How do I run Matlab from Python, but save figures to a file?

I am successfully running Matlab from Python. The Matlab code I have displays 2 figures. Upon running Python, would rather those figures go to a file. Is there a switch, or some such option to get that to happen? Rather not rewrite Matlab code with some sort of Python specific switch.

Thanks, Tom

[Image Analyst]

Why would you need a Python specific switch? Why not just save the figures using export_fig() directly from MATLAB?

[Tom McGiffen]

I am calling an existing codebase we do not want to modify... am working a larger project. The existing codebase makes the figures. Want that in stand-alone, don't want it when called externally.

Answer 1

[Bo Li]

There is no such flag. Python Engine allows you to have full control over MATLAB from Python. You can simply save a figure like following example shows:

>>>eng.plot(matlab.double([1,2,3,4]))  %create a plot
>>>eng.savefig("foo.fig",nargout=0)    %save current figure to "foo.fig"
>>>eng.close()                         %close current figure

[Tom McGiffen]

Is there a -nodisplay option for Matlab from Python?

[Bo Li]

Yes, I believe it works for Linux and Mac:

http://www.mathworks.com/help/matlab/ref/matlablinux.html

Start up options can be also used in Python Engine. For example, you can start MATLAB with "-nodisplay" by:

 >>> eng = matlab.engine.start_matlab("-nodisplay")

[Bo Li]

You probably can try the start up option "-noFigureWindows" if the purpose is to hide the figure window:

http://www.mathworks.com/help/matlab/ref/matlabwindows.html

This works on all platforms.

Answer 2

[Nicholas G]

Why the figure turn off automatically after it show up?

[Tianya Duan]

I also have this question, do you have solve it?