Save figures systematically to keep clean organization. See Using_SaveFiles.mlx for a notebook with examples.
Syntax
best_save(fig_name)
best_save(fig_name, Name=Value)
Description
A
best_save(fig_name) saves the current figure as fig_name in a folder labeled with the current date. example
B
best_save(fig_name, Name=Value) saves current figure in folder of current date with additional options specified by one or more name-value pair arguments. For example, you can save to supplemental folder inside the current folder or not close the figure after it’s saved. example
Examples
Basic save
Create figure
x = linspace(0, 2*pi, 100); % to evaluate
% visualize
figure()
plot(x, sin(x), 'linewidth', 2);
Save figure
best_save('testFig1') % normal folder
Save to supplemental
Save figure to supplemental folder inside of current date’s folder.
Create figure
x = linspace(0, 2*pi, 100); % to evaluate
figure()
plot(x, cos(x), 'linewidth', 2);
Save figure
best_save('testFig2', 'sup',true) % put in supplemental folder
Don’t close after saving
Don’t close the figure object after it is saved.
Create figure
x = linspace(0, 2*pi, 100); % to evaluate
figure()
plot(x, cos(x), 'linewidth', 2);
Save figure
best_save('testFig2', 'close_yn',false) % don't close
fig_name
Name of file figure should be named.
File name for figure. Extension will default as .png.
Data Types: (str)
Name-Value Arguments
Specified optional pairs of Name=Value arguments. Name is the is the argument name and Value is the corresponding value. You can specify several name and value pair arguments in any order as Name1=Value1,...,NameN=ValueN.
Example: close=True, supplemental=True specifies function to save figure in a subfolder called Supplemental and to close the figure after it is saved.
close_yn
Close figure after saved. (default=true)
Whether or not to close figure after it has been saved in appropriate location.
Data Types: (boolean)
fig_handle
Figure handle to be saved. (default=gcf())
Which figure handle to save. Useful if multiple figures are being created in odd orders.
sup
Save to supplemental subfolder (default=false)
Whether or not to save figure to subfolder called supplemental.
Data Types: (boolean)
paper
Save to paper folder (default=false)
Whether or not to save figure to subfolder called paper. Useful for creating manuscripts so you can just link to these files and not worry about the date subfolder.
Data Types: (boolean)
extension
File extension (defualt=’.png’)
What extension to give figure file.
Data Types: (char)
More About
When the function is called for the first time in a new directory, it will create a figures folder (code_folder/figures). When the function is called for the first time in a day in a directory where it has already been called previously, it will create a folder labeled with the current date below the figures folder (code_folder/figures/DD_MMM_YYYY). When the function is called with the supplemental argument defined as true, it will create a subfolder labeled supplemental and save the figure there (code_folder/figures/DD_MMM_YYYY/Supplemental).
One can find a clear example here.
Tips
If you get an error or pause execution while this function is working, it is good practice to make sure you reset your directory.
I would suggest adding both best_save.m and functionSignatures.json to a folder that is in your MATLAB path. The best_save.m contains the function and the functionSignatures.json will you give custom suggestions and code completion for when you call best_save in a script or notebook.
If you already have a functionSignatures.json file in your folder, just add the pertinent code to the original functionSignatures.json.
See also
writeGif
Issues and Discussion
Issues and Discussion.
If you don’t know how to use github (or don’t want to), just send me an email.