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live.dial Reference

Output numbers by moving a dial onscreen

live.dial

Description

live.dial works like a circular slider that outputs numbers according to its degree of rotation.

Examples

Arguments

None.

Attributes

active [int] (default: 1)

Toggles the object's active mode. When the active attribute is set to 0, the mouse action does not cause output and the inactive colors are used.

activedialcolor [4 floats]

Sets the dial color in RGBA format to be used when the active attribute is set to 1.

activefgdialcolor [4 floats]8.0.0

Sets the foreground dial color in RGBA format to be used when the active attribute is set to 1.

activeneedlecolor [4 floats]

Sets the needle color in RGBA format to be used when the active attribute is set to 1.

annotation_name [symbol] (default: )

The string that is prepended to annotations. This shows up in the Info pane in Live, and the clue window in Max.

appearance [int] (default: 0)

The word appearance followed by a number, sets the display style for the live.dial object.

Possible values:

0 = 'Vertical' ( Vertical dial display )
Sets a vertical display (the default).

1 = 'Tiny' ( Tiny dial display )
Sets a very tiny dial display.

2 = 'Panel' ( Panel dial display )
Sets a dial display that includes a labeled panel.

3 = 'Large' ( Large dial display )
Sets a large dial display.

bordercolor [4 floats]

Sets the display color for the live.dial object's border in RGBA format.

dialcolor [4 floats]

Sets the dial color in RGBA format displayed when the active attribute is set to 0.

fgdialcolor [4 floats]8.0.0

Sets the foreground dial color in RGBA format displayed when the active attribute is set to 0.

focusbordercolor [4 floats]

Sets the display color for the focused live.dial object's border in RGBA format.

needlecolor [4 floats]

Sets the needle color in RGBA format. This is only used when the active attribute is set to 0.

panelcolor [4 floats]

Sets the panel color in RGBA format. This is only used when the appearance attribute is set to panel mode.

parameter_mappable [int] (default: 1)

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

showname [int] (default: 1)

Toggles the display of the parameter name. The default is 1 (displayed).

shownumber [int] (default: 1)

Toggles the display of the parameter value. The default is 1 (displayed).

textcolor [4 floats]

Sets the display color for the live.dial object's text in RGBA format.

triangle [int] (default: 0)

Toggles the display of a triangle in the dial display. When the triangle attribute is set to 1 and the triangle is displayed, clicking on it will restore the dial's initial value.

tricolor [4 floats]

Sets the display color for the live.dial object's triangle in RGBA format when the dial is in the default position.

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 the current value out the outlet.

int

Arguments

input [int]
The number received in the inlet is stored and displayed by the live.dial object and sent out the outlet.

float

Arguments

input [float]
The number received in the inlet is stored and displayed in the live.dial and sent out the outlet.

assign

Arguments

assign-input [float]
The word assign, followed by a floating point value, causes that value to be stored and displayed and sent out the live.dial object's outlet. If the Parameter Visibility attribute is set to Stored Only, the assign message will not add the new value to the Live application’s undo chain.

init

Restores and outputs the initial value.

(mouse)

Click and drag in the dial to change the value. Hold down the Shift key for more precise mouse control.

outputvalue

Sends the current value out the outlet.

rawfloat

Arguments

input [float]
A raw normalized value (between 0. and 1.) received in the inlet is converted to a real value, stored, displayed by live.dial, and the current value is sent out the outlet.

set

Arguments

set-input [float]
Sets the current value without causing any output.

Output

float

Out right outlet: When an output is triggered, a raw normalized value (between 0. and 1.) is sent out this outlet.

int/float

Out left outlet: Numbers received in the object's inlet or produced by clicking or dragging on the live.dial object with the mouse are sent out the outlet. The value sent is an integer if the Parameter Type is set to INT or ENUM.

See Also

Name Description
Max For Live Max For Live
live.numbox Display and output a number
live.slider Output numbers by moving a slider onscreen
dial Output numbers using an onscreen dial
Max Basic Tutorial 7: Numerical User Interfaces Max Basic Tutorial 7: Numerical User Interfaces