Chris Muir

How do I open those funny patches I see people posting?

How do I post patches in the condensed format?

Select the (part of the) patch that you want to post, then select Copy Compressed from the edit menu.

Why doesn't my patch open in Presentation mode, even though I saved it like that?

This is controlled by the "Open in Presentation" check box in the Patcher Inspector (from the View Menu.)

How do I open those funny patches I see people posting?
Copy all the text including these lines:
----------begin_max5_patcher----------
-----------end_max5_patcher-----------

How do I post patches in the condensed format?
Select the (part of the) patch that you want to post, then select Copy Compressed from the edit menu.

Why doesn't my patch open in Presentation mode, even though I saved it like that?
This is controlled by the "Open in Presentation" check box in the Patcher Inspector (from the View Menu.)


common-max-arcana

Max patcher files are in a text-based format, so they are easy to share. You can copy all or part of a patcher to the clipboard, then paste it into a forum post. You can also find patches in the forum posted by other users, copy them to the clipboard, and paste them into Max.

The proper way to paste patches into the forum with Max 5 is with the compressed text format. The text is "unreadable" but will be a small fraction the size of the usual text format.

Select the part of the patch you wish to copy

Choose Copy Compressed from the Edit menu to copy the selected objects to the clipboard

Switch to your browser and paste the contents of the clipboard into your post window.

With Max 4, there is no Copy Compressed option, so choose Edit -> Copy. The rest of the instructions are the same.

Max can create objects from text on the clipboard in the old Max 4 text format, the Max 5 format, or the compressed format.

Because there may be a lot of text involved in the patcher data, the easiest technique for selecting all of the data is select a line at the beginning of the text, then scroll to the end of the message and Shift-click to select the end of the text.

Once all of the text is selected, choose Copy from the Edit menu in your browser. If you are manually selecting all the data, be sure to include the begin_max5_patcher and end_max5_patcher lines in their entirety.

Switch to Max. If you want to create a new patcher window with the patcher data you've received, choose New From Clipboard from the File menu. A new patcher window will appear with the objects from the forum post.

If you want to paste the objects in the forum post into an existing unlocked patcher, choose Paste from the Edit menu.

Posting patches
The proper way to paste patches into the forum with Max 5 is with the compressed text format. The text is "unreadable" but will be a small fraction the size of the usual text format.

Select the part of the patch you wish to copy
Choose Copy Compressed from the Edit menu to copy the selected objects to the clipboard
Switch to your browser and paste the contents of the clipboard into your post window.

Opening patches posted to the forum
Max can create objects from text on the clipboard in the old Max 4 text format, the Max 5 format, or the compressed format.
Because there may be a lot of text involved in the patcher data, the easiest technique for selecting all of the data is select a line at the beginning of the text, then scroll to the end of the message and Shift-click to select the end of the text.

If you want to paste the objects in the forum post into an existing unlocked patcher, choose Paste from the Edit menu.


Before posting a question, it is advised that you search the forum archives and product documentation first. This will help you to avoid asking a question that has been answered many times before.

Try to be as clear and detailed as possible. Usually, including an example patch that demonstrates the question is very helpful. By taking the time to formulate your question, you will greatly increase your chances of getting it answered.

Be courteous and respectful of the community. As with any online forum, it is advisable to spend some time "lurking" before jumping into discussions.

If you are still having doubts, check out 

If you are still having doubts, check out How To Ask Questions the Smart Way by Eric S. Raymond and Rick Moen.


It is probably already mentioned in Raymond's resource but please please avoid USING CAPITAL LETTERS AND EXCLAMATION MARKS WHERE POSSIBLE!! It's the equivalent of impatient shouting.

Post your patch. Without your patch people will just be guessing.

A picture of your patch is not nearly as useful as your actual patch.

Try and edit your patch so that it just includes the problem area.

Place comments in your patch to illustrate what should happen and what does happen.

