Matlab makes the loops run simultaneously - matlab

Question

Unfortunately, I have two loops. that's why my code makes the first loop run and only when it is finished, it makes the second loop run.
But I want the gui to show the data simultaneously: in the hAxes and in the loading1.
How can I make it?
hFigure = figure('units','pixels','position',[300 300 424 470],'menubar','none',...
'name','start processing','numbertitle','off','resize','off');
hAxes = axes('Parent',hFigure,'Units','pixels','Position',[0 112 424 359]);
loading1 = uicontrol('style','text','unit','pix','position',[0 72 424 40],...
'backgroundcolor','r','fontsize',20);
%% shows the data on hAxes
for i = 5:100
if mod(i,2) == 0
set(hAxes,'Color','b');
else
set(hAxes,'Color','g');
end
drawnow;
end
%% shows the data on loading1
for i=1:200
image2 = horzcat('now processing ', 'image', num2str(i), '.jpg of 200 images');
set(loading1,'string',image2);
drawnow;
end
this code is of Peter:
function test1
hFigure = figure('units','pixels','position',[300 300 424 470],'menubar','none','name','start processing','numbertitle','off','resize','off');
% Your other setup calls
hAxes = axes('Parent',hFigure,'Units','pixels','Position',[0 112 424 359]);
loading1 = uicontrol('style','text','unit','pix','position',[0 72 424 40],'backgroundcolor','r','fontsize',20);
c = 1;
t = timer('TimerFcn', #color_change_fcn,'StartDelay',1.0);
start(t);
for i=1:200
image2 = horzcat('now processing ', 'image', num2str(i), '.jpg of 200 images');
set(loading1,'string',image2);
drawnow;
end
function color_change_fcn
if mod(c,2) == 0
set(hAxes,'Color','b');
else
set(hAxes,'Color','g');
end
drawnow;
c = c + 1;
end
end
It doesn't work (doesn't show the hAxes). I saw it doesn't make the color_change_fcn run (I tried to write: disp('test') in the first row of color_change_fcn function, but it prints nothing.

Answer 1

This seems to be related to your previous question, where you want the two loops to be running simultaneously (well at least appear to be that way).
Building on #Peter's answer, consider the following working example:
function timerDemo()
%# prepare GUI
hFig = figure('Menubar','none', 'Resize','off');
axes('XLim',[0 1], 'YLim',[0 1], 'Visible','off', ...
'Units','normalized', 'Position',[0.1 0.2 0.8 0.6])
hTxt = uicontrol('Style','text', 'FontSize',24, ...
'Units','normalized', 'Position',[0 0.9 1 0.1]);
hPatch = patch([0 0 1 1 0],[0 1 0 1 0],'k');
%# colors to cycle through
c = 1;
clr = lines(4);
%# create timer
delay = 0.5;
hTimer = timer('Period',delay, 'StartDelay',delay, ...
'ExecutionMode','FixedRate', 'TimerFcn',#timerCallback);
%# when figure is closed
set(hFig, 'CloseRequestFcn',#onClose);
%# process images
start(hTimer); %# start timer
for i=1:100
if ~ishandle(hFig), break; end
msg = sprintf('Processing image %d / %d', i, 100);
set(hTxt, 'String',msg)
%# some lengthy operation
pause(.1)
end
if isvalid(hTimer)
stop(hTimer) %# stop timer
delete(hTimer) %# delete timer
end
%# timer callback function
function timerCallback(src,evt)
if ~ishandle(hFig), return; end
%# incremenet counter circularly
c = rem(c,size(clr,1)) + 1;
%# update color of patch
set(hPatch, 'FaceColor',clr(c,:));
drawnow
end
%# on figure close
function onClose(src,evt)
%# stop and delete timer
if isvalid(hTimer)
stop(hTimer);
delete(hTimer);
end
%# call default close callback
feval(#closereq)
end
end
The code simulates running a lengthy processing step on a number of images, while at the same time showing an animation to keep the user entertained.
To keep the code simple, I am showing a patch that updates its color continuously (using a timer). This stands for the animated GIF image of "loading...".

Answer 2

Is this what you want? Just combine the loop bodies.
for i=1:200
if mod(i,2) == 0
set(hAxes,'Color','b');
else
set(hAxes,'Color','g');
end
image2 = horzcat('now processing ', 'image', num2str(i), '.jpg of 200 images');
set(loading1,'string',image2);
drawnow;
end
EDIT: OK, in that case, try a timer instead of the first loop
function output = main_function
% Your other setup calls
hAxes = axes('Parent',hFigure,'Units','pixels','Position',[0 112 424 359]);
c = 0;
t = timer('TimerFcn', #color_change_fcn, 'Period', 1.0);
start(t);
for i=1:200
image2 = horzcat('now processing ', 'image', num2str(i), '.jpg of 200 images');
set(loading1,'string',image2);
drawnow;
end
function color_change_fcn
if mod(c,2) == 0
set(hAxes,'Color','b');
else
set(hAxes,'Color','g');
end
drawnow;
c = c + 1;
end
end
Just remember that the MATLAB control flow is inherently single-threaded, so these callbacks won't run if MATLAB is busy working somewhere else.