Many Max objects will accept a variety of different kinds of messages.
While
Assistance
provides a very brief description of the most commonly used
messages to a Max object, you can get a list of all the messages
the object understands using the Quickref contextual menu. You can use the
Quickref menus as an aid to Max patching, automatically creating message
boxes that contain messages to an object from the Quickref listing.
Viewing the Quickref pop-up menu
Control-click (Mac) or right-click on any inlet to a Max object to
show the Quickref pop-up menu.
The Quickref pop-up menu displays
A listing of the messages the Max object accepts
Menu items that let you open
Reference pages and
Help files
for the item.
Menu items that let you send a message to the Max object without using a patch cord, and to query the output of the object
The Quickref menu gives you a short summary of each message and its syntax. The format of a Quickref listing is:
The name of the message
The message type (int / float / symbol / array) for any additional messages [in square brackets]. If there the message is followed by a
list, the number of items in the list is also shown in square brackets (e.g., color [float array[4]] means that the object expects
a message that begins with the symbol color and is followed by a list of 4 floats)
The message’s default value, in parentheses (e.g. val = 0.73 0.82 0.63 1.00)
Patching from the Quickref pop-up menu
Control-click (Mac) or right-click on the left inlet to a Max object
to show the Quickref pop-up menu and click on any message listed to
select it. A message box
containing the message connected to the left inlet of the Max object
will automatically be created, ready for you to complete by typing
in any arguments the message may require.
Control-click (Mac) or right-click on the left inlet to a Max object
to show the Quickref pop-up menu and click on any attribute listed
to select it. An attrui object containing the attribute
connected to the left inlet of the Max object will automatically be
created.
