Can I remove axes from a tiledlayout, and have it reflow?

Suppose I create a flowing tiledlayout

tiledlayout('flow')

and add a few plots with

nexttile()

The layout automatically rearranges the tiles to fit each new axes. But now suppose I want to remove one of my old axes to make more room for the rest? How can I remove an axes from a the tiledlayout, so that it rearranges and resizes the remaining axes?

Obviously I could save each axes in an array as I create it, and then re-create the tiledlayout from scratch, but maybe there's an easier way.

Answer 1

[Rishik Ramena]

You can index the tiles using the nexttile(tilelocation) format. Then use the delete(gca) to delete any previously created tile axes. Have a look at the example below.

x = linspace(0,30);
y1 = sin(x/2);
y2 = sin(x/3);
y3 = sin(x/4);

% Plot into first tile three times
tiledlayout('flow')
nexttile
plot(x,y1)

nexttile;
plot(x,y2)

nexttile
plot(x,y3)

delete(nexttile(2))

[David Szwer]

The simplest solution! Thank you.

[David Szwer]

I have extended that example a bit to make it a bit clearer how the tile order does or doesn't change as axes are added and deleted.

x = linspace(0,6);
y1 = 1*sin(pi*x/1);
y2 = 2*sin(pi*x/2);
y3 = 3*sin(pi*x/3);
y4 = 4*sin(pi*x/4);
y5 = 5*sin(pi*x/5);
y6 = 6*sin(pi*x/6);
y7 = 7*sin(pi*x/7);

tiledlayout('flow')

nexttile
plot(x,y1)
pause  % Wait for the user to press any key in the Command Window.

nexttile;
plot(x,y2)
pause

nexttile
plot(x,y3)
pause

nexttile
plot(x,y4)
pause

delete(nexttile(2))  % Graph 2 disappears.
pause

delete(nexttile(2))  % Nothing happens - not even a warning.
pause

delete(nexttile(4))  % Graph 4 disappears.
pause

delete(nexttile(1))  % Graph 1 disappears.
pause

nexttile
plot(x,y5)  % Graph 5 appears in position *1*.
pause

nexttile
plot(x,y6)  % Graph 6 appears in position *2*.
pause

nexttile
plot(x,y7)  % Graph 7 appears in position *4*.
pause

delete(nexttile(4))  % Graph *7* disappears.
pause

delete(nexttile(3))  % Graph 3 disappears.
pause

delete(nexttile(1))  % Graph *5* disappears.

[Rishik Ramena]

nexttile
plot(x,y1)
pause  % Wait for the user to press any key in the Command Window.
nexttile;
plot(x,y2)
pause
nexttile
plot(x,y3)
pause
nexttile
plot(x,y4)
pause

%% four tiles are created till now

delete(nexttile(2))  % Graph 2 disappears.
pause

delete(nexttile(2))  % Nothing happens - not even a warning.
%% This happens because the axes object indexed by nexttile(2) no longer exists hence nothing is deleted.
pause

delete(nexttile(4))  % Graph 4 disappears.
pause
delete(nexttile(1))  % Graph 1 disappears.
pause

%% Till here only the axes object indexed by nexttile(3) is present in the current figure and indices 1,2 and 4 are unoccupied

%% these plots will take up the vacant locations in the current figure which are indexed by 1,2 and 4
nexttile
plot(x,y5)  % Graph 5 appears in position *1*.
pause
nexttile
plot(x,y6)  % Graph 6 appears in position *2*.
pause
nexttile
plot(x,y7)  % Graph 7 appears in position *4*.
pause


delete(nexttile(4))  % Graph *7* disappears.
pause
delete(nexttile(3))  % Graph 3 disappears.
pause
delete(nexttile(1))  % Graph *5* disappears.

Hope this clears up your understanding.