diff --git a/tests/adler/utilities/test_plotting_utilities.py b/tests/adler/utilities/test_plotting_utilities.py
index f788b0d..4293565 100644
--- a/tests/adler/utilities/test_plotting_utilities.py
+++ b/tests/adler/utilities/test_plotting_utilities.py
@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 import pytest
 import matplotlib
+import os
+from numpy.testing import assert_array_almost_equal
 
 from adler.objectdata.AdlerPlanetoid import AdlerPlanetoid
 from adler.utilities.tests_utilities import get_test_data_filepath
@@ -13,17 +15,84 @@
 )
 
 
-def test_plot_errorbar_return(planetoid=test_planetoid, filt_list=["r"]):
+def test_plot_errorbar_return():
 
     # make the fig object
-    fig = plot_errorbar(planetoid, filt_list=filt_list)
+    fig = plot_errorbar(test_planetoid, filt_list=["r"])
     print(isinstance(fig, matplotlib.figure.Figure))
 
     # check that fig is of the correct type
     assert isinstance(fig, matplotlib.figure.Figure)
 
 
+def test_plot_errorbar_file(tmp_path):
+
+    # define a pytest tmp_path
+    filename = "{}/test_file.png".format(tmp_path)
+
+    # make the fig object
+    fig = plot_errorbar(test_planetoid, filt_list=["r"], filename=filename)
+    print(os.path.isfile(filename))
+
+    # check that the file exists
+    assert os.path.isfile(filename)
+
+
+def test_plot_errorbar_xy_label():
+
+    # make the fig object
+    x_plot = "midPointMjdTai"
+    y_plot = "mag"
+    fig = plot_errorbar(test_planetoid, filt_list=["r"], y_plot=y_plot, x_plot=x_plot)
+
+    # check the labels have been set
+    assert fig.gca().get_xlabel() == x_plot
+    assert fig.gca().get_ylabel() == y_plot
+
+    # get the object data
+    obs_filt = test_planetoid.observations_in_filter("r")
+    x = getattr(obs_filt, x_plot)
+    y = getattr(obs_filt, y_plot)
+
+    # check the correct data has been plotted
+    x_fig = fig.gca().lines[0].get_xdata()
+    y_fig = fig.gca().lines[0].get_ydata()
+    assert_array_almost_equal(x_fig, x)
+    assert_array_almost_equal(y_fig, y)
+
+
+def test_plot_errorbar_fig():
+
+    # make the fig object
+    fig = plot_errorbar(test_planetoid, filt_list=["r"])
+    # add to the first fig object
+    fig = plot_errorbar(test_planetoid, filt_list=["g"], fig=fig)
+    print(fig.gca().lines)
+    # check that there are two sets of data plotted
+    assert len(fig.gca().lines) == 2
+
+
+def test_plot_errorbar_legend():
+
+    # make the fig object
+    fig = plot_errorbar(test_planetoid, filt_list=["r", "g"], label_list=["r", "g"])
+
+    # make the legend
+    ax1 = fig.gca()
+    ax1.legend()
+
+    # check the legend labels
+    assert ax1.get_legend_handles_labels()[1] == ["r", "g"]
+
+
+# TODO: test no xerr_plot
+# TODO: test col_list
+
 if __name__ == "__main__":
     print(test_planetoid.__dict__)
 
-    test_plot_errorbar_return()
+    # test_plot_errorbar_return()
+    # test_plot_errorbar_file(".")
+    # test_plot_errorbar_xy_label()
+    # test_plot_errorbar_fig()
+    test_plot_errorbar_legend()