Package Max

absolutepath

Convert a file name to an absolute path

Description

Converts a file name or path to an absolute path. If the file is not found, the symbol notfound is output.

Discussion

Converts a file name or path to an absolute path. If the file is not found, the symbol notfound is output.

In addition to the standard Max path syntax ( Drive:/path/to/file ), absolutepath supports the following additional path prefixes:

  • ~: - path relative to the user's home folder
  • C74: - path relative to the Cycling '74 resources folder (on macOS, this is inside the application bundle Max.app/Contents/Resources/C74/ ; on Windows, this is the resources folder next to the Max.exe executable
  • Usermax: - path relative to the Max 8 folder in the user's Documents folder
  • Desktop: - path relative to the user's Desktop folder
  • ~Tempfolder: - path relative to Max's temp folder (this folder will be automatically emptied when Max quits)
  • Package:/<package-name>/ - path relative to the package specified in package-name
  • Project: - path relative to the project (if any) containing the absolutepath object

Arguments

None.

Attributes

Common Box Attributes

Below is a list of attributes shared by all objects. If you want to change one of these attributes for an object based on the object box, you need to place the word sendbox in front of the attribute name, or use the object's Inspector.

annotation[symbol]

Sets the text that will be displayed in the Clue window when the user moves the mouse over the object.

background[int]: 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]: 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]: 0

Toggles whether an object ignores mouse clicks in a locked patcher.

jspainterfile[symbol]

JS Painter File

patching_rect[4 floats]: 0. 0. 100. 0.

Sets the position and size of the object in the patcher window.

position[2 floats]
write-only

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]: 0

Sets whether an object belongs to the patcher's presentation.

presentation_rect[4 floats]: 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]
write-only

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]
write-only

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.

Messages

anything

A file name or path as a symbol. Input pathnames can contain slashes, colons, or backslashes as separators.

Arguments:
  • pathname [symbol]

types

The types message followed by a list of four-letter filetype codes will designate the types of files which absolutepath can recognize.

Arguments:
  • filetypes [list]

Output

any symbol

If the incoming file name or path is found, the output is an absolute path. The output pathnames contain slash separators.

Absolute pathnames look like this:

"C:/Max Folder/extras/mystuff/mypatch.pat"

See Also

Name Description
Search Path Search Path
conformpath Convert file paths styles
opendialog Open a dialog to ask for a file or folder
relativepath Convert an absolute to a relative path
savedialog Open a dialog asking for a filename
strippath Separate filename from a full pathname