Package Max

dict.serialize

Convert a dictionary's content to text

Description

Use the dict.serialize object to output a serialized form of the contents of dictionary in text format. The text may be Dictionary Syntax, JSON, or Base64-compressed forms of these formats.

Discussion

Note: The colon (:) is a reserved character and is not supported in keys or values.

Different formats of serialization may be accessed by changing attributes to this object. However, these attributes should be used carefully.

the mode attribute may choose between JSON and dictionary syntax
the compress attribute will apply a compression algorithm

The non-default options all result in a single max symbol as output. This symbolization has the potential to bloat max's symbol table and thus degrade the overall performance of the max environment. Therefore it is recommended that you use the default (dictionary) mode with no compression.

Arguments

None.

Attributes

compress[int]

Apply compression to the serialized dictionary

mode[symbol]

Switch between dictionary syntax and JSON format

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]

You can override the default appearance of a user interface object by assigning a JavaScript file with code for painting the object. The file must be in the search path.

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

dictionary

Name of a dictionary whose content will be serialized

Arguments:

name [symbol]

Name	Description
Dictionaries	Dictionaries
dict.compare	Compare two dictionaries for equivalence.
dict.deserialize	Create a dictionary from text
dict.group	Build a dictionary iteratively
dict.iter	Stream the content of a dictionary
dict.join	Merge the content of two dictionaries
dict.pack	Create a dictionary and set its values
dict.print	Post a dictionary to the Max Console
dict.route	Compare dictionaries
dict.slice	Split a dictionary into two dictionaries
dict.strip	Remove keys from a dictionary
dict.unpack	Extract values from a dictionary
dict.view	View the contents of a dictionary
dict	Create and access dictionaries