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thispatcher Reference

Send messages to a patcher

thispatcher

Description

Allows modification of a patcher window with Max messages.

Examples

Automatic window control, file saving, or patcher reset are possible with thispatcher... Windows can have any size, location, and appearance, set within the patch itself

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 reference page for information on how to use 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.

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.

Snapshot Attributes

autosave [int]

g/s(set)

When the containing patcher is saved, the state of this object's snapshots will also be saved.

Messages

anything

Arguments

message [list]
See "Patcher Messages" and "Scripting Messages" discussion.

end

Used internally.

savewindow

Arguments

flag [int]
The word savewindow, followed by a non-zero number, means that any unusual window settings caused by window flags messages to thispatcher will be saved as part of the patch the next time the patch is saved. The message savewindow 0 means that changes to the window caused by window flags messages to thispatcher will not be retained when the patch is saved; the prior patcher window settings are saved. If no savewindow message has been received, the patcher will be saved with a normal window appearance.

setactivetab

Arguments

message [list]
In a tabbed patcher, the active tab may be changed by passing the setactivetab message followed by the name of the subpatcher as displayed on the tab itself.

Snapshot Messages

snapshot7.0.0

Arguments

file-name [symbol]
Create a snapshot. When embedsnapshot is on it will be saved into the current patcher. Otherwise it will be saved in an external file. You can determine the filename by an argument to this message.

restore7.0.0

Arguments

file-name [symbol]
Restore a snapshot. When embedsnapshot is on, the snapshot that is embedded in the current patcher will be used. Otherwise it will be loaded from an external file. You can determine the filename by an argument to this message.

addsnapshot

Arguments

userpath [String]
index [Number]
name [String]
Add a new snapshot. If there are no arguments, it will append the new snapshot to the current list of snapshots. If the first argument is a string containing a file path, Max will try to save a .maxsnap file to that location. If the first argument is a number, it will save the snapshot to that slot, incrementing subsequent slots. If the second argument is a string, it will set the name of the snapshot.

deletesnapshot

Arguments

index [Number]
Delete a snapshot at the given index, decrementing subsequent slots.

exportsnapshot

Arguments

index [Number]
filename [String]
Exports a snapshot from the given index, specified by the first argument. The second argument specifies the file name and path to export a maxsnap file to. If the second argument is empty, a File dialog box will open, allowing you to specify a file name and location.

importsnapshot

Arguments

index [Number]
filename [String]
Imports a snapshot to the given index, specified by the first argument. The second argument specifies the file name and path to load a maxsnap file from. If the second argument is empty, a File dialog box will open, allowing you to choose a file.

setsnapshotname

Arguments

index [Number]
name [String]
Set the name of the snapshot at the given index.

setembedsnapshot

Arguments

index [Number]
embedstate [Number]
Set the embed state of the snapshot at the index.

movesnapshot

Arguments

srcindex [Number]
dstindex [Number]
Change a snapshot's index.

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

anything

In addition to the patcher messages below, thispatcher will accept messages to control any of the attributes found in the patcher inspector by sending the attribute name followed by the appropriate value(s). For more information, see the Patcher Inspector guide.

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 dirty 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.

locked

The locked message, followed by a 0 or 1, will lock or unlock 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.

If the patch is an abstraction, hosted by a bpatcher, in a poly~, etc, this message will report the topmost patcher's path, not the abstraction's path.

presentation

The presentation message, followed by a 0 or 1, will cause the patcher to enter or exit presentation mode.

title

The title message, followed by a symbol, will change the title displayed in the patcher window.

topmost

The topmost message, followed by a 0 or 1, will set whether or not the patcher window is always on top. An argument of 1 causes the window to always be on top. Please note that the topmost message will only work after the patcher has been made visible at least once.

write

When sent to a patcher that is not saved to disk, the write message opens a standard File Dialog window where the user can manually set a file name and a location to save the file. If the patcher is already saved to disk, the write message resaves the file to the same location, with the same 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 border message. Peek inside the bpatcher Inspector for other ideas.

Syntax: script sendbox <variable-name> <message>

Example: script sendbox bpbp border 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