Adjust the width of the black line in bubblelegend

How can I adjust the black line width in bubblelegend?

In the example below, I would like to increase the thickness of the black line that connects the number "88" to the number "486."

x = 1:10;
y = exp(-0.5*x) +  .05 * randn(1,10);
sz = randi([20 500],[1,10]);
bubblechart(x,y,sz)
bubblelegend('Population')

[Dyuman Joshi]

There doesn't seem to be any property of the scale line in the bubblelegend object, which can be modified.

[Sim]

Thanks for your comment @Dyuman Joshi! ...I was checking the same properties and I did not find anything yet... maybe, I might ask to the @MathWorks Support Team if they might know some trick... :-)

[DGM]

Well, those properties do exist, but you're prevented from acessing them.

x = 1:10;
y = exp(-0.5*x) +  .05 * randn(1,10);
sz = randi([20 500],[1,10]);
bubblechart(x,y,sz)
hl = bubblelegend('Population');

struct(hl) % there are axle width properties and a (linestrip) axle object available

Warning: Calling STRUCT on an object prevents the object from hiding its implementation details and should thus be avoided. Use DISP or DISPLAY to see the visible public details of an object. See 'help struct' for more information.

Warning: The EraseMode property is no longer supported and will error in a future release.

ans = struct with fields:
                             NumBubbles: 3
                         NumBubblesMode: 'manual'
                           NumBubbles_I: 3
                                  Style: 'vertical'
                              StyleMode: 'manual'
                                Style_I: 'vertical'
                        BubbleSizeOrder: 'descending'
                    BubbleSizeOrderMode: 'manual'
                      BubbleSizeOrder_I: 'descending'
                            LimitLabels: {3×1 cell}
                        LimitLabelsMode: 'auto'
                          LimitLabels_I: {3×1 cell}
                                Padding: 8
                              AxleWidth: 5
                            AxlePadding: 5
                             AxleIsUsed: 1
                            BubbleSizes: [50 40 10]
                            BubbleColor: [0 0 0]
                               Location: 'northeast'
                           LocationMode: 'auto'
                             Location_I: 'northeast'
                           NeutralColor: [0.4000 0.4000 0.4000]
                 DefaultBubbleLineWidth: 0.5000
                        BubbleLineWidth: 0.5000
                        BubbleEdgeColor: [0 0 0]
                            BubbleAlpha: 1
                     PrintSettingsCache: [1×1 struct]
                        BubbleContainer: [1×1 Marker]
                    BubbleContainerMode: 'auto'
                      BubbleContainer_I: [1×1 Marker]
                                   Axle: [1×1 LineStrip]
                                Bubbles: [1×1 Marker]
                               LabelBig: [1×1 Text]
                            LabelMedium: [1×1 Text]
                             LabelSmall: [1×1 Text]
                                 Camera: [1×1 Camera2D]
                             CameraMode: 'auto'
                               Camera_I: [1×1 Camera2D]
                              DataSpace: [1×1 UniformCartesianDataSpace]
                          DataSpaceMode: 'auto'
                            DataSpace_I: [1×1 UniformCartesianDataSpace]
                             ColorSpace: [1×1 MapColorSpace]
                         ColorSpaceMode: 'auto'
                           ColorSpace_I: [1×1 MapColorSpace]
                    DecorationContainer: [1×1 Group]
                DecorationContainerMode: 'auto'
                  DecorationContainer_I: [1×1 Group]
                                BoxEdge: [1×1 LineLoop]
                            BoxEdgeMode: 'auto'
                              BoxEdge_I: [1×1 LineLoop]
                                BoxFace: [1×1 Quadrilateral]
                            BoxFaceMode: 'auto'
                              BoxFace_I: [1×1 Quadrilateral]
                                  Title: [1×1 Text]
                              TitleMode: 'auto'
                                Title_I: [1×1 Text]
                        SelectionHandle: [1×1 ListOfPointsHighlight]
                    SelectionHandleMode: 'auto'
                      SelectionHandle_I: [1×1 ListOfPointsHighlight]
                         TitleSeparator: [1×1 LineStrip]
                     TitleSeparatorMode: 'auto'
                       TitleSeparator_I: [1×1 LineStrip]
                                   Axes: [1×1 Axes]
                               AxesMode: 'manual'
                                 Axes_I: [1×1 Axes]
                       AxesListenerList: [1×5 event.listener]
                   AxesListenerListMode: 'manual'
                     AxesListenerList_I: [1×5 event.listener]
                                    Box: on
                                BoxMode: 'auto'
                                  Box_I: on
                                  Color: [1 1 1]
                              ColorMode: 'auto'
                                Color_I: [1 1 1]
                              EdgeColor: [0.1294 0.1294 0.1294]
                          EdgeColorMode: 'auto'
                            EdgeColor_I: [0.1294 0.1294 0.1294]
                               FontName: 'Helvetica'
                           FontNameMode: 'auto'
                             FontName_I: 'Helvetica'
                               FontSize: 9
                           FontSizeMode: 'auto'
                             FontSize_I: 9
                              FontUnits: 'points'
                          FontUnitsMode: 'auto'
                            FontUnits_I: 'points'
                              FontAngle: 'normal'
                          FontAngleMode: 'auto'
                            FontAngle_I: 'normal'
                             FontWeight: 'normal'
                         FontWeightMode: 'auto'
                           FontWeight_I: 'normal'
                            Interpreter: 'tex'
