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jit.textfile

Read and write a matrix as an ASCII text file

Description

The jit.textfile object maintains a text buffer, into which a text file or char matrix can be imported. The buffer can also be edited directly by double-clicking on the object to open an editor window. A bang to the object causes the text buffer to be sent out the left outlet as a matrix.

Examples

Discussion

In adapt mode, jit.textfile will analyze the file for carriage returns and deduce the probable width and height of the output matrix (always 1 plane 2 dimensional). String matrices can be output using the line message.

Matrix Operator

matrix inputs:1, matrix outputs:2
Name IOProc Planelink Typelink Dimlink Plane Dim Type
out n/a 1 1 1 1 1 char
out2 n/a 1 1 1 1 1 char

More about Matrix Operators

The Jitter MOP

Since the matrix is Jitter's focus, it is not surprising that the majority of Jitter objects fall in this category of Matrix Operators. Every Matrix operator has some number of matrix inputs and some number of matrix outputs. Matrix inputs are referred to by the names "in", "in2", "in3", etc., from left to right, and matrix outputs are referred to by the names "out", "out2", "out3", etc., from left to right--i.e. the names are appended by the input/output number except for the first (leftmost) input and first (leftmost) output which are simply named "in" and "out". We will refer to the input or output name names as the "I/O-name".

Matrix inputs and outputs typically each have their own matrices internally where information is kept. This is necessary because Jitter is an asynchronous framework (i.e. all the matrices don't arrive at all inputs at the same time). Various aspects of matrix inputs and outputs can be set using the command [I/O-name] combined with one of the following suffixes: "_dim" which will set the dimensions of the specified I/O matrix, "_type" which will set the type of the specified matrix, "_planecount" which will set the plane of the specified matrix, or "_name" which will set the name of the specified matrix. There is one special case which does not have an internal matrix and this is the first input "in". This is the case since this special input actually triggers the calculation of the matrix operator, so it doesn't need to be cached until a calulation takes place, unlike the other inputs. Therefore there is no mechanism to set the dim, planecount, type, or name of "in".

Matrix operators accept what we'll refer to as "matrix args"--i.e. [planecount (int)] [ type (symbol)] [dim (int list)]. if these arguments are present, the adapt attribute will be turned off, otherwise it will be turned on. If adapt mode is turned on, each time a matrix is received in the first input, there will also be the equivalent of setting the dim, planecount, and type attributes to that of the input matrix. If the other inputs and outputs are linked to these attributes, this will affect their linked attributes as well. See the "MOP" table to determine which inputs and outputs will be linked to which attributes when adapt mode is turned on. For the leftmost input this is not applicable, and hence all columns are labelled "n/a".

The jit.matrix object is a named matrix which may be used to matrix data storage and retrieval, resampling, and matrix type and planecount conversion operations.

MOP Arguments

planecount [int]

Optional

Explicitly sets the number of planes for the output and any righthand inputs. If this is absent, the Matrix Operator will typically adapt to the lefthand incoming matrix attributes, except for special case operators.

type [symbol]

Optional

Explicitly sets the type of the matrix for the output and any righthand inputs. If this is absent, the Matrix Operator will typically adapt to the lefthand incoming matrix attributes, except for special case operators.

dimensions [list]

Optional

Explicitly sets the dimensions of the matrix for the output and any righthand inputs. If this is absent, the Matrix Operator will typically adapt to the lefthand incoming matrix attributes, except for special case operators.

MOP Attributes

adapt [int]

Matrix adaptation flag (default = 0 if matrix arguments are present, otherwise 1) When the flag is set, the jit.matrix object will adapt to the incoming matrix planecount, type, and dimensions.

[in/out]_dim [32 ints]

The matrix data dimensions (default = 1 1)

[in/out]_name [symbol]

The input or output name of the matrix (default = UID)

[in/out]_planecount [int]

The number of planes in matrix input our output data. Except in special cases, this value is equal to the planecount.

[in/out]_type [symbol]

The input or output matrix data type. Except in special cases, this value is equal to type.

[in/out]_type [symbol]

The input or output matrix data type. Except in special cases, this value is equal to type.

outputmode [int]

Output mode (default = 1 (calculate and output matrix))
0 = No output
1 = Calculate and output the matrix
2 = Pass input (no calculation)
3 = Pass output (no calculation)

type [int]

The matrix data type (default = char
Supported data types are char, long, float32, or float64.

MOP Messages

bang

Equivalent to the outputmatrix message.

clear

Sets all cell values in a matrix to zero.

exportattrs

Arguments

filename [symbol]
Exports an object's current attributes values in XML format. If no filename is specified, a file dialog will open to let you choose a file.

getattributes

Sends a sequence of lists out the object's right outlet describing the object's attributes, one line per attribute. Each line listing line takes the form attribute attribute-name get get-value set foo set-value data-type(s) number-of-values .

getstate

Sends a sequence of lists describing the object's state out the object's right outlet, one line per attribute. Each line listing line takes the form attribute-name attribute-value1 attribute-value2 ... attribute-valueN .

importattrs

Arguments

filename [symbol]
Imports attributes specified in XML format to set the object's attributes. If no filename is specified, a file dialog will open to let you choose a file.

jit_matrix

Arguments

matrix-name [symbol]
Handles input for the named matrix. If this messages is received in the left inlet, output is typically triggered. If this message is received in any other inlet, the data is typically cached until the jit_matrix message is received in the left inlet.

outputmatrix

Sends the matrix out the left outlet.

summary

Sends a sequence of lists describing the object and it attributes and messages out the rightmost outlet of the object. The first output line takes the form summary objectname object-name . The second and third lines describe the number of inlets and outlets for the object in the form summary (matrixinputcount/matrixoutletcount) number-of-(inlets/outlets) . The fourth line describes the matrixoutput in the form summary matrixoutput descriptor planelink planelink-value typelink typelink-value dimlink dimlink-value types data-type(s) . Each attribute for the object is then listed, one attribute per line. Each line listing takes the form summary attribute attribute-name attribute-value1 attribute-value2 ... attribute-valueN .

Attributes

autoclear [int]

Matrix clear following output flag (default = 1)

defaultdir [symbol]

The default directory for writing files (default = default path)

convert [int]

Convert line breaks flag (default = 1) When the flag is set, UNIX/DOS line breaks are converted to Macintosh format when reading a file from disk.

title [symbol]

Sets the title for the text editor window

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.

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 [float]

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.

Messages

(mouse)

Double-clicking on the object opens a text editor window with the current contents of the text buffer.

erase

Clear the object's text buffer.

line

Arguments

line-number [int]
Sends the line specified by the argument out the middle outlet of the object as a string matrix (1 dimensional char matrix, 0 terminated) that can be used by the jit.str. set of objects. Line numbering starts at 1.

open

Opens the text editor window. Sending this message is equivalent to double-clicking on the object.

outputline

Sends the matrix out the middle outlet. This is equivalent to the outputmatrix message, but uses to the middle outlet rather than the left outlet. (For this object, the outputmatrix message refers only to the left outlet).

read

Arguments

filename [symbol]
Reads a text file from disk if a filename is specified. Otherwise, an file dialog box will appear so that a text file can be specified.

wclose

Closes the editor window, if open.

write

Arguments

filename [symbol]
Writes the object's text buffer to a disk file. The optional argument specifies a file name.

See Also

Name Description
jit.fprint Read/write a matrix as a text file
jit.matrix The Jitter Matrix!
text Format messages as a text file
Tutorial 20: Importing and Exporting Single Matrices Tutorial 20: Importing and Exporting Single Matrices