In left inlet: The number is the target value, to be arrived at in the time specified by the number in the middle inlet. If no time has been specified since the last target value, the time is considered 0 and line immediately outputs the target value.

Note: the output type for the line object is set by using the first argument to the object (see Arguments).

In middle inlet: The number is the time, in milliseconds, in which to arrive at the target value.

In right inlet: The number is the interval (in milliseconds) at which intermediary numbers are regularly sent out.

Performs the same function as int but with floats only if the object-argument is a float.

Use various list combinations to reach a target value.
In one list combination, the first number specifies a starting value, followed by a comma and a number pair. The first number in the pair specifies the target value. The second number of the pair specifies the total amount of time (in milliseconds) in which line should reach the target value. In that amount of time, numbers are output regularly in a line from the currently stored value to the target value.

An example of this type of list is 0, 1 1000 0 1000. In this example, line would go from the starting value of 0 to 1 in one second, then back down to 0 in one second. Once the first ramp has reached its target value, the next one starts. A subsequent list, float, or int in the left inlet clears all ramps yet to be generated.

In another combination, the first number specifies a target value, not followed a comma, and the second number specifies a total amount of time (in milliseconds) in which line should reach the target value. The third number, which is optional, sets the grain. Grain will affect the time interval at which numbers are sent out. Once grains are set in a list, they will override the default until manually reset.

An example of this type of list is 1 1000 100. In this example, line would go from the current value to 1 in a second, outputting a value every 100 milliseconds.

If the list has an even number of elements greater than three, each pair of elements is considered a destination-ramptime pair in a breakpoint function. If the list has an odd number of elements greater than three, the last element will be ignored.

The word clock, followed by the name of an existing setclock object, sets the line object to be controlled by that setclock object rather than by Max’s internal millisecond clock. The word clock by itself sets the line object back to using Max’s regular millisecond clock.

In left inlet: Pauses the internal ramp but does not change the target value nor clear pending target-time pairs. line will continue outputting whatever value was its current value when the pause message was received, until either it receives a resume message or until a new ramp is input.

In left inlet: Resumes the internal ramp and subsequent pending target-time pairs if the line object was paused as a result of the pause message.

In left inlet: The word set, followed by a number, makes that number the new starting value from which to proceed to the next received target value. The set message also stops line if it is in the process of sending out numbers.

In left inlet: Stops line from sending out numbers, until a new target value is received.