string
Create or duplicate a string object
Description
Create a string, a block of text in memory that is not stored in Max's symbol table.
Discussion
Because strings are not stored in Max's symbol table, it can be more efficient to work with strings when the text contents change frequently. String objects are also more efficient than symbols for operations like splitting, replacing, substring searching, etc.
Arguments
None.
Attributes
length[int]
read-only
Get the length of the string.
name[symbol]
Similar to an array, dictionary, or matrix, all string objects have a name. If no name is given, a unique one is assigned automatically. If two string objects share the same name, they also share the same memory, so updating one will update the other.
parameter_enable[int]
Parameter Mode Enable
parameter_mappable[int]: 1
Visible to Mapping
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.
adds the object to the background layer, 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]
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.
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
Reprocess previously received values and trigger output.
int
Convert an incoming integer to a string, then output the string.
- value
[int]
float
Convert an incoming floating-point number to a string, then output the string.
- value
[float]
list
Convert an incoming list to a string, then output the string.
- list-value
[list]
anything
Convert an incoming list to a string, then output the string.
- list-value
[list]
append
Convert a list to a string, then append it to the currently stored string value.
atoms
Separate the string on every space character, then send the list out the middle outlet. Commas and other special characters are escaped. If you want to separate on another character, use string.tolist.
clear
After clearing, the contents of the string object will be the empty string.
prepend
Convert a list to a string, then add it to the beginninng of the currently stored string value.
string
The contents of the received string are copied to the internal string. The internal string is not renamed.
See Also
Name | Description |
---|---|
string.append | Append a string to another string object, with an optional separator |
string.bytes | Iterate the UTF-8 data in a string as bytes (ints) |
string.change | Detect string changes |
string.compare | Compare two string objects for equality |
string.concat | Concatenate two string objects |
string.contains | Test whether a string object contains another string |
string.endswith | Test whether a string object ends with a substring |
string.frombytes | Construct a new string object from bytes (ints) |
string.fromsymlist | Construct a new string from a list of symbols |
string.fromutf8 | Construct a new string object from UTF-8 characters, as integer values |
string.index | Output the character at an index in a string object (0-based) |
string.indexof | Search for the index of a string |
string.iter | Iterate the UTF-8 characters of a string object as individual symbols |
string.length | Determine the length of a string object |
string.passcmp | Route a string by its prefix |
string.prepend | Prepend a string to another string object, with an optional separator |
string.remove | Remove a range of characters from a string object |
string.replace | Replace the first instance of a substring with a substitution string |
string.replaceall | Replace all instances of a substring with a substitution string |
string.reverse | Reverse a string |
string.rotate | Rotate the characters within a string object |
string.slice | Generate a new string from a range of characters in an incoming string |
string.split | Split a string object |
string.startswith | Test whether a string object starts with a substring |
string.substring | Generate a new string from a range of characters in an incoming string |
string.toarray | Construct a new array object from a string object |
string.tolist | Construct a new list from a string object |
string.tolower | Convert uppercase characters in a string object to lowercase |
string.tosymbol | Convert a string to a symbol |
string.toupper | Convert lowercase characters in a string object to uppercase |
string.trim | Trim whitespace from the beginning and end of a string object |
string.trimend | Trim whitespace from the end of a string object |
string.trimstart | Remove whitespace from the beginning of a string object |
string.utf8 | Iterate the UTF-8 characters in a string as integers |