                        InterpreterMode: 'auto'
                          Interpreter_I: 'tex'
                      InitPositionCache: 1
             WindowMouseReleaseListener: [0×0 event.listener]
         WindowMouseReleaseListenerMode: 'auto'
           WindowMouseReleaseListener_I: [0×0 event.listener]
                              LineWidth: 0.5000
                          LineWidthMode: 'auto'
                            LineWidth_I: 0.5000
                            Orientation: 'vertical'
                        OrientationMode: 'auto'
                          Orientation_I: 'vertical'
                           PlotChildren: [1×1 BubbleChart]
                       PlotChildrenMode: 'auto'
                         PlotChildren_I: [1×1 BubbleChart]
                                 Height: 0.4448
                             HeightMode: 'auto'
                               Height_I: 0.4448
                                  Width: 0.2384
                              WidthMode: 'auto'
                                Width_I: 0.2384
                               Position: [0.6471 0.4550 0.2384 0.4448]
                           PositionMode: 'auto'
                             Position_I: [0.6471 0.4550 0.2384 0.4448]
                              SPosition: []
                          PositionCache: []
              ParentSizeChangedListener: [0×0 event.listener]
                    PrintAlphaSupported: 1
                PrintAlphaSupportedMode: 'auto'
                  PrintAlphaSupported_I: 1
    PreventLegendResizePrintingPosition: []
                       SelfListenerList: [0×0 event.listener]
                   SelfListenerListMode: 'auto'
                     SelfListenerList_I: [0×0 event.listener]
                              TextColor: [0.1294 0.1294 0.1294]
                          TextColorMode: 'auto'
                            TextColor_I: [0.1294 0.1294 0.1294]
                                  Units: 'normalized'
                              UnitsMode: 'auto'
                                Units_I: 'normalized'
                             standalone: off
                         standaloneMode: 'auto'
                           standalone_I: off
                           ChildrenMode: 'auto'
                             Children_I: [0×0 GraphicsPlaceholder]
                               Children: [0×0 GraphicsPlaceholder]
                   SerializableChildren: [0×0 GraphicsPlaceholder]
                            Description: ''
                        DescriptionMode: 'auto'
                          Description_I: ''
                                 Parent: [1×1 Figure]
                             ParentMode: 'manual'
                               Parent_I: [1×1 Figure]
                                Visible: on
                            VisibleMode: 'auto'
                              Visible_I: on
                           Serializable: on
                       SerializableMode: 'auto'
                         Serializable_I: on
                       HandleVisibility: 'on'
                   HandleVisibilityMode: 'auto'
                     HandleVisibility_I: 'on'
                          ErrorCallback: ''
                      ErrorCallbackMode: 'auto'
                        ErrorCallback_I: ''
                               Internal: 0
                        ApplicationData: [1×1 struct]
            SerializableApplicationData: [1×1 struct]
                DefaultPropMap_Internal: [0×0 struct]
                               Copyable: 1
                             NodeParent: [1×1 AxesLayoutManager]
                           NodeChildren: [1×1 Camera2D]
            CustomThemePropertyMappings: [1×1 struct]
                               HG1Erase: 'normal'
                           HG1EraseMode: 'auto'
                             HG1Erase_I: 'normal'
                              EraseMode: 'normal'
                               Behavior: [1×1 struct]
                           BehaviorMode: 'auto'
                             Behavior_I: [1×1 struct]
                           HelpTopicKey: ''
                       HelpTopicKeyMode: 'auto'
                         HelpTopicKey_I: ''
                   SerializableBehavior: [1×1 struct]
                      ButtonDownFcnMode: 'auto'
                        ButtonDownFcn_I: ''
                          ButtonDownFcn: ''
                       ButtonDownFcn_IS: ''
              SerializableUIContextMenu: [0×0 GraphicsPlaceholder]
                            ContextMenu: [0×0 GraphicsPlaceholder]
                          UIContextMenu: [0×0 GraphicsPlaceholder]
               TopLevelSerializedObject: on
                             BusyAction: 'queue'
                           BeingDeleted: off
                          Interruptible: on
                          CreateFcnMode: 'auto'
                            CreateFcn_I: ''
                              CreateFcn: ''
                           CreateFcn_IS: ''
                          DeleteFcnMode: 'auto'
                            DeleteFcn_I: ''
                              DeleteFcn: ''
                           DeleteFcn_IS: ''
                                   Type: 'bubblelegend'
                                TagMode: 'auto'
                                  Tag_I: ''
                                    Tag: ''
                               UserData: []
                   SerializableUserData: []
                               Selected: off
                           SelectedMode: 'auto'
                             Selected_I: off
                     SelectionHighlight: on
                 SelectionHighlightMode: 'auto'
                   SelectionHighlight_I: on
                            HitTestMode: 'auto'
                              HitTest_I: on
                                HitTest: on
                      PickablePartsMode: 'auto'
                        PickableParts_I: 'visible'
                          PickableParts: 'visible'
                     CausesLayoutUpdate: on
                                 Layout: [0×0 matlab.ui.layout.LayoutOptions]

