OpenMusic

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Use
Adding a Data Box
Editing the Content of a Box
Connection to Another Box

Data boxes are the simplest of all OM boxes. A data box represents a constant value. This value belongs to one of the primitive Lisp types, which are available in the OM Kernel / Lisp package.

Usage

A data box is designed to pass data to other boxes in a patch. It is made of a text field that expresses a value or a text, and an output that allows to connect this content to other boxes.

Primitive Lisp Types

There are several primitive Lisp types :

number : any type of numeric data
integer : an integer number
float : decimal number
rational : a/b
list : a list of any type of item between parenthesis
string : a text between double quotes - inverted commas -
t : the Lisp expression for “true”
nil : the Lisp expression of “false” or “nothing”

Adding a Data Box

Typing Directly In the Patch Editor

Cmd click in the patch editor and type a content - for instance 4, (2 3 4), “hello”, etc. - directly in the text prompt.

Menus Or Library Window

Go to Classes / Kernel / Lisp and choose a menu item.
Ctrl / right click in the patch editor and choose a menu item in the contextual menu.
Pick the box in the relevant package from the Library window and drop it in the editor.

Note: A data box accepts any primitive type, no matter what its type was initially.

Editing the Content of a Box

Double click on a box to edit its content.

Numbers should be entered as simple numbers.
Strings should be entered between double quotes - inverted commas.
Symbols should be entered as simple text.
Lists should be entered between parenthesis, just as in Lisp. Ill-formed lists are not accepted.

** To confirm the input value, press Enter or click in the patch editor. ** **No line return is allowed in data boxes. **

Resizing

To fit the box size to its content, select it and type i.

Connection to Another Box

Click on the outlet to create a connection and drag it to the wanted inlet of another box.

Connecting a simple value box to the pitch inlet of a “note” box.

Automatic Connection

To add a connected data box to a factory or function box, SHIFT click on an input. This data box will have the default value of the input, which will then be displayed permanently.