How can I optimize graphics update in animations?

I have a plot with multiple subplots that I would like to create an auto-scrolling effect with. I first set up the figure:

xData = 0:0.001:60;
yData = sin(2*pi*xData);
xLimit = [0,5];

figure;
nAxes = 4; % Number of Axes

for i = 1:nAxes
    Ax(i) = subplot(nAxes,1,i);
    line('parent',Ax(i),'xdata',xData,'ydata',yData);
end

Then I iteratively update the 'x-axis' limits to achieve continuous panning of the plot.

step = 0.1;
while xLimit(2)<xData(end)
    xLimit=xLimit+step;
     for i=1:nAxes
        xlim(Ax,xLimit)
     end
    pause(0.00001);
end

A small delay is added in each iteration using the 'pause' function. However, the graphics are not updating quickly enough to achieve smooth panning, and there is a small shake in the y-axis during the animation. A similar issue is reported here:

https://www.mathworks.com/matlabcentral/answers/365045-scrolling-plot-speed-and-axis-jitter

How do I achieve smoother panning of the plot?

Answer 1

[MathWorks Support Team]

The animation rendering can be improved by changing the way the plot is set up. The main modification is changing the function 'line' to 'animatedline'.

animatedline(Ax(i),xData,yData);

Additional modifications include manually setting the layout of axes (for n axes), turning off the toolbar and default activity, and drawing the line object in the inner position to prevent shaking of the axis.

% Manual layout for n vertically stacked subplots
Ax(i) = axes;
Ax(i).OuterPosition = [0.0; (i-1)*0.25; 1.0; 0.25];

% Turn off toolbar and default interactivity
Ax(i).Toolbar = [];
disableDefaultInteractivity(Ax(i));

% Draw in inner position
drawnow
Ax(i).PositionConstraint = 'innerposition';

These additional modifications should be included in the 'for' loop that sets up the figure in this example.