struct(hl.Axle) % but you're no longer allowed to access private object properties

No public property 'Axle' for class ''BubbleLegend''.

I don't know if it's the behavior of these newer graphics objects or just the behavior of newer MATLAB versions (or both), but it just feels like everything is becoming ultimately less flexible. There are hardly any public properties for the bubblelegend object. All of the useful ones are hidden and inacessible.

That said, I only have R2019b, which predates bubblelegend. I'm stuck trying to test this in the forum editor. I don't know if any of these restrictions are a consequence of that.

[Sim]

Hi @DGM, thanks for join the discussion!

I have just tried the piece of code you used,

x = 1:10;
y = exp(-0.5*x) +  .05 * randn(1,10);
sz = randi([20 500],[1,10]);
bubblechart(x,y,sz)
hl = bubblelegend('Population');

struct(hl)

Warning: Calling STRUCT on an object prevents the object from hiding its implementation details and should thus be avoided. Use DISP or DISPLAY to see the visible public details of an object. See 'help struct' for more information.

Warning: The EraseMode property is no longer supported and will error in a future release.

ans = struct with fields:
                             NumBubbles: 3
                         NumBubblesMode: 'manual'
                           NumBubbles_I: 3
                                  Style: 'vertical'
                              StyleMode: 'manual'
                                Style_I: 'vertical'
                        BubbleSizeOrder: 'descending'
                    BubbleSizeOrderMode: 'manual'
                      BubbleSizeOrder_I: 'descending'
                            LimitLabels: {3×1 cell}
                        LimitLabelsMode: 'auto'
                          LimitLabels_I: {3×1 cell}
                                Padding: 8
                              AxleWidth: 5
                            AxlePadding: 5
                             AxleIsUsed: 1
                            BubbleSizes: [50 40 10]
                            BubbleColor: [0 0 0]
                               Location: 'northeast'
                           LocationMode: 'auto'
                             Location_I: 'northeast'
                           NeutralColor: [0.4000 0.4000 0.4000]
                 DefaultBubbleLineWidth: 0.5000
                        BubbleLineWidth: 0.5000
                        BubbleEdgeColor: [0 0 0]
                            BubbleAlpha: 1
                     PrintSettingsCache: [1×1 struct]
                        BubbleContainer: [1×1 Marker]
                    BubbleContainerMode: 'auto'
                      BubbleContainer_I: [1×1 Marker]
                                   Axle: [1×1 LineStrip]
                                Bubbles: [1×1 Marker]
                               LabelBig: [1×1 Text]
                            LabelMedium: [1×1 Text]
                             LabelSmall: [1×1 Text]
                                 Camera: [1×1 Camera2D]
                             CameraMode: 'auto'
                               Camera_I: [1×1 Camera2D]
                              DataSpace: [1×1 UniformCartesianDataSpace]
                          DataSpaceMode: 'auto'
                            DataSpace_I: [1×1 UniformCartesianDataSpace]
                             ColorSpace: [1×1 MapColorSpace]
                         ColorSpaceMode: 'auto'
                           ColorSpace_I: [1×1 MapColorSpace]
                    DecorationContainer: [1×1 Group]
                DecorationContainerMode: 'auto'
                  DecorationContainer_I: [1×1 Group]
                                BoxEdge: [1×1 LineLoop]
                            BoxEdgeMode: 'auto'
                              BoxEdge_I: [1×1 LineLoop]
                                BoxFace: [1×1 Quadrilateral]
                            BoxFaceMode: 'auto'
                              BoxFace_I: [1×1 Quadrilateral]
                                  Title: [1×1 Text]
                              TitleMode: 'auto'
                                Title_I: [1×1 Text]
                        SelectionHandle: [1×1 ListOfPointsHighlight]
                    SelectionHandleMode: 'auto'
                      SelectionHandle_I: [1×1 ListOfPointsHighlight]
                         TitleSeparator: [1×1 LineStrip]
                     TitleSeparatorMode: 'auto'
                       TitleSeparator_I: [1×1 LineStrip]
                                   Axes: [1×1 Axes]
                               AxesMode: 'manual'
                                 Axes_I: [1×1 Axes]
                       AxesListenerList: [1×5 event.listener]
                   AxesListenerListMode: 'manual'
                     AxesListenerList_I: [1×5 event.listener]
                                    Box: on
                                BoxMode: 'auto'
                                  Box_I: on
                                  Color: [1 1 1]
                              ColorMode: 'auto'
                                Color_I: [1 1 1]
                              EdgeColor: [0.1294 0.1294 0.1294]
                          EdgeColorMode: 'auto'
                            EdgeColor_I: [0.1294 0.1294 0.1294]
                               FontName: 'Helvetica'
                           FontNameMode: 'auto'
                             FontName_I: 'Helvetica'
                               FontSize: 9
                           FontSizeMode: 'auto'
                             FontSize_I: 9
                              FontUnits: 'points'
                          FontUnitsMode: 'auto'
                            FontUnits_I: 'points'
                              FontAngle: 'normal'
                          FontAngleMode: 'auto'
                            FontAngle_I: 'normal'
                             FontWeight: 'normal'
                         FontWeightMode: 'auto'
                           FontWeight_I: 'normal'
                            Interpreter: 'tex'
                        InterpreterMode: 'auto'
