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dial Reference

Output numbers using an onscreen dial

dial

Description

Outputs numbers according to its degree of rotation. dial can be set with a certain range, offset, multiplier, as well as numerous visual settings.

Examples

Produce output by dragging onscreen... or use to display numbers passing through

Arguments

None.

Attributes

bgcolor [4 floats]

Sets the background color of the dial object in RGBA format.

clip [int] (default: 1)

Causes the dial object's vertical mouse tracking to operate with or without clipping within the specified output range. Clipping is enabled with a non-zero (the default) or disabled with a zero.

degrees [int] (default: 270)

Sets the limits of dial object's rotation.

floatoutput [atom_long] (default: 0)

Toggles floating-point output from the dial object. The default is 0 (off).

min [float] (default: 0.)

Sets an offset value that will be added to the dial object's value before it is sent out the outlet. The default is 0.

mode [int] (default: 0)7.0.0

Drawing Style Possible values:

0 = 'Arc'
1 = 'Indicator'
2 = 'Pie Slice'
3 = 'Classic'
4 = 'Needle'
5 = 'Live'
6 = 'Pan'

mult [float] (default: 1.)

Sets a multiplier value for the dial object. The object's value will be multiplied by this number before it is sent out the outlet. The multiplication happens before the addition of the offset value.

needlecolor [4 floats]

Sets the indicator color of the dial in RGBA format.

outlinecolor [4 floats]

Sets the outline color of the dial in RGBA format.

parameter_enable [int]

Enables use of this object with Max for Live Parameters and allows for setting initial parameter values in the Max environment.

parameter_mappable [int] (default: 1)

When parameter_mappable is enabled, the object will be available for mapping to keyboard or MIDI input using the Max Mappings feature.

size [float] (default: 128.)

Sets the range of the dial object. The default value is 128. When floatoutput is set to 0, any specified size less than 2 will be set to 2. When floatoutput is set to 1, any specified size less than 1 will be set to 1.

style [symbol] (default: )7.0.0

Sets the style to be applied to the object. Styles can be set using the Format palette.

thickness [float] (default: 50.)7.0.0

Sets the thickness of the dial object.

vtracking [int] (default: 1)

Selects the mouse tracking mode.
circular: Causes the dial to use circular tracking. Moving the mouse clockwise in a circular arc relative to the control's center increases the control’s value, and moving it counterclockwise decreases its value.
vertical: (the default) Causes the dial to use vertical tracking. Moving the mouse up increases the object’s value, and moving it down decreases the value. Possible values:

0 = 'Circular'
1 = 'Vertical'

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.

Parameter Attributes

Order

Typeint

Sets the order of recall of this parameter. Lower numbers are recalled first. The order of recall of parameters with the same order number is undefined.

Parameter Mode Enable

Typeint

Parameter Mode Enable (not available from Parameters window)

Link to Scripting Name

Typeint

When checked, the Scripting Name is linked to the Long Name attribute.

Long Name

Typesymbol

The long name of the parameter. This name must be unique per patcher hierarchy.

Short Name

Typesymbol

Sets the short name for the object's visual display. The maximum length varies according to letter width, but is generally in a range of 5 to 7 characters.

Type

Typeint

Specifies the data type. The data types used in Max for Live are:

Float
Int
Enum (enumerated list)
Blob

Note: By convention, the Live application uses floating point numbers for its calculations; the native integer representation is limited to 256 values, with a default range of 0-255 (similar to the char data type used in Jitter). When working with Live UI objects whose integer values will exceed this range, the Type attribute should be set to Float, and the Unit Style attribute should be set to Int.

Range/Enum

Typelist

When used with an integer or floating point data type, this field is used to specify the minimum and maximum values of the parameter.
When used with an enumerated list (Enum) data type, this field contains a space-delimited list of the enumerated values (if list items contain a space or special characters, the name should be enclosed in double quotes).

Modulation Mode

Typeint

Sets the Modulation Mode used by the Live application. The modulation modes are:

None
Unipolar
Bipolar
Additive
Absolute

Modulation Range

Typelist

This parameter is only used with the Absolute modulation mode. It specifies defines the range of values used.

Initial Enable

Typeint

When checked (set to 1), the UI object can store an initialization value. The value is set using the Initial attribute (see below).

Initial

Typelist

Sets the initial value to be stored and used when the Initial Enable attribute is checked.

Unit Style

Typeint

Sets the unit style to be used when displaying values. The unit style values are: Int: displays integer values
Float: displays floating point values
Time: displays time values in milliseconds (ms)
Hertz: displays frequency values (Hz/kHz).
deciBel: displays loudness (dB)
%: Percentage
Pan: displays Left and Right values
Semitones: displays steps (st)
MIDI: displays pitch corresponding to the MIDI note number
Custom: displays custom data type
Native: defaults to floating point values

Custom Units

Typesymbol

Sets the units to be used with the 'Custom' unit style (see "Unit Style", above). Custom unit strings may be simple symbols (e.g. "Harmonic(s)"), in which case the parameter's value will be displayed in its 'Native' display mode, followed by the symbol (e.g. "12 Harmonic(s)" for an Int-typed parameter or "12.54 Harmonic(s)" for a Float-typed parameter). For additional control over the numerical component displayed, a sprintf-style string may be used (e.g. "%0.2f Bogon(s)", which would display a value such as ".87 Bogons").

Exponent

Typefloat

When set to a value other than 1., the parameter's input and output values will be exponentially scaled according to the factor entered in this column.

Steps

Typeint

The number of steps available between the minimum and maximum values of a parameter. For instance, if the parameter has a range from 0.-64., with Steps set to 4, the user can only set the parameter to 0, 21.33, 42.66 and 64.

Parameter Visibility

Typeint

For automatable parameters (Int, Float, Enum), 'Stored Only' disables automation, although parameter values are stored in presets. 'Hidden' causes the parameter's value to be ignored when storing and recalling data. Non-automatable parameters (Blob) are 'Stored Only' by default, and can be set to 'Hidden', if desired.

Update Limit (ms)

Typeint

Speed limits values triggered by automation.

Defer Automation Output

Typeint

Defers values triggered by automation.

Messages

bang

Sends out the number currently stored in dial.

int

Arguments

input [int]
The number received in the inlet is displayed graphically by dial, and is passed out its outlet. Optionally, dial can multiply the number by some amount and add an offset to it before sending it out the outlet.

The dial will also send out numbers in response to clicking or dragging on it directly with the mouse.

float

Arguments

input [float]
Converted to int.

(mouse)

The dial object will send out numbers in response to clicking or dragging on it directly with the mouse.

resize

Arguments

input [int]
The word resize, followed by a number, changes the size of the dial dial object in pixels.

set

Arguments

input [int]
The word set, followed by a number, changes the displayed value of the dial, without triggering output.

setminmax

Arguments

min-max-values [list]
The word setminmax, followed by two numbers, sets the low and high range values for the dial object. If the number list consists of floating point values, the floatoutput attribute will automatically be set.

Output

int

Numbers received in the inlet, or produced by clicking or dragging on dial with the mouse, are first multiplied by the multiplier, then have the offset added to them, then are sent out the outlet.

See Also

Name Description
Max For Live Max For Live
pictctrl Picture-based control
pictslider Picture-based slider control
rslider Display or change a range of numbers
slider Move a slider to output values
Max Basic Tutorial 7: Numerical User Interfaces Max Basic Tutorial 7: Numerical User Interfaces