How to Remove a List Box Entry in MATLAB

Removing a list box entry in MATLAB is simple.

MATLAB is a technical software environment used for data collection, analysis, simulation and display. Often in the course of your workflow, it is necessary to allow a user to input decisions in the workflow, rather than perform a completely automated process. However, the options available for user interface elements, such as list boxes, can be manipulated via programming.

Instructions

1. Create a cell array of strings containing the options for the list box, in order, as follows:

   my_options = {'First' 'Second' 'Third'};

2. Create and display a list dialog box using the listdlg() function as in the following example:

   [selection, was_ok] = listdlg('PromptString','Make a selection:','ListString',my_options);

   MATLAB pauses execution and does not allow input while the dialog box is open. The return values are the index of the selected value(s) and a boolean indicating whether the dialog was closed with the "OK" or "Cancel" button.

3. Access the current list of list box selections created using MATLAB's interactive graphical user interface creator, GUIDE, using the get() function. The list_box_handle is the handle to your list box graphics object:

   current_list = get(list_box_handle,'String');

4. Set a new list of selections in your list box using the set() function:

   set(list_box_handle,'String',my_options);

References

• MATLAB Documentation: listdlg
• MATLAB Documentation: Add and Remove Elements
• MATLAB Documentation: get
• MATLAB Documentation: set