tosymbol Reference

Convert messages, numbers, or lists to a single symbol

tosymbol

Description

tosymbol accepts any message, number, or list, and converts it into a single symbol. The symbol has a maximum length of 2048 characters.

Examples

Convert any input into a symbol

Arguments

None.

Attributes

separator [symbol]

Specifies the separator character or symbol to be used when concatenating. The message separator with no arguments removes all spaces when creating a symbol (e.g., 1 2 3 4 becomes 1234). When used with slash or colon separators, the separator attribute can be used to construct pathnames (e.g., ./patches myjunk myfile becomes ./patches/myjunk/myfile). The default separator is a space.

Common Box Attributes

annotation [symbol]

Sets the text that will be displayed in the Clue window when the user moves the mouse over the object.

background [int] (default: 0)

Adds or removes the object from the patcher's background layer. background 1 adds the object to the background layer, background 0 removes it. Objects in the background layer are shown behind all objects in the default foreground layer.

color [4 floats]

Sets the color for the object box outline.

fontface [int]

Sets the type style used by the object. The options are:

plain
bold
italic
bold italic Possible values:

0 = 'regular'
1 = 'bold'
2 = 'italic'
3 = 'bold italic'

fontname [symbol]

Sets the object's font.

fontsize [float]

Sets the object's font size (in points). Possible values:

'8'
'9'
'10'
'11'
'12'
'13'
'14'
'16'
'18'
'20'
'24'
'30'
'36'
'48'
'64'
'72'

hidden [int] (default: 0)

Toggles whether an object is hidden when the patcher is locked.

hint [symbol]

Sets the text that will be displayed in as a pop-up hint when the user moves the mouse over the object in a locked patcher.

ignoreclick [int] (default: 0)

Toggles whether an object ignores mouse clicks in a locked patcher.

jspainterfile [symbol]

JS Painter File

patching_rect [4 floats] (default: 0. 0. 100. 0.)

Sets the position and size of the object in the patcher window.

position [2 floats]

g/s(set)

Sets the object's x and y position in both patching and presentation modes (if the object belongs to its patcher's presentation), leaving its size unchanged.

presentation [int] (default: 0)

Sets whether an object belongs to the patcher's presentation.

presentation_rect [4 floats] (default: 0. 0. 0. 0.)

Sets the x and y position and width and height of the object in the patcher's presentation, leaving its patching position unchanged.

rect [4 floats]

g/s(set)

Sets the x and y position and width and height of the object in both patching and presentation modes (if the object belongs to its patcher's presentation).

size [2 floats]

g/s(set)

Sets the object's width and height in both patching and presentation modes (if the object belongs to its patcher's presentation), leaving its position unchanged.

textcolor [4 floats]

Sets the color for the object's text in RGBA format.

textjustification [int]

Sets the justification for the object's text. Possible values:

0 = 'left'
1 = 'center'
2 = 'right'

varname [symbol]

Sets the patcher's scripting name, which can be used to address the object by name in pattr, scripting messages to thispatcher, and the js object.

Messages

bang

See the anything listing

int

Arguments

input [int]
See the anything listing

float

Arguments

input [float]
See the anything listing

list

Arguments

input [list]
See the anything listing

anything

Arguments

input-for-conversion [list]
The tosymbol object accepts any message, number, or list for an input, and sends a single symbol out its output. The symbol can have a maximum length of 2048 characters.

Output

symbol

A single symbol consisting of the concatenated messages, numbers, or lists. If the output symbol contains any spaces or special characters, it will be surrounded by double quotes.

See Also

Name Description
conformpath Convert file paths styles
fromsymbol Convert a symbol into numbers/messages
regexp Use regular expressions to process input
zl Process lists in many ways