function fighandle=newfig(varargin)
% fighandle = newfig(numfigs,figname,extend,aspect) create NEW FIGures.
% Tiles the screen with multiple figures starting at the top left hand corner.
% If the specified layout only creates one row, then the figure height is
% chosen to maintain the desired aspect ratio.
% Examples:
% newfig(3,'Title',1+i,2), newfig('Title'), newfig
% figh=newfig(6); figh=newfig(4,i,1.5); newfig([1,5],-1);
% "fighandle" is an array of handle numbers for the figures.
% "numfigs" (first numeric argument) determines the number of figures to create.
% If numfigs is a vector (rows,columns) then the layout is also specified.
% "figname" (any argument position) is an optional string for the figures' name.
% "extend" (second numeric argument) is a complex number indicating how
% figures are to be created on multiple monitors, (extended desktop).
% Examples: +1/-1 is one screen to the right/left,
% 0 is the primary screen (default),
% +i is one screen up,
% -1-0.5i is half a screen down and to the left, etc...
% "aspect" (third numeric argument) is the desired aspect ratio (minimum
% horizontal/vertical size of the figure) used for determining the
% layout, it is ignored if the layout is specified by numfigs.
%
% NOTES:
% The figures are numbered within this group of figures and not by their
% figure handles.
% The figures are accessible by their handles. Thus "figure(fighandle(4))" will
% make the 4th figure from this group of figures the current figure.
% To delete the entire group of figures use "close(fighandle)".
% Copyright 2006 Mirtech, Inc.
% created 09/18/2006 by Mirko Hrovat on Matlab Ver. 7.2
% Mirtech, Inc. email: mhrovat@email.com
% More notes:
% Extended monitors must have the same resolution as the primary monitor.
% The size and layout of the figures is determined by the aspect ratio and
% the number of figure columns.
% For a large number of figures, the menubar and toolbar are removed to
% increase figure space.
% Default properties for this particular group of figures may be coded into
% the code below (near bottom). The following properties are currently set.
% 'Units','pixels', ...
% 'Colormap',gray(256),...
% 'NumberTitle','off',...
% 'MenuBar',menbar,... (depends on number of figures)
% 'ToolBar',tbar (depends on number of figures)
% --------- Key Constants -----------
% To allow for user or OS borders set the appropriate value in pixels.
% For example one might want to set the bottomborder for the taskbar.
topborder =0;
bottomborder =0;
rightborder =0;
leftborder =0;
% Border properties for figures - Adjust if needed.
% determined by the difference between OuterPosition and Position values.
% GETFIGDIM can return these values for your system.
figureborder =5; %#ok
titleheight =26;
menbarheight =21;
toolbarheight =27;
minfigwidth =125;
% Set the desired default aspect ratio (minimum horizontal/vertical size of the figure).
def_aspect =1.1;
menbarlimit =3; % no menubar if numrows > menbarlimit
toolbarlimit =3; % no toolbar if numrows > toolbarlimit
maxnumrows =6; % maximum number of figure rows to create
% ----------------------------------
extend=[];
numfigs=[];
ftitle=[];
aspect=[];
if nargin~=0,
count=0;
for n=1:length(varargin),
arg=varargin{n};
if isnumeric(arg), % note "empty" is also considered to be numeric!
count=count+1;
switch count
case 1
numfigs=arg;
case 2
extend=arg;
case 3
aspect=arg;
end % switch count
elseif ischar(arg),
ftitle=arg;
end
end % for
end % if nargin
if isempty(numfigs), numfigs=1; end
if isempty(ftitle), ftitle=''; end
if isempty(extend), extend=0; end
if isempty(aspect), aspect=def_aspect; end
% Get screen dimensions. Note that multiple monitors are assumed to have
% the same resolution.
set(0,'Units','pixels');
scnsize=get(0,'ScreenSize');
scnwidth=scnsize(3)-leftborder-rightborder;
scnheight=scnsize(4)-topborder-bottomborder;
% Try to determine the best layout for the number of figures.
% Calculate the number of figure columns for different number of rows
% based upon the screen size to maintain square figures
numfigcols=zeros(1,maxnumrows);
for n=2:maxnumrows,
barheight=((menbarlimit-n)>=0)*menbarheight+((toolbarlimit-n)>=0)*toolbarheight;
numfigcols(n)=fix(scnwidth/((scnheight/n - barheight-titleheight)*aspect));
% Note that the figure size is created with a minimum aspect ratio.
end
% For one row of figures use the same size figure as for two rows.
numfigcols(1)=numfigcols(2);
maxnumfigs=(1:maxnumrows).*numfigcols;
% Calculate offsets for multiple monitors.
offx=scnsize(3)*real(extend)+leftborder;
offy=scnsize(4)*imag(extend)+bottomborder;
% Determine layout from numfigs
switch numel(numfigs)
case 2
figrows=numfigs(1);
figcols=numfigs(2);
numfigs=figrows*figcols;
if figrows>maxnumrows,
error (' Too many figure rows! Maximum is %3.0f',maxnumrows)
end
case 1
% Determine a layout (figrows,figcols) for numfigs figures.
figrows=1;
while numfigs>maxnumfigs(figrows);
figrows=figrows+1;
if figrows>maxnumrows,
error (' Too many figures are requested! Maximum is %3.0f',maxnumfigs(maxnumrows))
end
end
figcols=numfigcols(figrows);
otherwise
error (' Number of figures is specified incorrectly!')
end % switch numel(numfigs)
% For a large number of figures, the menu and tool bars are turned off to
% conserve space.
if figrows > toolbarlimit,
tbar='none';
else
tbar='figure';
end
if figrows > menbarlimit,
menbar='none';
else
menbar='figure';
end
figwidth=scnwidth/figcols;
if figwidth < minfigwidth
figcols=fix(scnwidth/minfigwidth);
figrows=ceil(numfigs/figcols);
if figrows>maxnumrows,
error (' Too many figure rows! Maximum is %3.0f',maxnumrows)
end
figwidth=scnwidth/figcols;
end
% For a single row of figures calculate height based upon aspect ratio.
if figrows==1,
figheight=figwidth/aspect + menbarheight + toolbarheight + titleheight;
figrows=scnheight/figheight; % It's ok if figrows is not integer.
else
figheight=scnheight/figrows;
end
% Now create the individual figures.
% Note that the OuterPosition property is preferable to the Position property
% for setting the figure positions.
figh=ones(1,numfigs);
for n=1:numfigs,
r=fix((n-1)/figcols)+1;
c=mod(n-1,figcols)+1;
pos=[offx+(c-1)*figwidth+1,offy+(figrows-r)*figheight+1,figwidth,figheight];
if numfigs==1,
figtitle=ftitle;
else
figtitle=['#',int2str(n),' ',ftitle];
end
% Add additional or modify properties as needed.
figh(n)=figure('Name',figtitle,...
'Units','pixels',...
'OuterPosition',pos,...
'Colormap',gray(256),...
'NumberTitle','off',...
'MenuBar',menbar,...
'ToolBar',tbar);
end
figure(figh(1)) % put focus back onto first figure
if nargout==1,
fighandle=figh;
end
