A newer version of Max is available. Click here to access the latest version of the Max documentation

multislider

Display data as sliders or a scrolling display

Description

Displays data as either an array of sliders or a scrolling display. When configured as sliders, the values are set (and output) as numeric lists. When configured as a scrolling display, multislider receives numbers, plots them, and scrolls the display area.

Examples

multislider drawing styles

Discussion

Slider values are set by sending lists to the multislider object, which automatically reconfigures itself to have the same the number of sliders as elements in the list. The number of sliders, their range, style and additional attributes can all be set from the object's Inspector. The drawing styles include bar or thin-line slider handles (when using it as a slider), or point-value or zero-to-point in scrolling mode.

Arguments

None.

Attributes

bgcolor [4 floats]

Specifies the background color of the multislider in RGBA format. object.

candicane2 [4 floats] (default: 0.14696 0.2072 0.35792 1.)

Specifies the 2nd slider color in candycane mode in RGBA format.

candicane3 [4 floats] (default: 0.29392 0.41441 0.71583 1.)

Specifies the 3rd slider color in candycane mode in RGBA format.

candicane4 [4 floats] (default: 0.44088 0.62161 0.07375 1.)

Specifies the 4th slider color in candycane mode in RGBA format.

candicane5 [4 floats] (default: 0.58784 0.82881 0.43166 1.)

Specifies the 5th slider color in candycane mode in RGBA format.

candicane6 [4 floats] (default: 0.7348 0.03601 0.78958 1.)

Specifies the 6th slider color in candycane mode in RGBA format.

candicane7 [4 floats] (default: 0.88176 0.24321 0.14749 1.)

Specifies the 7th slider color in candycane mode in RGBA format.

candicane8 [4 floats] (default: 0.02872 0.45042 0.50541 1.)

Specifies the 8th slider color in candycane mode in RGBA format.

candycane [int] (default: 1)

Enables the multislider object to use multiple colors for adjacent sliders, with the color pattern repeating (like the stripes in a candycane) every N sliders (indicated by the integer argument). The first eight colors can be set with the frgba and rgba4- rgba10 messages, the next fifteen colors are taken from the Max application's color palette. The number of stripes in the candycane can also be set using the Inspector.

compatibility [int] (default: 0)

Toggles the backwards-compatibility mode for the maximum, minimum and sum messages. If this mode is enabled, the multislider object will output the single-value results of these messages out the left outlet, otherwise the values will be output out the right (single slider value) outlet, just like the fetch message. Patches saved before Max 4.6 will automatically open with compatibility mode enabled.

contdata [int] (default: 0)

Toggles continuous output mode for non-scrolling display styles. If this mode is enabled, the multislider object will output a list of its current slider values each time the mouse is clicked and dragged. If this mode is turned off, the multislider object will only output a list when the mouse button is pressed and when it is released. The continuous output mode can also be set using the Inspector.

drawpeaks [int] (default: 0)

Toggles setting the multislider to draw peak-output lines when displaying slider values. When followed by a 0, the sliders will not show any peaks.

ghostbar [int] (default: 0)

When followed by a percentage value from 1 to 100, enables the drawing of a "ghost" bar when mode the multislider object is in Thin Line mode. A percentage value of 1 will draw a very light bar behind the Thin Line line, a value of 50 will draw a half-dark bar, and a value of 100 will draw a bar the same color as the Thin Line slider. When the word ghostbar is followed by a zero, this drawing mode is disabled (which it is by default).

orientation [int] (default: 1)

The word orientation followed by a non-zero number will set the sliders to be drawn with a vertical orientation. When followed by a 0, multislider will be set to draw with a horizontal orientation.

Possible values:

0 = 'Horizontal'
1 = 'Vertical'

parameter_enable [int]

Enables use of this object with Max for Live Parameters and allows for setting initial parameter values in the Max environment.

peakcolor [4 floats]

Specifies the peak indicators when Peak-Hold display is turned on (see peakhold and peakreset messages). The default value is grey (rgb2 127 127 127).

setminmax [2 floats] (default: -1. 1.)

Sets the low and high range values for the multislider object. The default values are -1.0 and 1.0 for floating point sliders and 0 and 127 for integer sliders.

setstyle [int] (default: 0)

Sets the display style of the multislider object. The default value is Thin Line (setstyle 0).

Possible values:

0 = 'Thin Line'
1 = 'Bar' ( Display slider values as bars )
2 = 'Point Scroll'
3 = 'Line Scroll'
4 = 'Reverse Point Scroll'
5 = 'Reverse Line Scroll'

settype [int] (default: 1)

Sets the multislider object for integer (0) or floating point (1) operation. The Inspector can also be used to set the multislider object's type. The default is integer (settype 0).

