MATLAB Function Reference

compass - Plot arrows emanating from origin

GUI Alternatives

To graph selected variables, use the Plot Selector in the Workspace Browser, or use the Figure Palette Plot Catalog. Manipulate graphs in plot edit mode with the Property Editor. For details, see Plotting Tools — Interactive Plotting in the MATLAB^® Graphics documentation and Creating Graphics from the Workspace Browser in the MATLAB Desktop Tools and Development Environment documentation.

Syntax

compass(U,V)
compass(Z)
compass(...,LineSpec)
compass(axes_handle,...)
h = compass(...)

Description

A compass graph displays the vectors with components (U,V) as arrows emanating from the origin. U, V, and Z are in Cartesian coordinates and plotted on a circular grid.

compass(U,V) displays a compass graph having n arrows, where n is the number of elements in U or V. The location of the base of each arrow is the origin. The location of the tip of each arrow is a point relative to the base and determined by [U(i),V(i)].

compass(Z) displays a compass graph having n arrows, where n is the number of elements in Z. The location of the base of each arrow is the origin. The location of the tip of each arrow is relative to the base as determined by the real and imaginary components of Z. This syntax is equivalent to compass(real(Z),imag(Z)).

compass(...,LineSpec) draws a compass graph using the line type, marker symbol, and color specified by LineSpec.

compass(axes_handle,...) plots into the axes with the handle axes_handle instead of into the current axes (gca).

h = compass(...) returns handles to line objects.

Examples

Draw a compass graph of the eigenvalues of a matrix.

Z = eig(randn(20,20));
compass(Z)

See Also

feather, LineSpec, quiver, rose

Direction and Velocity Plots for related functions

Compass Plots for another example

compan

complex