enable/disable entire figure window

enable/disable entire figure window, including toolbar, menubar, frame and all contents
5.1K Downloads
Updated 11 Dec 2016

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Syntax:
currentState = enableDisableFig(hFig, newState)

Description:
enableDisableFig sets the figure hFig's enable/disable state, which is otherwise supported by Matlab only for specific components but not figures. Using this function, the entire figure window, including all internal menus, toolbars and components, is enabled/disabled in a single call. Valid values for newState are true, false, 'on' & 'off' (case insensitive). hFig may be a list of figure handles.

Note 1: when the state is enabled, internal figure components may remain disabled if their personal 'enabled' property is 'off'.

Note 2: in disabled state, a figure cannot be moved, resized, closed or accessed. None of its menues, toolbars, buttons etc. are clickable.

enableDisableFig(newState) sets the state of the current figure (gcf).

state = enableDisableFig(hFig) returns the current enabled/disabled state of figure hFig, or of the current figure (gcf) if hFig is not supplied. The returned state is either 'on' or 'off'.

Examples:
state = enableDisableFig;
state = enableDisableFig(hFig);
oldState = enableDisableFig(hFig, 'on');
oldState = enableDisableFig(hFig, result>0);
oldState = enableDisableFig(true); % on current figure

Technical description:
http://UndocumentedMatlab.com/blog/disable-entire-figure-window

Bugs and suggestions:
Please send to Yair Altman (altmany at gmail dot com)

Warning:
This code heavily relies on undocumented and unsupported Matlab functionality. It works on Matlab 7+, but use at your own risk!

Cite As

Yair Altman (2024). enable/disable entire figure window (https://www.mathworks.com/matlabcentral/fileexchange/15895-enable-disable-entire-figure-window), MATLAB Central File Exchange. Retrieved .

MATLAB Release Compatibility
Created with R2007a
Compatible with any release
Platform Compatibility
Windows macOS Linux
Categories
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Version Published Release Notes
1.5.0.0

Fix for 'on'/'off' on new Matlab releases

1.4.0.0

Fix for HG2 (R2014+)

1.3.0.0

Fix for R2011b; fixed description

1.2.0.0

Removed warning messages that appeared in modern Matlab releases

1.0.0.0