How to find objects by number of children?

Hey Im trying to select only figures with a particular number of axes.

I got this far:

• I have a list of all active figures via

figArray = findobj(groot, 'type', 'figure');

• I could now of course filter this figure array using

for k = 1:length(figArray)
    if length(get(figArray(k), 'children')) == 2
        n = 1
        validFigArray(n) = figArray(k)
        n = n + 1;
    end
end

How ever I would like to modify the findobj command so that it only returns figures with two axes.

Therefore I have tried this, with no success:

>> figs = findobj(groot, 'type', 'figure', '-and', 'children', '[2x1 Axes]');
>> figs = findobj(groot, 'type', 'figure', '-and', 'Children', '[2x1 Axes]');
>> figs = findobj(groot, 'type', 'figure', '-and', 'children', '[2x1]');
>> figs = findobj(groot, 'type', 'figure', '-and', 'children', '2');

Please tell me how I have to adjust the search parameters.

Thank you very much for your time and help.

Answer 1

[Walter Roberson]

There is no way to do that other than methods similar to what you are doing already. You could modify your flow though

figArray = findobj(groot, 'depth', 1, 'type', 'figure') ;
nax = arrayfun(@(F)length(findobj(F, 'type', 'axes')), figArray);
figArray = figArray(nax == 2);

If you are certain that the axes are direct children of the figures then you could put a depth restriction on the second findobj.

The use of findobj here is only appropriate for handle visibility on.

Historically colorbar and legend could show up as axes but should not these days.

I am not sure what happens with map axes.

[Jakob Holz]

Thank you very much Walter for taking time out of your day to help me.

People like you are invaluable for everybody how wishes to know more than they currently do.

I hope you have a pleasant day. Take care.

Regards Jakob