                          Interpreter_I: 'tex'
                      InitPositionCache: 1
             WindowMouseReleaseListener: [0×0 event.listener]
         WindowMouseReleaseListenerMode: 'auto'
           WindowMouseReleaseListener_I: [0×0 event.listener]
                              LineWidth: 0.5000
                          LineWidthMode: 'auto'
                            LineWidth_I: 0.5000
                            Orientation: 'vertical'
                        OrientationMode: 'auto'
                          Orientation_I: 'vertical'
                           PlotChildren: [1×1 BubbleChart]
                       PlotChildrenMode: 'auto'
                         PlotChildren_I: [1×1 BubbleChart]
                                 Height: 0.4448
                             HeightMode: 'auto'
                               Height_I: 0.4448
                                  Width: 0.2384
                              WidthMode: 'auto'
                                Width_I: 0.2384
                               Position: [0.6471 0.4550 0.2384 0.4448]
                           PositionMode: 'auto'
                             Position_I: [0.6471 0.4550 0.2384 0.4448]
                              SPosition: []
                          PositionCache: []
              ParentSizeChangedListener: [0×0 event.listener]
                    PrintAlphaSupported: 1
                PrintAlphaSupportedMode: 'auto'
                  PrintAlphaSupported_I: 1
    PreventLegendResizePrintingPosition: []
                       SelfListenerList: [0×0 event.listener]
                   SelfListenerListMode: 'auto'
                     SelfListenerList_I: [0×0 event.listener]
                              TextColor: [0.1294 0.1294 0.1294]
                          TextColorMode: 'auto'
                            TextColor_I: [0.1294 0.1294 0.1294]
                                  Units: 'normalized'
                              UnitsMode: 'auto'
                                Units_I: 'normalized'
                             standalone: off
                         standaloneMode: 'auto'
                           standalone_I: off
                           ChildrenMode: 'auto'
                             Children_I: [0×0 GraphicsPlaceholder]
                               Children: [0×0 GraphicsPlaceholder]
                   SerializableChildren: [0×0 GraphicsPlaceholder]
                            Description: ''
                        DescriptionMode: 'auto'
                          Description_I: ''
                                 Parent: [1×1 Figure]
                             ParentMode: 'manual'
                               Parent_I: [1×1 Figure]
                                Visible: on
                            VisibleMode: 'auto'
                              Visible_I: on
                           Serializable: on
                       SerializableMode: 'auto'
                         Serializable_I: on
                       HandleVisibility: 'on'
                   HandleVisibilityMode: 'auto'
                     HandleVisibility_I: 'on'
                          ErrorCallback: ''
                      ErrorCallbackMode: 'auto'
                        ErrorCallback_I: ''
                               Internal: 0
                        ApplicationData: [1×1 struct]
            SerializableApplicationData: [1×1 struct]
                DefaultPropMap_Internal: [0×0 struct]
                               Copyable: 1
                             NodeParent: [1×1 AxesLayoutManager]
                           NodeChildren: [1×1 Camera2D]
            CustomThemePropertyMappings: [1×1 struct]
                               HG1Erase: 'normal'
                           HG1EraseMode: 'auto'
                             HG1Erase_I: 'normal'
                              EraseMode: 'normal'
                               Behavior: [1×1 struct]
                           BehaviorMode: 'auto'
                             Behavior_I: [1×1 struct]
                           HelpTopicKey: ''
                       HelpTopicKeyMode: 'auto'
                         HelpTopicKey_I: ''
                   SerializableBehavior: [1×1 struct]
                      ButtonDownFcnMode: 'auto'
                        ButtonDownFcn_I: ''
                          ButtonDownFcn: ''
                       ButtonDownFcn_IS: ''
              SerializableUIContextMenu: [0×0 GraphicsPlaceholder]
                            ContextMenu: [0×0 GraphicsPlaceholder]
                          UIContextMenu: [0×0 GraphicsPlaceholder]
               TopLevelSerializedObject: on
                             BusyAction: 'queue'
                           BeingDeleted: off
                          Interruptible: on
                          CreateFcnMode: 'auto'
                            CreateFcn_I: ''
                              CreateFcn: ''
                           CreateFcn_IS: ''
                          DeleteFcnMode: 'auto'
                            DeleteFcn_I: ''
                              DeleteFcn: ''
                           DeleteFcn_IS: ''
                                   Type: 'bubblelegend'
                                TagMode: 'auto'
                                  Tag_I: ''
                                    Tag: ''
                               UserData: []
                   SerializableUserData: []
                               Selected: off
                           SelectedMode: 'auto'
                             Selected_I: off
                     SelectionHighlight: on
                 SelectionHighlightMode: 'auto'
                   SelectionHighlight_I: on
                            HitTestMode: 'auto'
                              HitTest_I: on
                                HitTest: on
                      PickablePartsMode: 'auto'
                        PickableParts_I: 'visible'
                          PickableParts: 'visible'
                     CausesLayoutUpdate: on
                                 Layout: [0×0 matlab.ui.layout.LayoutOptions]

