How do I use matlab to plot a graph where the x,y axes do not intersect?

How can I use matlab to plot a graph where the x,y axes do not intersect? Similar to the image below, note that the bottom left corner does not cross.The x- and y-axes are shown with specified ranges

[Jonas]

I don't know the smart solution, but you could generate an axis where you plot you dara but you hide y and x axis. before that you have to create two other axis, in one you hide the y axis in the other the x axis. these to axes have to be shifted in position compared to the plotting axis. then you can link the axes such that plotting in the axis with hidden x and y has an influence on the 'helper' axes

[Adam Danz]

This will likely require a deep dive into undocumented methods. It will require making changes to the xruler and yruler, both of which are properties of axes.

[xingxingcui]

So look out for future versions with more axes to customise and personalise

[Adam Danz]

> So look out for future versions with more axes to customise and personalise

@cui, what does that mean?

[xingxingcui]

Oh, what I meant to say was that I hope that future versions will enhance the personalisation of axes properties.

PS: I am not very good at English, sorry

Answer 1

[Jonas]

not elegant, but possible if i'm not mistaken:

fig=figure;

% amount of shift of x and y axis in normalized coordinates
dx=0.05;
dy=0.05;

plotAx=axes('Position',[0.1 0.1 0.85 0.85],'Color','none');

% create shifted y axis
yax=axes('Position',plotAx.Position-[dx 0 -dx 0],'Color','none','XColor','none');
yax.XGrid='off';

% create shifted x axis
xax=axes('Position',plotAx.Position-[0 dy 0 -dy],'Color','none','YColor','none');
xax.YGrid='off';

axes(plotAx); % set curr axis

% plot sample data
x=-2:0.1:2;
y=(x-1).^2+1;
plot(plotAx,x,y)

grid off;

linkaxes([plotAx,yax,xax]);
yticklabels([]);
xticklabels([]);

% remove rulers
plotAx.XColor='none';
plotAx.YColor='none';

[Adam Danz]

Set tickdir to out.

[xingxingcui]

@Jonas, thanks

[Adam Danz]

I've come up with a solution that moves the x-axis line and ticks and I figured out how to move the tick labels but they are in different units so I need more time to think about that which won't happen anytime soon but maybe someday I'll update this with a new answer.

[xingxingcui]

@Adam DanzI'm very glad to hear that! But I personally think that these "basic issues" should be left to the mathworks development engineers, and that the new version should enhances these shortcomings.

[Adam Danz]

I'm not so sure disconnected axes is a very popular idea. What's the benefit of doing this, by the way? Curious.

Answer 2

[Bob Thompson]

Create your figure first, then create the axes. This will allow you to specify what they are before the data gets populated, and should allow you to fix their positions.

I have not looked at the documentation in enough detail to confirm it will do exactly what you want, but it should be in the axes command.

[xingxingcui]

I can't find any customisation of axes properties related to axis position lengths etc. in the axes properties rulers, not in the documentation at the moment.

It would be nice to have a concrete and elegant code implementation.

[Adam Danz]

cui is correct here. There are no axes properties that can achive this. There are, however, undocumented ruler properties that can achieve at least some of it.