Description
Allows modification of a patcher window with Max messages.
Examples
Discussion
thispatcher can be used to modify and/or close a patcher window - it sends a message to the patcher window in which it is contained. See the bpatcher help file for the use of the thispatcher object with bpatchers.
Note: Use of the thispatcher object to create new objects is not supported.
Arguments
None.
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]
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]
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]
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.
Snapshot Attributes
autosave [int]
When the containing patcher is saved, the state of this object's snapshots will also be saved.
Messages
anything
Arguments
end
savewindow
Arguments
Snapshot Messages
snapshot7.0.0
Arguments
restore7.0.0
Arguments
addsnapshot
Arguments
index [Number]
name [String]
deletesnapshot
Arguments
setsnapshotname
Arguments
name [String]
setembedsnapshot
Arguments
embedstate [Number]
movesnapshot
Arguments
dstindex [Number]
Patcher Behavior and Display
The script message
The script message to thispatcher permits dynamic control over object creation, deletion, sizing and positioning, and patching. The word script is followed by a keyword that indicates a function. Following the keyword are arguments that specify what objects are to be affected by the message.
In the discussion of each script message that follows, the syntax indicates required arguments for the message after the keyword in angle brackets. An example of each message is also provided.
A variable-name is a symbol that names either a new or existing object. You can set variable names by choosing Name... from the Object menu, or with certain scripting messages such as new and select.
Patcher Messages
clean
The clean message resets the patch's dirty bit in the window so that you won't be asked to save changes in the patch.
dirty
The clean message is the opposite of the clean method; it sets the patch's dirty bit in the window.
dispose
*USE AT YOUR OWN RISK* - Closes the patcher or destroys the subpatcher that the thispatcher object is contained in.
front
The front message brings the window that contains the thispatcher object to the front. If the patcher is not open, the message opens the patch and brings it to the front.
loadbang
The loadbang message will send the loadbang message to all objects in the patch - including the loadbang object itself.
lockdown
The lockdown message will disable editing of the patcher.
path
The path message will send the full pathname of the patcher that contains the thispatcher object out the right outlet of the thispatcher object.
The path message to thispatcher does not work within a subpatcher.
title
The title message, followed by a symbol, will change the title displayed in the patcher window.
write
The word write, followed by an optional symbol that specifies a filename, saves the patcher window with that filename to disk. If no file name is specified, a standard File Dialog will be presented for the user to manually choose a file name.
Scripting Messages
bringtofront
Bring an object to the front of the layer it's currently in.
Syntax: script bringtofront <variable-name>
Example: script bringtofront visigoth
If visigoth is in the foreground layer, this message moves it to the front of the foreground layer. Otherwise it moves it to the front of the background layer.
class
Assigns a variable name to the first instance of a specified class with matching arguments
Syntax: script class <variable-name> <class-name> <arguments (optional)>
Example: script class rubadub + 4
Assigns the name rubadub to the first instance found of + with argument 4 in the patcher.
connect
Connects two objects together with a patch cord
Syntax: script connect <outlet-variable-name> <outlet-index> <inlet-variable-name> <inlet-index>
Example: script connect fooboo 0 bobo 0
Connects the left outlet of the object with the variable name fooboo to the left inlet of the object with the variable name bobo.
Note: Adding the keyword hidden (e.g., script hidden connect fooboo 0 bobo 0) creates hidden connections.
connectcolor
Modify the color of an existing patch cord, setting it to one of Max's 16 standard colors.
Syntax: script connectcolor <outlet-variable-name> <outlet-index> <inlet-variable-name> <inlet-index> <color>
Example: script connectcolor rover 0 dover 2 12
Changes the color of the connection between the left outlet of the rover object with the 3rd inlet of the dover object to the color stored at index 12.
delete
Deletes an object in a patcher window.
Syntax: script delete <variable-name>
Example: script delete footog
Deletes the object associated with the variable name footog.
disconnect
Disconnect two objects connected by a patch cord
Syntax: script disconnect <outlet-variable-name> <outlet-index> <inlet-variable-name> <inlet-index>
Example: script disconnect fooboo 0 bobo 0
This message undoes the connection between the left outlet of fooboo and the left inlet of bobo.
hidden
Specifies that an object (or connection) will be hidden when created.
Example: script hidden new footog toggle 101 93 15 0
Creates a hidden object associated with the variable name footog. The hidden keyword can also be used when specifying connections between objects.
hide
Hide a visible object.
Syntax: script hide <variable-name>
Example: script hide visigoth
Hides the object named visigoth
ignoreclick
Set an object not to respond to mouse clicks.
Syntax: script ignoreclick <variable-name>
Example: script ignoreclick visigoth
Makes the object named visigoth ignore mouse clicks.
move
Move an object to an absolute position relative to the current top-left corner of a patcher window. Note that the 0,0 point is underneath the icon bar.
Syntax: script move <variable-name> <top> <left>
Example: script move molly 0 100
Moves the object named molly to the left edge of the window, 100 pixels down from the top.
new
Creates a new object in a patcher window and gives it a name.
Syntax: script new <variable-name> <creation message>
Example: script new footog toggle 101 93 15 0
Creates a new toggle object 15 pixels square at 101 93 and assign it to the variable footog.
The format of the arguments (after the class name) to the script new message are based on the legacy Max file format.
newdefault
Creates a new named object with default properties in a patcher window.
