The Object Action Menu

The object action menu in Max provides a quick and easy way to patch intuitively. This menu has several sub-menus that provide a means of accessing help files, reference files, and object Inspectors for an object. It also provides a quick way to discover the messages and attributes associated with that object, and serves as an aid to Max patching.

Viewing the object action menu

Click on any Max object to select it and position your cursor on the left edge of the object or the object box to display the object action menu. the object action menu circle will appear.

When you click on the circle, menu a label appears to identify the various menus associated with the object. The menu item display depends upon the Max object you have selected

To hide the object action menu, move your cursor away from the circular object menu and it will disappear.

Displaying and using an object action menu

Click on any Max object to select it and position your cursor on the left edge of the object or the object box and click on the circle to display the object action menu.
Hover of the menu item you want to select. Some menu items provide drop-down menus that let you make further selections. When you release your mouse, the menu activity will be performed.

The object action menu consists of several menu items:

The Object menu gives you access to general information about the selected object.
The Attributes menu lets you discover the attributes associated the the object.
The Messages menu lets you discover the messages that the selected object knows about and will respond to.
The Files menu lets you access audio and visual media for various MSP and Jitter objects.
The Prototypes menu will provide you with access to prototypes of any user interface object you select.
The Transform menu lets you alter the object, including switching an object's changed attributes to arguments.
The Inspector selection will open the selected object's Inspector.
The Style select lets you set the style of the object, using either preset or stored library styles.
The Help selection will open the selected object's Help file.
The Reference selection will open the selected object's Reference page.
The Edit or Open selection, when enabled, will allow you to edit details for the object, or (in the case of a subpatcher or bpatcher) open the encapsulated patch for editing.
Additional actions for specific objects will appear at the bottom of the menu. The send and receive objects, for example, allow you to create a same-named object of the opposite type.

Finding Out About Objects Using the object action menu

The object action menu provides quick and easy ways to find out about an object - its function, the information is receives and sends to and from other Max objects, and the attributes and messages it understands. This information is easily accessible with a couple of clicks and some mousing.

Using the object action menu to find out about an object

Click on any Max object to select it and position your cursor on the left edge. Click to display the object action menu's contents, and drag to the examine a menu item.
Choose Inspector from the Object menu and release to open the object's Inspector.
Choose Help from the Object menu to open the object's Help file.
Choose Reference from the Object menu to open the object's Reference page.

Max Patching Using the object action menu

The object action menu provides some shortcuts for adding messages, inspecting attributes, and loading content into objects that you may find useful when patching.

Patching from the Attributes menu

Click on any Max object to select it and position your cursor on the left edge of the object or the object box to display the object action menu.
Move your mouse over a Attributes segment of the circular menu, click to display the menu's contents, and drag to the attribute you want to select. When you release your mouse, an attrui object containing the name of the attribute and connected to the left inlet of the Max object will automatically be created.

Patching from the Messages menu

Click on any Max object to select it and position your cursor on the left edge of the object or the object box to display the object action menu.
Move your mouse over a Messages portion of the menu, click to display the menu's contents, and drag to the message item you want to select. When you release your mouse, a message box containing the message connected to the left inlet of the Max object will automatically be created, ready for you to complete by typing in any arguments the message may require.

Patching from the Files menu

Click on a Max object that loads and uses audio or visual media (e.g. buffer~, jit.movie, sfplay~, etc.) to select it and position your cursor on the left edge of the object or the object box to display the object action menu.
Move your mouse over a Messages portion of the menu, click to display the menu's contents, and drag to the one of the media files displayed to select it. When you release your mouse, the media file you selected will be loaded into the select Max object.

Patching from the Prototypes menu

Click on any Max object to select it and position your cursor on the left edge of the object or the object box to display the object action menu.
Move your mouse over a Prototypes segment of the circular menu, click to display the menu's contents, and drag to the prototype you want to select. When you release your mouse, the user interface object you have selected will be replaced by the selected prototype for the object.

Object Action menu