pattr
Description
Stores its own data, or binds to another object to share its contents with other pattr-based objects (such as pattrstorage). Can be used for data routing or preset creation.
Examples
Discussion
The pattr object can be thought of as an alias for data. It functions in two modes. By default, the pattr object maintains its own data. This data can be of any normal Max type (int, float, list, symbol). The pattr object can also bind to another object, as long as that object has a patcher name that the pattr object can resolve. In this instance, the pattr object merely refers to the data inside of another object, and is restricted to the type of data expected by the object. When bound, data sent to the pattr object is forwarded to the referred object (target), and changes made to the target are reflected in the pattr object.
Arguments
Attributes
autorestore [int]
Enables (1) or disables (0) the autorestore state of the pattr object. The default is 1 (enabled). When enabled, the pattr object will automatically output its last-saved value when the patcher is loaded (and, if bound to another object, send the value to that object. See the bindto attribute, below for more information on bound objects).
bindto [symbol]
The word bindto, which may be followed by an optional symbol argument, sets the pattr object's binding state. The default state is unbound (no arguments). By default, the pattr object maintains its own data. When "bound" using the bindto feature, a pattr object maintains the data for the other object and automatically gets and sets values for that object. bindto takes an optional symbol argument, which specifies the name of the object to which pattr will bind. Binding targets need not be at the same patcher-level as the pattr object. In this case, a double-colon syntax ('::') is used to separate levels of patcher hierarchy for the purposes of describing a path for name resolution (e.g. somepatcher::someobject). If the named object is at a higher patcher-level than the pattr object, the word parent can be used to refer to a patcher at a higher level (e.g. parent::objectaboveme, parent::parent::objectaboveobjectaboveme or parent::patchernexttome::someobject ).
If the named object contains attributes, and the user wishes to bind to a specific attribute, the same double-colon syntax is used to specify the name of that attribute (e.g. someobject::someattribute). A bindto message sent without an argument unbinds the pattr object from any bound object, and causes it to resume the maintenance its own internal state. See the pattr helpfile for more information about this feature.
default_active [int]
Enables (1) or disables (0) the pattr object's default active state, when it is discovered by a pattrstorage object. The default is 1 (active). See the Reference for the pattrstorage object for more information.
default_interp [2 atoms]
The word default_interp, followed by a symbol and an optional 2nd argument, defines the pattr object's default interpolation setting, when it is discovered by a pattrstorage object. The default is linear. See the Reference for the pattrstorage object for more information.
default_priority [int]
The word default_priority, followed by an int, defines the pattr object's default priority, when it is discovered by a pattrstorage object. The default is 0. See the Reference for the pattrstorage object for more information.
dirty [int]
Enables (1) or disables (0) the patcher-dirty flag. The default is 0 (disabled). When enabled, the pattr object will dirty the patch whenever its state changes.
initial [256 atoms] (default: )
The pattr object's initial value. If autorestore is set to 1, this value will be restored upon patch load, rather than the value of the pattr object at the time the patch was last saved. The initial attribute can be used in combination with the init message to reset the pattr object to the specified value.
invisible [int]
The word invisible, followed by a 1 or 0, determines whether or not the pattr object is invisible to pattrstorage objects. The default is 0 (visible).
parameter_enable [int]
Enables use of this object with Max for Live Parameters.
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.
thru [int]
Enables (1) or disables (0) the pattr object's thru behavior. The default is 1 (enabled). When enabled, the object will output its value whenever it changes. When disabled, the object will only output its value when it receives a bang message.
type [symbol] (default: atom)
The word type, followed by a symbol corresponding to a valid type, sets the data type maintained internally by the pattr object, when the object is not bound. The default is atom. Available types include char, long, float32, float64, symbol, and atom.
Possible values:
'atom'
'char'
'long'
'float32'
'float64'
'symbol'
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]
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]
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]
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
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
Parameter Mode Enable (not available from Parameters window)
Link to Scripting Name
When checked, the Scripting Name is linked to the Long Name attribute.
Long Name
The long name of the parameter. This name must be unique per patcher hierarchy.
Short Name
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
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
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
Sets the Modulation Mode used by the Live application. The modulation
modes are:
None
Unipolar
Bipolar
Additive
Absolute
Modulation Range
This parameter is only used with the Absolute modulation mode. It specifies defines the range of values used.
Initial Enable
When checked (set to 1), the UI object can store an initialization value. The value is set using the Initial attribute (see below).
Initial
Sets the initial value to be stored and used when the Initial Enable attribute is checked.
Unit Style
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
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
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
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
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)
Speed limits values triggered by automation.
Defer Automation Output
Defers values triggered by automation.
Messages
bang
int
Arguments
float
Arguments
list
Arguments
anything
Arguments
assign
Arguments
(mouse)
dictionary
Arguments
Output
(internal)
A user interface object (or other object that responds to the internal messaging system utilized by pattr) connected to the middle outlet of the pattr object will be automatically named (if necessary) and bound to. The name is automatically generated from the object's class name (e.g. a connected number box might be named number[1].) Currently, the following Max user interface objects can be bound in this fashion: dial, function, gain~, ggate, gswitch, js (requires user support), jsui (see the JavaScript in Max manual for more information on using the pattr system with JavaScript), led, matrixctrl, multislider, nslider, number box (int and float), pattr, pattrstorage, pictctrl, pictslider, radiogroup, rslider, slider, swatch, table, textedit, toggle, and umenu.
See Also
| Name | Description |
|---|---|
| Max For Live | Max For Live |
| autopattr | Expose multiple objects to the pattr system |
| pattrforward | Send any message to a named object |
| pattrhub | Access all pattr objects in a patcher |
| pattrmarker | Provide pattr communication between patchers |
| pattrstorage | Save and recall pattr presets |
| Max pattr Tutorial 1: Patcher Storage | Max pattr Tutorial 1: Patcher Storage |