How to write functions with input propertys?

MATLAB has a lot of functions with input propertys. As an example:

plot(...,'PropertyName',PropertyValue,...)

When my own functions are getting lots of input arguments its often looking like this:

myfcn(X,Y,[],[],[],[],[],[],[],[],[],[],[],b)

For this situations I want to learn how to write functions with input propertys.

Is it explained somewhere in the matlab help? Is that object oriented programming? Is there a function that I can open and learn from? (I found only 'Built-in functions') Which keywords can I use for google etc.

[yosey]

Thank you all. Parse was the missing node. I'd like to accept all answers, so let me take the first.

Answer 1

[Jason Ross]

This sounds like what you are looking for:

http://www.mathworks.com/help/matlab/matlab_prog/parse-function-inputs.html

Answer 2

[Jan]

This is a good point to start from: http://blogs.mathworks.com/community/2012/02/13/parsing-inputs/ . You can find further links by searching for "Matlab parse inputs". The method to use a name of a property and the its value is called "property value pair".

Object oriented programming is another topic.

Answer 3

[per isakson]

Here are some links to the File Exchange. The first, parse_pv_pairs, is especially well documented.

• parse_pv_pairs
• easyparse
• InputPreprocessor

And search "Parse Function Inputs" and "inputParser" in the on-line help.