Howto prevent closing the editor/figure window after closing last file/figure?

Until R2012b it was possible to keep the (docked) editor/figure window open after closing the last file/figure. In later versions of Matlab the editor/figure window vanishes after closing the last file/figure. Is there any way to get back the old behavior?

Edit note: Figure window added with same behavior.

[Arnab Sen]

This behavior was introduced in MATLAB R2012a. Currently there is no workaround for this. Could you please tell why do you want to have this behavior of MATLAB Editor? Also what is the workflow and use case?

[Robert]

Sorry for my late response.

To clearify: I mean the editor/figure 'container' window not single editor or figure windows. The single windows are organized as tabs in the 'container' window. (assuming DefaultFigureWindowStyle = docked)

If the editor/figure 'container' windows are docked in the main matlab window, they have a fixed place in the UI. If the window vanishes, the UI changes depending on the other elemtens like command window, history, workspace, ... This is a little bit annyoing for me.

If the 'container' windows are not docked and you are using a multi monitor setup closing and reopening restores not the same position of these windows. For example, the main matlab window is on monitor #1 and the figure 'container' window is on monitor #2. Closing the last figure tab, then the figure 'container' window becomes closed to. Showing an new figure opens the figure 'container' window next to main matlab window on Monitor #1 and not at the same place on monitor #2.

Maybe this is a Windows specific thing. So if you have lots of windows/programs open the position of the not docked windows in the taskbar (without grouping) will change on multiple monitors. So a good workflow is disturbed by searching the right window.

You mean it was introduced in 2013a, in 2012b it was still like I described.

[Giacomo Ciani]

I have the same problem. I work with two screens, and I like to keep the editor and command window on one, and the figures container on the other (undocked from the main UI). This way I can quickly send all new figure to the second display in (almost) full screen by "docking" them.

However, if I use "close all", or simply close by hand the last opened figure, the figures container disappears and next time I dock I figure it is recreated, docked, in the main UI, rather than in its previous position in the second display.

Oddly, I have noticed that in some rare instances closing the last docked figure does not close the figures container, but I haven't been able to find a pattern (admittedly, I'm usually too concentrated on the data I'm analyzing to pay attention to what may trigger the figures container to not close).

[Adam]

For the editor I tend to use the 'Close all Except...' option on some arbitrary file or one I think I may want next time to clean up my editor window without it closing completely.

Answer 1

[Giacomo Ciani]

I just found an effective workaround (at least in my case), although admittedly not a proper solution: just enable the "plot tools" (rightmost button on the "figures" container's toolbar) and keep at least one of the tools (figure palette, plot browser or property editor) open. This way, when you close the last figure (or use the "close all" command) the figures container remains where it is.

To maximize the working area, you can minimize the tool, so it fold on the side when not in use and take very little space.

[Robert]

This is a nice work around. But for "large" plots the plot tools slow down the display of the plots. I had this issue with trisurf plots with about 100-200,000 points.