Set uifigure defaults doesn't work the same as figures

with figures I can set the defaults using

set(groot, 'defaultFigurePosition', [1 1 1 1])

but I can not do the same for uifigures

set(groot, 'defaultuiFigurePosition', [1 1 1 1])

Error using matlab.ui.Root/set
uifigureposition is an invalid class name

This is also an issue with the new components i want to use uifigures for, like uilabel, or uieditfield.

Is there something i am doing wrong with the new uifigures when trying to set the defaults?

Answer 1

[Steve Zissou]

In Summary:

Both UIFigures and Figures are matlab.ui.Figure and so both use the defaults defined similar to

set(groot, 'defaultFigureUnits', 'normalized')

However there seems to be a bug and UIFigures are not currently use these defaults and a ticket has been submitted.

The new ui comonents like uilabel (which is a matlab.ui.label) do not have a units property like the uicontrol('style', 'text') do.

When setting defaults, use

class(uilabel)
class(uifigure)

to figure out the class name for use in the set(groot) command

Answer 2

[Matt Butts]

I believe both figure and uifigure use the same default. Are you seeing thet uifigures are not utilizing your default that you set in DefaultFigurePosition?

[Adam Danz]

As Matt mentioned, figure and uifigure use the same defaultFigurePosition. Please let us know if you are experiencing any issues with that.

[Steve Zissou]

I can set the default color

set(groot, 'defaultFigureColor', [1 1 1])

and both figures and uifigures created use that value. However if i change the default units

set(groot, 'defaultFigureUnits', 'normalized')

figures use the correct default but uifigures still use pixels. Similarly, if i set the default units for uipanel, uipanel's created in figures use the correct default, but those created in uifigures do not.

I can set the default of uicontrol's, but not of the new components that i want to use uifigures for, like uilabel

set(groot, 'defaultUIControlUnits', 'normalized')
set(groot, 'defaultUILabelUnits', 'normalized')

Error using matlab.ui.Root/set
uilabelunits is an invalid class name

[Walter Roberson]

a = uicontrol()
b = uilabel()

class(a)
class(b)

You will find that class(a) is matlab.ui.control.UIControl and class(b) is matlab.ui.control.Label . That is, there is a class named UIControl but there is no class named UILabel

[Adam Danz]

Thanks for the details @Steve Zissou.

The uipanel units are affected by the parent units.

fig = figure(); 
fig.Units % normalized 
p1 = uipanel(fig);
p1.Units  % normalized

uifig = uifigure(); 
uifig.Units % pixels
p2 = uipanel(uifig);
p2.Units    % pixels

Thanks for the info about DefaultFigureUnits in uifigures. That seems to have changed in R2022a. I've submitted a support ticked to address this.

[Steve Zissou]

if class(b) is matlab.ui.control.Label, is there some way to edit its defaults?

set(groot, 'defaultLabelUnits', 'normalized')

Error using matlab.ui.Root/set
labelunits is an invalid class name

[Adam Danz]

matlab.ui.control.Label objects do not have a public units property. This prevents you from setting uilabel units.

[Steve Zissou]

Ah okay, yes i see that matlab.ui.control.Label does not have a public units property. However it does have a public position property, and i get the same error when trying to set its default. Should this be possible?

set(groot, 'defaultLabelPosition', [1 1 1 1])

Error using matlab.ui.Root/set
labelposition is an invalid class name