jsui
Javascript user interfaces and graphics (Legacy Engine)
Description
Provides an environment to make user interface elements using Javascript (ECMAScript 5). This provides all of the programming tools available in the js object, but also exposes the mgraphics and sketch drawing routines for visual output.
Discussion
The jsui object is a general purpose user interface object driven by javascript. There are a number of templates already built to use (some of which are shown below). While the patcher is in edit mode, you can ctrl-click (mac) or right-click (pc) to bring up the contextual menu which will let you view and edit the currently loaded javascript file, or select one of the template files from jsui-library. If the javascript file also has a help file associated with it (as do all of the template objects contained in this patch), the associated help file will be loaded instead of jsui.maxhelp. The inspector lets you set the javascript file, javascript arguments, size, border flag, and disable full scene anti-aliasing (fsaa).
At the present time, mouse position and object redrawing will only be reported correctly in the jsui object if the patching and Presentation mode sizes of the object are the same.
Arguments
None.
Attributes
border[int]: 1
Toggles the drawing of a border around the jsui object. The default is 1 (draw border).
filename[symbol]: none
The word filename , followed by a symbol that specifies a pathname, designates the Javascript file to be loaded.
jsarguments[256 atoms]:
Specifies any arguments to be passed to the Javascript code contained in the jsui object.
nofsaa[int]: 0
Toggle full screen anti-aliasing
param_connect[symbol]:
Establishes a two-way connection between the object and a parameter of a compatible object with parameters such as gen~ or jit.gl.slab. The object can be used to change the value of the parameter and will update if the parameter value changes. The easiest way to set param_connect is with the attribute's menu in the inspector or the Connect submenu of the Object Action menu. The menu displays all available parameters of compatible objects.
Setting the param_connect attribute with a message requires the target parameter's path, which is the host object's scriping name followed by two colons and the parameter name. For example, for a gen~ object with scripting name gen~_AB , the path of the freq parameter would be gen~_AB::freq . You can set a value for the param_connect before the host object or parameter exists, and the object will connect to the parameter once it exists. Refer to the user guide entry for param_connect for more details.
parameter_enable[int]
Enables use of this object with Max for Live Parameters.
parameter_mappable[int]: 1
When parameter_mappable is enabled, the object will be available for mapping to keyboard or MIDI input using the Mappings feature.
template[symbol]: jsui_default.js
If no file is explictly loaded by the jsui object (via the filename attribute, for instance), the template file will be loaded into memory and evaluated, and can be used as the starting point for further development. The user will be prompted to save the template to a file when editing, or the external editor is opened.
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]: 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'
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.
Parameter Attributes
Orderint
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 Enableint
Parameter Mode Enable (not available from Parameters window)
Link to Scripting Nameint
When checked, the Scripting Name is linked to the Long Name attribute.
Long Namesymbol
The long name of the parameter. This name must be unique per patcher hierarchy.
Short Namesymbol
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.
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/Enumlist
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).
Clip Modulation Modeint
Sets the Clip Modulation Mode used by the Live application. The modulation
modes are:
None
Unipolar
Bipolar
Additive
Absolute
Clip Modulation Rangelist
This parameter is only used with the Absolute modulation mode. It specifies defines the range of values used.
Initial Enableint
When checked (set to 1), the UI object can store an initialization value. The value is set using the Initial attribute (see below).
Initiallist
Sets the initial value to be stored and used when the Initial Enable attribute is checked.
Unit Styleint
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 Unitssymbol
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").
Exponentfloat
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.
Stepsint
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 Visibilityint
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)int
Speed limits values triggered by automation.
Defer Automation Outputint
Defers values triggered by automation.
Messages
bang
Invokes the function named bang if defined.
int
Invokes the function named msg_int if defined.
- user-defined
[int]
float
Invokes the function named msg_float if defined.
- user-defined
[float]
list
Performs the same as anything .
- user-defined
[list]
anything
Invokes the function with the message name, assigning the message arguments to the arguments to the function. For example, if the object has a function named xyz defined, the message xyz 1 2 3 would invoke the xyz function with arguments 1 2 and 3.
- user-defined
[list]
(drag)
When a file is dragged from the File Browser to a jsui object, the file is loaded and executed.
autowatch
The word autowatch , followed by a 1, turns on file watching for the Javascript source file. When file watching is on, the file is recompiled automatically when it is modified. This allows you to use an external editor for your Javascript file. When you save the file, the jsui object will notice. autowatch 0 turns off file watching.
- flag
[int]
compile
Recompiles the current file. If followed by a symbol, will load, compile, and set the currently loaded Javascript file to be the file specified by the symbol argument.
- filename
[symbol]
delprop
The word delprop , followed by a name, deletes the named property.
- property
[symbol]
editfontsize
Changes the font-size of the text used in the editing window which contains the object's Javascript source file.
- size
[int]
getprop
The word getprop , followed by a name, outputs the value of the property name stored in the object out the left outlet.
- property
[symbol]
jsargs
Sets the current Javascript arguments to any following message arguments.
- arguments
[list]
jsfile
The word jsfile , followed by a symbol , loads, compiles, and sets the currently loaded Javascript file to be the Javascript file specified by the symbol argument.
- filename
[symbol]
loadbang
Call the loadbang function
(mouse)
Double-clicking on a js object opens a text window where the object's Javascript source file can be edited. When the text window is saved, the text is compiled as the object's script.
open
Opens the text window where the object's Javascript source file can be edited.
setprop
The word setprop , followed by name and one or more names or numbers, sets the named property to what follows the name. For example, after sending setprop xyz 1 2 3 to a js object. the xyz property would have a value of the list 1 2 3.
- property and settings
[list]
size
The word size , followed by two int arguments, sets the width and height of the jsui object.
- width
[int]
- height
[int]
statemessage
Allows for the testing of messages passed to functions within the Javascript source file.
- messages
[list]
wclose
Closes the text window where the object's Javascript source file is edited.
Output
anything
Numbers, lists, or symbols are sent out the jsui object's outlets when the Javascript code executing within the jsui object invokes the outlet function.
See Also
| Name | Description |
|---|---|
| JavaScript | JavaScript |
| Custom UI Objects | Custom UI Objects |
| js | Execute Javascript (Legacy Engine) |
| jstrigger | Execute Javascript instructions sequentially |
| mxj | Execute Java in Max |