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dialog

Open a dialog box for text entry

Description

Allows entry of a symbol (as text) and sends it out the outlet when you click on the OK button in the dialog box.

Examples

Typed-in message is sent out when OK button is clicked other processes continue while dialog box is open A dialog box is opened by the dialog object

Discussion

Note that the output of a dialog object is not directly "caused" by sending the object a message, so you can't count on it happening by a certain time.

Arguments

label [symbol]

Optional

Sets the prompt which will appear above the text entry box in the dialog window.

Attributes

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.

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 [float]

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

textjustification [int]

Text Justification

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

In left inlet: Opens the dialog box with the previous text displayed as the default.

int

Arguments

text [int]
See the symbol entry.

  (inlet1)

Arguments

output-mode [int]
In right inlet: The number 0 sets dialog so that whatever the user types into the dialog box is sent out as a symbol preceded by the word symbol. A non-zero number sets dialog so that the typed-in text is sent out exactly as is if it begins with a word, or preceded by the word list if it begins with a number. If no number is received, it is considered 0 by default.

float

Arguments

text [float]
In left inlet: Same as symbol.

symbol

Arguments

text [symbol]
In left inlet: The word symbol, followed by any word, opens a dialog box prompting the user to enter text. The word following symbol is shown as the default text. If you want more than one word to appear as the default text, you must enclose the words in double quotes.

Output

bang

If the dialog box is cancelled by the user, a bang message is sent out the right outlet.

symbol

If the user clicks OK, dialog makes a symbol out of the entered text (even if it's a number or it's more than one word) and sends it out its outlet with the word symbol prepended. If a non-zero number has been received in the right inlet, the typed-in message is sent out as is (without being preceded by the word symbol). This message can be displayed by prepending the word set and sending it to a message box (as shown in the example). If the user clicks Cancel, nothing is sent out.

Since your patch continues to run while waiting for the user to type text into your dialog box, you can't count on getting the typed-in symbol immediately after sending the message that opens the dialog box.

See Also

Name Description
Search Paths Search Paths
message Send any message
opendialog Open a dialog to ask for a file or folder
savedialog Open a dialog asking for a filename
sprintf Format a message of words and numbers