delobject

Similar to DELETE, but more forgiving, and allows deletion of multiple objects.

Description

DELETE OBJECT
 
  DELOBJECT( H ) deletes the object with handle h, but is more forgiving
  than DELETE: when h is empty, zero or not valid, no action is taken.
 
  Additionally, DELOBJECT enables deletion of multiple handles at the same
  time:
  - H can be an array of handles; all objects are deleted.
  - H can be a cell array of handles.
  - H can be a struct, in which case each field is assumed a handle.
  - Each element in the cell array and each field in the struct can be an
    array of handles. Note that using cells and structs is slower than a
    numeric array of handles.
 
                Example:
  h = 0;
  hf = figure; hold on;
  axis([-15 15 -15 15]); axis equal;
  for i=1:10;
    x = sin(0:0.1:2*pi);
    y = cos(0:0.1:2*pi);
    delobject(h);
    h.red = plot( x,y+i,'r');
    h.blue = plot( x,y-i,'g');
    pause(0.5);
  end
  delobject(hf);

• MATLAB release: MATLAB 7.2 (R2006a)

[Jos x@y.z]

What do you mean by "... will not fail if the handle is invalid", since you explicity coded, e.g., error([mfilename ': input must be NUMERIC or CELL or STRUCT!']);

Why not issue warnings instead?

[almar klein]

Yes, the description can be better. I changed it, but it seems it takes a day or two (might be because I changed the title to the function name, making it a new submission.)

To answer your question: delobject is more forgiving. It will simply take no action when the handle is empty, zero or not valid. The error message you pointed out happens on improper use of the function (like suplying a function handle as input argument)