Possible values:

0 = 'Integer' ( Use integer values for operation )
1 = 'Floating-point' ( Use integer values for operation )

signed [int] (default: 0)

Sets the signed or unsigned display mode for bar sliders. The default is 0 (off), and bar sliders are drawn from the minimum value. When this mode is set to 1 (on) sliders are drawn from zero to either a positive or negative slider value.

size [atom_long] (default: 1)

Sets the number of sliders the multislider object has. The default is 1, and the maximum number of sliders is 4096.

slidercolor [4 floats]

Specifies the slider color of the multislider object. The default value is black (frgb 0 0 0).

spacing [int] (default: 0)

Sets the amount of space (in pixels) between sliders. The default is 0 (all sliders touching one another).

style [symbol]7.0.0

Sets the style to be applied to the object. Styles can be set using the Format palette.

thickness [int] (default: 2)

Sets the pen thickness of "thin line"style sliders. The default thickness is 2 pixels.

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.

Parameter Attributes

Order

Typeint

Sets the order of recall of this parameter. Lower numbers are recalled first. The order of recall of parameters with the same order number is undefined.

Parameter Mode Enable

Typeint

Parameter Mode Enable (not available from Parameters window)

Link to Scripting Name

Typeint

When checked, the Scripting Name is linked to the Long Name attribute.

Long Name

Typesymbol

The long name of the parameter. This name must be unique per patcher hierarchy.

Short Name

Typesymbol

Sets the short name for the object's visual display. The maximum length varies according to letter width, but is generally in a range of 5 to 7 characters.

Type

Typeint

Specifies the data type. The data types used in Max for Live are:

Float
Int
Enum (enumerated list)
Blob

Note: By convention, the Live application uses floating point numbers for its calculations; the native integer representation is limited to a range of 0-255 (similar to the char data type used in Jitter). When working with Live UI objects whose integer values are likely to be outside of the 0-255 range, the Type attribute should be set to Float, and the Unit Style attribute should be set to Int.

Range/Enum

Typelist

When used with an integer or floating point data type, this field is used to specify the minimum and maximum values of the parameter.
When used with an enumerated list (Enum) data type, this field contains a space-delimited list of the enumerated values (if list items contain a space or special characters, the name should be enclosed in double quotes).

Modulation Mode

Typeint

Sets the Modulation Mode used by the Live application. The modulation modes are:

None
Unipolar
Bipolar
Additive
Absolute

Modulation Range

Typelist

This parameter is only used with the Absolute modulation mode. It specifies defines the range of values used.

Initial Enable

Typeint

When checked (set to 1), the UI object can store an initialization value. The value is set using the Initial attribute (see below).

Initial

Typelist

Sets the initial value to be stored and used when the Initial Enable attribute is checked.

Unit Style

Typeint

Sets the unit style to be used when displaying values. The unit style values are: Int: displays integer values
Float: displays floating point values
Time: displays time values in milliseconds (ms)
Hertz: displays frequency values (Hz/kHz).
deciBel: displays loudness (dB)
%: Percentage
Pan: displays Left and Right values
Semitones: displays steps (st)
MIDI: displays pitch corresponding to the MIDI note number
Custom: displays custom data type
Native: defaults to floating point values

Custom Units

Typesymbol

Sets the units to be used with the 'Custom' unit style (see "Unit Style", above). Custom unit strings may be simple symbols (e.g. "Harmonic(s)"), in which case the parameter's value will be displayed in its 'Native' display mode, followed by the symbol (e.g. "12 Harmonic(s)" for an Int-typed parameter or "12.54 Harmonic(s)" for a Float-typed parameter). For additional control over the numerical component displayed, a sprintf-style string may be used (e.g. "%0.2f Bogon(s)", which would display a value such as ".87 Bogons").

Exponent

Typefloat

When set to a value other than 1., the parameter's input and output values will be exponentially scaled according to the factor entered in this column.

Steps

Typeint

The number of steps available between the minimum and maximum values of a parameter. For instance, if the parameter has a range from 0.-64., with Steps set to 4, the user can only set the parameter to 0, 21.33, 42.66 and 64.

Parameter Visibility

Typeint

For automatable parameters (Int, Float, Enum), 'Stored Only' disables automation, although parameter values are stored in presets. 'Hidden' causes the parameter's value to be ignored when storing and recalling data. Non-automatable parameters (Blob) are 'Stored Only' by default, and can be set to 'Hidden', if desired.

Update Limit (ms)

Typeint

Speed limits values triggered by automation.

Defer Automation Output

Typeint

Defers values triggered by automation.