Include instructions on how to operate your patch to get the errant behavior.

I'm having a problem with (my problem area.) Can anyone help?

Post your patch. Without your patch people will just be guessing. 

A picture of your patch is not nearly as useful as your actual patch. 

Try and edit your patch so that it just includes the problem area. 

Include instructions on how to operate your patch to get the errant behavior.


Since it seems too many don't seem to know what "Arcana" means, perhaps we need to rename this topic to something like "Read this before you make your first post to avoid looking like an idiot." Having the title of this topic in a gray font on a green background probably doesn't help either.

Maybe not "to avoid looking like an idiot". That seems a little grumpy :)

Maybe something more like "Read before posting to save yourself some time", or just "Read before posting".

Also, it seems prudent to consolidate everything people have suggested so far (and any additional relevant suggestions for newcomers) into a single well-formatted post, and then have the thread locked.

Maybe not "to avoid looking like an idiot".  That seems a little grumpy :)

Also, it seems prudent to consolidate everything people have suggested so far (and any additional relevant suggestions for newcomers) into a single well-formatted post, and then have the thread locked.


Sorry, my tongue-in-cheek emotion didn't translate very well. Yes, something that encourages the new user/poster to read this topic first would save a lot of time--for everyone.

What's wrong with uploading/attaching patches? It's even indicated in the "allowed uploads".

It is sticky in the Max/MSP part of the forum. Maybe it should show up in the "All" section as well...

"Read this before you make your first post to avoid looking like an idiot!"

as topic (including exclamation mark). Maybe tell also that there is nothing wrong about looking like an idiot, it happens to me all the time...

It is sticky in the Max/MSP part of the forum. Maybe it should show up in the "All" section as well...
And I vote for:
"Read this before you make your first post to avoid looking like an idiot!"
as topic (including exclamation mark). Maybe tell also that there is nothing wrong about looking like an idiot, it happens to me all the time...
(just happened again...;-)


I believe I speak for many, many people when I say: Yay! It's a sticky in the "all" section at last!

I believe I speak for many, many people when I say:  Yay!  It's a sticky in the "all" section at last!


In light of numerous n00bish/misguided/lazy queries, is it not time the sticky tile should read "ReadMe before posting", or "FAQs" or similar? Arcana is a little, well, arcane.

I'm not sure that a name change would help much, but I have no objection.

I agree with Chris; I think people who want us to do their homework for them will ask, regardless of this thread's title.

Deal with them according to your level of patience that day. Or post a patch that they'll never be able to explain to their tutor.

I have to respectfully disagree with both Chris and chris, and here's why:

How many times have you/we pointed an OP at this very sticky via a link?

I stand corrected. I now see that it's way less tiresome to write "Please see 'Common Max Arcana'," than it is to lose your blob and patch up something nasty.

Maybe we should delete all the noise from this thread so it's just useful advice?

Then we can all get back to the important stuff - like the 'Max6 beta' thread ;0)

I suggested renaming this thread over a year ago. As Brendan (and I) said, "Arcana" seems to be just a bit arcane for many users.

That may be true, but I tend to think that even if it was called "Max FAQ (For Dummies)" people still wouldn't bother to find it. I bet we end up responding with a link to whatever it ends up being called.

but it's skewed statistics: you don't know how many newbies _do_ search the forum and find their answers there without having to post the same old questions. Only the ones that ask the same old questions stick out.

but it's skewed statistics: you don't know how many newbies _do_ search the forum and find their answers there without having to post the same old questions. Only the ones that ask the same old questions stick out.
I for one do try...


Most of this information has been collected into a new "Welcome" thread:

https://cycling74.com/forums/welcome-to-the-cycling-74-forums-take-a-moment-to-read-these-instructions

Most of this information has been collected into a new "Welcome" thread:
https://cycling74.com/forums/welcome-to-the-cycling-74-forums-take-a-moment-to-read-these-instructions
