Object Quickref
Many Max objects will accept a variety of different kinds of messages.
While
Assistance
provides a very brief description of the most commonly used
messages to a Max object, you can get a list of all the messages
the object understands using the Quickref contextual menu. You can use the
Quickref menus as an aid to Max patching, automatically creating message
boxes that contain messages to an object from the Quickref listing.
Viewing the Quickref pop-up menu
- Click on any inlet to a Max object to show the Quickref pop-up menu.
The Quickref pop-up menu displays
- A listing of the messages the Max object accepts
- Menu items that let you open Reference pages and Help files for the item.
- Menu items that let you send a message to the Max object without using a patch cord, and to query the output of the object
The Quickref menu gives you a short summary of each message and its syntax. The format of a Quickref listing is:
- The name of the message
- The message type (int / float / symbol / array) for any additional messages [in square brackets]. If there the message is followed by a list, the number of items in the list is also shown in square brackets (e.g., color [float array[4]] means that the object expects a message that begins with the symbol color and is followed by a list of 4 floats)
- The message’s default value, in parentheses (e.g. val = 0.73 0.82 0.63 1.00)
Getting information from the Quickref pop-up menu
- Click on the left inlet to a Max object to show the Quickref pop-up menu. As you move your cursor over any Quickref listing, a description of the message will appear in the Clue Window.
Patching from the Quickref pop-up menu
- Click on the left inlet to a Max object to show the Quickref pop-up menu and click on any message listed to select it. A message box containing the message connected to the left inlet of the Max object will automatically be created, ready for you to complete by typing in any arguments the message may require.
