uifigure+uitree, multiple selected nodes

Hello,
Does anybody know a (undocumented) workaround to have multiple nodes selected in a uitree with checkboxes? I like to distinguish between checked and selected items.
If the uitree component is used without checkboxes it is possible. I am wondering why this is not implemented (yet)...
hF = uifigure();
hT = uitree(hF,'checkbox');
hO1 = uitreenode(Parent=hT, Text='object1');
hO2 = uitreenode(Parent=hT, Text='object2');
hO3 = uitreenode(Parent=hT, Text='object3');
hO4 = uitreenode(Parent=hT, Text='object4');
hT.CheckedNodes = [hO1, hO2];
hT.SelectedNodes = [hO3, hO4];
%Error using matlab.ui.container.internal.model.TreeComponent/set.SelectedNodes (line 161)
%'SelectedNodes' must be an empty array or a 1-by-1 TreeNode object that is a child in the CheckBoxTree.
Thanks in advance,
Martin

 Accepted Answer

dpb
dpb on 19 Aug 2025
Edited: dpb on 19 Aug 2025
Does not appear to be possible; looking at the undocumented/hidden properties with <Yair Altman getundoc> reveals that the 'MultiSelect' property doesn't even exist, rather than simply not made public. Given this, it would not appear possible to modify the current behavior using the 'Style','Checkbox' option.
One could use independent check boxes and manipulate them with a callback to set their state(s) based on the properties of a standard tree with 'MultiSelect','on'. I dunno about how much effort it would be to also draw in a background to match, though.
Another option could be to use an uitable with a checkbox column.

2 Comments

Submit this to Mathworks as an official support request for enhancement at <Product Support Page>; mayhaps an official response as to there being some reason the option isn't available with the checkbox style that isn't apparent superficially.
@dpb thanks for your time to react. I will take your alternative suggestions in mind and will send a service request (feature request) to Mathworks.

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on 19 Aug 2025

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on 20 Aug 2025

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