of polar axes. If you do not specify this argument, then rlim sets the limits for the current axes (provided that the current axes is a polar axes object).

Output Arguments

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Current limits, returned as a two-element vector of the form [rmin rmax]. Querying the limits returns the value of the RLim property for the polar axes object.

Current limits mode, returned as one of these values:

  • 'auto' — The limits automatically update to reflect changes in the data.

  • 'manual' — The limits do not automatically update to reflect changes in the data.

Querying the r-axis limits mode returns the value of the RLimMode property for the polar axes object.

Version History

Introduced in R2016a

See Also

Functions

Properties