Syntax: script newdefault <variable-name> <creation message>
Example: script newdefault thatgraph 10 10 filtergraph~
Creates a new filtergraph~ object at its default size at 10 10 and assign it to the variable thatgraph.
Example: script newdefault buffy 200 100 pack foo bar bap
Creates a new pack object instantiated with the arguments foo bar bap at 200 100 and assign it to the variable buffy.
nth
Assigns a variable name to the nth instance of a specified class
Syntax: script nth <variable-name> <class-name> <index>
Example: script nth yoyo toggle 1
Assigns the name yoyo to the first toggle found in the patcher.
The order of objects in a patcher is determined by the front-to-back ordering. Objects in back of the patcher that draw behind other objects are first in the search order.
offset
Move an object a distance from its current position. Positive distances move the object down and to the right, negative distances move it up and to the left.
Syntax: script offset <variable-name> <delta-x> <delta-y>
Example: script offset molly 30 -40
Moves the object named molly 30 pixels to the right and 40 pixels up.
offsetfrom
Move an object a set distance from another object.
Syntax: script offsetfrom <variable-name-to-move> <target-variable-name> <top-left-flag> <delta-x> <delta-y>
The top-left-flag is 1 if the distance is relative to the top-left corner of the object, and 0 if it is relative to the bottom-right corner.
Example: script offsetfrom molly panther 1 -100 -120
Moves the object named molly 100 pixels to the left of the left side of the object named panther, and 120 pixels above the top of the object named panther.
respondtoclick
Set an object to respond to mouse clicks.
Syntax: script respondtoclick <variable-name>
Example: script respondtoclick visigoth
Makes the object named visigoth respond to mouse clicks.
selected
Assigns a variable name to the first object found that is selected
Syntax: script selected <variable-name>
Example: script selected impo
Assigns the name impo to the first object found that is selected. Obviously this script message only works when the patcher is unlocked, since no object can be selected in a locked patcher.
For all three connection messages described below, inlets and outlets are specified by index, with 0 denoting the leftmost inlet or outlet. The first variable specified is the object whose outlet you are connecting or disconnecting and the second variable is the one whose inlet you are connecting. Messages can then flow from outlet to inlet.
send
Send a message to an object. This message is the same as using a message box with a semicolon or a send object, but you use the object variable name feature of scripting to specify the object that will receive the message -- using script send to communicate with a named receive object does not work. The message can only be sent to an object within the patcher as the thispatcher object receiving the script send message.
Syntax: script send <variable-name> <message>
Example: script send foobert 666
The object with the variable name foobert receives an int 666 message. If foobert were a number box, its displayed value would change to 666.
sendbox
Send a message to an object box. This message is identical to send except that it sends the message to an object's box rather than the object referred to by the box. There is currently only one object, bpatcher, in which the object and box are different objects. The box is a bpatcher, and the object is a patcher. What can you tell a bpatcher to do? One example is the boxborder message, which is equivalent to sending the border message to a thispatcher object in a patcher inside a bpatcher. Peek inside the Inspector patch for bpatcher for other ideas.
Syntax: script sendbox <variable-name> <message>
Example: script sendbox bpbp boxborder 0
If bpbp names a bpatcher object, this script message would tell it not to draw its border.
sendtoback
Move an object to the back of the layer it's currently in.
Syntax: script sendtoback <variable-name>
Example: script sendtoback visigoth
If visigoth is in the foreground layer, this message moves it to the back of the foreground layer. Otherwise it moves it to the back of the background layer. Note that objects that are "in the back" are the first objects to be found by the variable assignment messages nth and class.
show
Show a hidden object.
Syntax: script show <variable-name>
Example: script show visigoth
Makes the object named visigoth visible.
size
Change an object's size. There are some objects that have restrictions on their size, but they generally do not protect themselves against sizes they don't expect, so use this message with some caution. For instance the toggle object expects to be a square. It may not draw properly if it's made into a rectangle.
Syntax: script size <variable-name> <width> <height>
Example: script size togipoo 30 30
Changes the object named togipoo to be 30 by 30 pixels.
Sending Messages to Objects
Output
symbol
Out right outlet: The full pathname of the folder or volume containing the patcher's file in response to the path message. If the patcher has not been saved, there is no output.
window
Out left outlet: When the message window getsize is received, thispatcher sends out the words window size followed by the screen coordinates (in pixels from the top left corner of the screen) of the left, top, right, and bottom limits of the window. When the message window gettitle is received, the message window title or window notitle is sent out, depending on whether the window has a title bar. When the message window getflags is received, thispatcher sends out the words window flags followed by the visibility of the scroll bars and grow box (grow or nogrow), the close box (close or noclose), and the zoom box (zoom or nozoom).
See Also
| Name | Description |
|---|---|
| Sharing Max Patchers | Sharing Max Patchers |
| Search Paths | Search Paths |
| Scripting | Scripting |
| Configuring Objects In A Patcher | Configuring Objects In A Patcher |
| bpatcher | Embed a subpatch with a visible UI |
| bgcolor | Set background color |
| join | Combine items into a list |
| pack | Create a list |
| patcher | Create a subpatch within a patch |
| pattrforward | Send any message to a named object |
| pcontrol | Open and close subwindows |
| pvar | Connect to a named object in a patcher |
| sprintf | Format a message of words and numbers |
| Max Interface Tutorial 1: bpatchers | Max Interface Tutorial 1: bpatchers |