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filein Reference

Read and access a file of binary data

filein

Description

filein reads a file of binary data and outputs the data at various points in the file given the appropriate input.

Examples

Output the content of a file in 8-, 16-, or 32-bit chunks

Arguments

filename [symbol]

Optional

Specifies a filename to be read into the filein object automatically when the patch is loaded.

spool [symbol]

Optional

A second argument of the word spool will cause the file to be accessed from disk rather than read into memory.

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.

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

int

Arguments

offset [int]
Specifies a byte offset in a binary file, and outputs the data stored at that point in the file.

  (inlet1)

Arguments

offset [int]
In middle inlet: The 16-bit word contained at that byte offset in the file is sent out the left outlet as an unsigned (short) integer.

  (inlet2)

Arguments

byte-offset [int]
In right inlet: The 32-bit word contained at that byte offset within the file is sent out the left outlet as an unsigned (long) integer.

fclose

Closes the file being read, making filein no longer respond to int or list messages.

read

Arguments

filename [symbol]
Displays a standard file dialog to select a file to be read into memory. If the word read is followed by a filename found in Max's search path, that file will be automatically read into memory.

spool

Arguments

filename [symbol]
Displays a standard file dialog to select a file, which will be accessed from disk whenever an int is received. If the word spool is followed by a filename found in Max's search path, that file will be automatically pointed to for future access. This method of accessing a file occupies less RAM, but does not output data immediately at interrupt level in response to an int message.

Output

bang

Out middle outlet: When a number greater than or equal to the number of bytes in the file is received in an inlet, a bang is sent out signifying that the end of the file (EOF) has been reached.

Out right outlet: Signifies that a read or spool operation has been completed. This bang indicates that the file has been accessed successfully and that filein is ready to receive int messages.

int

Out left outlet: An unsigned integer representing the 8, 16, or 32 bits stored in the file at the location specified by the input int.

See Also

Name Description
text Format messages as a text file