Messages

bang

Outputs the current slider values as a list.

int

Arguments

input [int]
Sets all slider values and positions to the number received and outputs a list reflecting the current values. If the multislider data type is set to float, the values in the incoming list are converted to floats.

float

Arguments

input [float]
Sets all slider values and positions to the number received and outputs a list reflecting the current values. If the multislider data type is set to int, the values in the incoming list are truncated and converted to ints.

list

Arguments

input [list]
Sets each slider to a corresponding value in the list from left to right, with the first value in the list setting the first slider. If the multislider has a different number of sliders than is present in the list, the number of sliders is changed to the number of items in the list. In such a case, the outside dimensions of the multislider will not change, only the width or height of the sliders.

anything

Arguments

list [list]
anything is used to offer backwards compatibility in conjunction with the compatibility message.

drawbars

Arguments

flag [int]
The word drawbars followed by a non-zero number will set the multislider to draw bars when displaying slider values. When followed by a 0, the sliders' values will not be drawn in bars.

drawlines

Arguments

flag [int]
The word drawlines followed by a non-zero number will set the multislider to draw lines when displaying slider values. When followed by a 0, the sliders' values will not be drawn in lines.

echo

Arguments

flag [int]
Toggles echo mode on and off. When echo mode is on, the multislider object will output any list received in its inlet. The default is on (1).

fetch

Arguments

slider [int]
The word fetch, followed by a number, sends the value of the numbered slider out the right (single slider value) outlet. Slider numbering starts at 1. Any number less than 1 will report the first slider's value.

interp

Arguments

mode [int]
Sending the word interp, followed by a one or zero, enables or disables interpolation mode. When interpolation mode is on (the default), the multislider object will output interpolated values when a slider is moved. In most cases you probably will not want to disable interpolation mode.

max

Sets all sliders to their maximum values.

maximum

The word maximum causes the value of the slider with the largest value to be sent out the right outlet.

min

Sets all sliders to their minimum values.

minimum

The word minimum causes the value of the slider with the smallest value to be sent out the right outlet.

(mouse)

The way that a multislider responds to the mouse is determined by its chosen display style. A multislider will respond to mouse clicks when its display style is non-scrolling (Thin Line or Bar). Clicking on a forward or reverse scrolling display multislider (Point Scroll or Line Scroll) has no effect.
If continuous output mode is enabled, the list of the current values will be sent out each time the mouse moves while dragging. If the continuous output mode is off, this list is only sent out when the mouse button is pressed or released. The continuous output option can be set in the multislider object's Inspector.
When the display style is non-scrolling, clicking on any slider in a multislider immediately positions the slider at the click point. The current value of all sliders is sent out. Dragging across a multislider will set the other sliders in the same manner. If continuous output mode is enabled, the list of the current values will be sent out each time the mouse moves while dragging. If the continuous output mode is off, this list is only sent out when the mouse button is pressed or released. The continuous output option can be set in the multislider object's Inspector.
If the mouse is moved quickly across a range of sliders, the mouse's position is likely not to be polled quickly enough by the computer to provide a value for each and every slider it appears to pass. By default, multislider will automatically interpolate slider values between successively polled mouse positions. You can use the interp message to disable interpolation, if desired.

normalize

Arguments

number [float]
The word normalize, followed by a float, will scale the sample values in the multislider so that the highest number matches the value given by the argument. Every value is scaled, and this activity cannot be undone. Although the normalize message calculates a normalized list based on the value passed as its argument, the message does not update the values in the multislider object itself or display them.

peakreset

Reset peak values to current slider values

select

Arguments

value-pairs [list]
Selectively sets slider values. For example, select 1 30 2 4 5 50 sets the first slider to 30, the second to 4, and the fifth slider to 50 (the top or leftmost slider is always number 1).

set

Arguments

slider [number]
value [number]
The word set, followed by a slider number and a value, sets the numbered slider to that value without triggering any output.

setlist

Arguments

values [list]
The word setlist, followed by a list of slider values, sets the sliders to the listed values without triggering any output.

range

Arguments

minimum [number]
maximum [number]
The word range followed by a minimum number and a maximum number will set all sliders to operate within that range.

quantiles

Arguments

numbers [list]
In left inlet: The word quantiles, followed by a list of floats between 0 and 1.0, multiplies each list element by the sum of all the values in the multislider. This result is then divided by 215 (32,768). Then, multislider sends out the address at which the sum of all values up to that address is greater than or equal to the result for each list element.

setmax

Arguments

value [float]
The word setmax, followed by a number, sets the high values for the multislider object.

setmin

Arguments

value [float]
The word setmin, followed by a number, sets the low values for the multislider object.

sum

Outputs a sum of all current slider values as a float.

Output

float

Out right outlet: The value of a numbered slider specified by the fetch message. The output reflects the current data type settings (see the settype message).

int

Out right outlet: The value of a numbered slider specified by the fetch message. The output reflects the current data type settings (see the settype message).

list

Out left outlet: When a multislider receives a list, int, or float in its inlet, it outputs a list of its current values. The list is also sent out when the sliders are changed with the mouse.

See Also

Name Description
itable Data table editor
kslider Output numbers from an onscreen keyboard
matrixctrl Matrix switch control
pictslider Picture-based slider control
rslider Display or change a range of numbers
slider Move a slider to output values
Max Data Tutorial 1: Data Viewing Max Data Tutorial 1: Data Viewing