and I got a long list of properties, like these ones:

However, if I try to modify the "DefaultBubbleLineWidth" or the "BubbleLineWidth":

hl.DefaultBubbleLineWidth = 2;

Setting the 'DefaultBubbleLineWidth' property of class ''BubbleLegend'' is not supported.

I get this error:

Setting the 'DefaultBubbleLineWidth' property of class 'BubbleLegend' is not supported.

Error in untitled (line 7)
hl.DefaultBubbleLineWidth = 2;

Answer 1

[Taylor]

The LineWidth property of bubblelegend only adjusts the border around the legend. I have submitted a feature request on your behalf to the development team to add control for the scale line as well.

[Sim]

Thanks so much @Taylor! Just out of curiosity — does adding a feature like this typically take several months (for example, 4—6 months or more), or is it something that could potentially be completed and released within a few weeks to a couple of months? :-)

[Dyuman Joshi]

@Sim - Given what @DGM has showed above, changing this property to be editable/making it public shouldn't take long (ideally).

However, as I am not affiliated with TMW, consider my comment as speculating only.

Hopefully a staff member can share a more practical insight.

[Sim]

Thanks a lot @Dyuman Joshi for your nice comment :-)

[Taylor]

Given that this feature request is really just exposing a private property to be public, I would think it would be a fairly quick implementation. It's cutting it close for the R2026a release though so it might not make it into that, but I know for certain that development has seen my feature request and added it to their "to triage" list. MathWorks development is a large ship to steer so even minor changes like this can take longer than one might expect.

[Walter Roberson]

As R2026a pre-release is already out, if I understand correctly, new features are now locked; from now on it is only bug fixes and removing candidate changes.