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mxj

Java in Max

Description

The mxj object and its MSP equivalent mxj~ instantiate specially-written Java classes and act as a Max-level peer object, passing data that originates in Max/MSP to the Java object and vice versa. The form that the mxj / mxj~ object takes (the number of inlets, outlets and the messages it understands), is determined by the Java class that it instantiates.

Using the mxj object requires that the host computer have a recent version of the Java Virtual Machine (JVM) installed. Macintosh users can ensure that they have the most up-to-date version of the JVM by running Software Update from the System Preferences. By default, Windows XP does not have a version of the JVM installed. As of the writing of this document the most recent version of the JVM can be downloaded from this link:





Max includes a directory called "java-doc", which can be found on Windows machines at





and on Macintosh machines at





The following important subdirectories are in the java-doc directory:

classes contains the source code and class files of the example Java classes that are included with Max/MSP.

help contains the help files that are associated with the example Java classes. Exploring these patches is a good, quick way to see how mxj has extended and will extend the Max universe.

doc/tutorial contains a step-by-step tutorial that leads you through the process of creating your first Java class to the application of advanced mxj programming techniques. The tutorial is in HTML format.

doc/api contains html files that specify the mxj object's Application Programming Interface (API). These pages will serve as an invaluable resource when you are coding your own Java classes.

doc/ide contains example projects for some of the Integrated Development Environments (IDEs) we think you may want to use to create Java classes.

lib contains the code libraries that the mxj object uses to bridge the worlds of Max and Java.

In addition, a file named max.java.config.txt. also is located in the java directory This file allows you to specify which diretories should be in Java's classpath -- a concept roughly analogous to the Max search path.

Arguments

Name Type Opt Description
Java-class symbol The mxj object must be given the name of a valid Java class as the first argument. The Java class file must exist somewhere within the classpath, and it must be a class that was designed for use with the mxj object (the class must subclass com.cycling74.max.MaxObject.).
The number of inlets that an instance of mxj creates and the messages that it will respond to are determined by declarations made in the peer Java class.
attribute-values list The mxj object supports the definition of attributes within the Java code for a peer class. The attributes that are settable at the time of instantiation using the @ paradigm. For instance, if a particular class Foo defined an integer attribute called intBar, one could create an instance of the class with the attribute set to the value 74 by typing mxj Foo @intBar 74 in an object box.

Messages

bang User-defined according to the Java class instantiated.
int input [int]
 User-defined according to the Java class instantiated.
float input [float]
 User-defined according to the Java class instantiated.
list input [list]
 User-defined according to the Java class instantiated.
anything input [list]
 User-defined according to the Java class instantiated.
(mouse) Double-clicking with the mouse on the mxj object displays its contents as text in an editing window which the user can modify.
get attribute-name [list]
 The word get followed by an attribute-name will post the attribute value in the Max window.
viewsource The viewsource message brings up a text editor window and loads the source code for the peer Java object. If the source code is not in the same directory as the peer class's .java file, a decompilation of the class file is attempted and the resulting decompiled source is presented. From within the editor window it's possible to make edits to the source, save the file, and recompile the class.
zap When a zap message is sent to an mxj object with Java peer class Foo, the next mxj object that's instantiated with the same peer Java class Foo (ie typing "mxj Foo" in an object box) will cause the class to reload itself from disk. This is most useful in a programming context: if one makes a change to Foo.java and recompiles a new Foo.class the zap message allows one to create an instance of the new class without having to quit and restart the Max environment. Without sending the zap message Max would simply use the cached definition of the class that was loaded when a Foo object was instantiated prior to the changes being made.

Information for box attributes common to all objects

Output

various: The number of outlets that an instance of mxj creates is determined by declarations made in the constructor of the peer Java class. The furthest outlet to the right may or may not be an info outlet whose sole responsibility is to report information about the attributes when queried.

Examples

Instantiations of the keep (in-patcher storage) and Multiplex (list multiplexing) classes

See Also

Name Description
js Execute Javascript
Tutorial 51: Jitter Java Tutorial 51: Jitter Java