How can I change the x-axis to log scale using boxplot?

I have plotted my data using boxplot, but now I would like to change the x-axis to log scale.

I have used this command: set(gca,'XScale','log') However, the size of the boxes become unequal (some of them are wider than the others...)

I would also like to change the scale (xlim) to go from 1000 to 0, but when I try this error message shows up:

>> xlim([1000 0]) Error using set Bad property value found. Object Name : axes Property Name : 'XLim' Values must be increasing and non-NaN.

Is it possible to do this in any other way?

Thanks! /Therese

Answer 1

[Grzegorz Knor]

First question:

Can you write small example? Because I don't understand fully your problem.

Second question:

Instead of:

xlim([1000 0])

use:

xlim([0 1000])

[Therese]

Of course.

I have plotted the flight speed of an animal (y-axis) against light intensity (x-axis). I have 6 different light intensities. When I plot a boxplot, my 6 boxes show up nicely next to each other. However, I would like to have the boxes on a log scale instead, since the light intensity ranges from 600 - 3 lux. It would visualize my data better. This is the reason why I want the data to be plotted from 1000 - 0, because I want to see the reduction in flight speed as light intensity decreases. Do you think it is possible?

[Grzegorz Knor]

Is this the solution to your problem:

X = 3+abs(200*randn(100,25));
boxplot(X)
set(gca,'yscale','log','ydir','reverse')
ylim([1 1000])

?

[Therese]

No... unfortunately, it doesn't work. I can reverse the x-axis, but the boxes still change in width, and the distance between the lowest light intensity and the second lowest light intensity is larger (3.4 - 6 lux), than the distance between 190 - 600 lux, for example. Do you have any other idea?