Andy

I am creating a simple composition tool using microsoft visual C++ 6.0. The aim is to be able to write and recall simple loops and settings etc. I aim to control the program using a GUI made in max/MSP as I have been informed that it is possible for the 2 programmes to communicate. I have no idea if this is actually possible or how to do it. Does anybody have any suggestions?

Hi,
I am creating a simple composition tool using microsoft visual C++ 6.0. The aim is to be able to write and recall simple loops and settings etc. I aim to control the program using a GUI made in max/MSP as I have been informed that it is possible for the 2 programmes to communicate. I have no idea if this is actually possible or how to do it. Does anybody have any suggestions? 

controlling-a-c-application-with-a-max-gui

Probably the best way is to use sockets. Basically, you'll be

transferring data on localhost (127.0.0.1) and sending UDP or TCP/IP

packets. The simplest is to use UDP / OSC. There's a nice library

http://www.audiomulch.com/~rossb/code/oscpack/

Probably the best way is to use sockets.  Basically, you'll be
transferring data on localhost (127.0.0.1) and sending UDP or TCP/IP
packets.  The simplest is to use UDP / OSC.  There's a nice library
called  OSCPack for doing this.
http://www.audiomulch.com/~rossb/code/oscpack/

i have to say: this is the very first time i have ever heard of 

i have to say: this is the very first time i have ever heard of  
someone using max just for the gui!


Its for a university assignment. The project is to be written in C++ but due to the small amount of time to both learn and implement the language it has been advised that max can be used (as I have much more experience wirh max) to create a GUI to contol the app. Seems a tad strange to me too.

Would it be an option to embed the C++ application inside a custom 

Seems the easiest way to go. At least to me. It does mean learning 

the API, but the docs are pretty good. Things like talking to a 

buffer~ from inside an MSP external are quite reasonable to do.

Peter Castine +--> Litter Power & Litter Bundle for Jitter

iCE: Sequencing, Recording & |home | chez nous|

Interface Building for |bei uns | i nostri|

Would it be an option to embed the C++ application inside a custom  
external object?

Seems the easiest way to go. At least to me. It does mean learning  
the API, but the docs are pretty good. Things like talking to a  
buffer~ from inside an MSP external are quite reasonable to do.

--------------    http://www.bek.no/~pcastine/Litter/    -------------
Peter Castine             +--> Litter Power & Litter Bundle for Jitter

If I was you, I'd just use FLTK or QT. FLTK 1.17 is very stable and

simple to use. The examples that it comes with are easy to cut and

paste into your own project. QT is bloated and slow and IMHO rather

cumbersome. I would think this an easier option.

If I was you, I'd just use FLTK or QT.  FLTK 1.17 is very stable and
simple to use.  The examples that it comes with are easy to cut and
paste into your own project.  QT is bloated and slow and IMHO rather
cumbersome.  I would think this an easier option.

> Its for a university assignment. The project is to be written in C++

> but due to the small amount of time to both learn and implement the

> language it has been advised that max can be used (as I have much

> more experience wirh max) to create a GUI to contol the app. Seems a

But then you can programm it as an external. which would be the most 

obvious way to combine the two languages. Thomas Grill's Flext 

environment for creating cross platform Pd and max externals in C++ 

Andy Brennan wrote:
> Its for a university assignment. The project is to be written in C++
> but due to the small amount of time to both learn and implement the
> language it has been advised that max can be used (as I have much
> more experience wirh max) to create a GUI to contol the app. Seems a
> tad strange to me too. 

But then you can programm it as an external. which would be the most 
obvious way to combine the two languages. Thomas Grill's Flext 
environment for creating cross platform Pd and max externals in C++ 
comes in mind here.

  [][]  [][][]  [][]  [][][]
[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]

         Stefan Tiedje
         Klanggestalter
     Electronic Composition
               &
         Improvisation

            /~~~~~
     \   /|() ()|
     ))))) )|  |  |( \
     ///     _/)/ )))))
             ___/   ///

-------------------------x----
--_____-----------|-----------
--(_|_ ----|-----|-----()----
-- _|_)----|-----()-----------
----------()------------x-----

14, Av. Pr. Franklin Roosevelt,
94320 Thiais, France
Phone at CCMIX +33-1-57 42 91 09


Upon discussion with a fellow student it seems that the method advised was to use MIDI. The tutor is quite elusive though so I cannot confirm. Would this make any more sense?

Don't use Max - Not that bad but will take some work if you've never

Compile an external with you C++ code - difficulty of this depends on

how your ocde is organized and what it's doing. Basically if it can

straightforwardly fit into the MaxMSP framework, then this is the best

way to go. Otherwise, it will take alot of time

Use sockets to communicate - Using something like OSC pack is

extremelt flexible (you can send strings, floats, ints, whatever) and

can be coded up in < a few hours. The advantages of OSC over MIDI or

many. Probably the most important is the arbitrary nature of the

messages. This means your messaging protocol can be built into the

communicaiton between max and your app and you don;t have to write

some kind of schema for turning MIDI into action.

Use MIDI - never done this in C++, but is probably not too difficult

however you have to setup a protocol to determine what the MIDI does.

Don't use Max - Not that bad but will take some work if you've never
used a GUI library in C++ before

Compile an external with you C++ code - difficulty of this depends on
how your ocde is organized and what it's doing.  Basically if it can
straightforwardly fit into the MaxMSP framework, then this is the best
way to go.  Otherwise, it will take alot of time

Use sockets to communicate - Using something like OSC pack is
extremelt flexible (you can send strings, floats, ints, whatever) and
can be coded up in < a few hours.  The advantages of OSC over MIDI or
many.  Probably the most important is the arbitrary nature of the
messages.  This means your messaging protocol can be built into the
communicaiton between max and your app and you don;t have to write
some kind of schema for turning MIDI into action.

Use MIDI - never done this in C++, but is probably not too difficult
however you have to setup a protocol to determine what the MIDI does.

Controlling a C++ Application with a Max GUI