machocave

Hi all! I'm new to Max and picked it up during the awesome sale :) I'm currently working my way through the tutorials and just am a little stuck. I'm wondering if there is any way to set the number box to be a float, and am also wondering if I can change the float number boxes in the tutorials to int number box--essentially I am wondering where do I go to change the number box integer or float attribute. I tried going to the inspector and don't see an easy way to change it. Currently I'm copying and pasting float number boxes.

newbie-number-box-question

Also, if you use "n" to make a new number box, then type "i" or "f", you'll get the "object-box" version of each of the number boxes. They do the same thing but don't have interaction, so they can be used for storing numbers and they take up less CPU because they appear static.

You can use up and down arrows on integer boxes, and you can "aim" on the decimal place in floats for more precision with the mouse. Holding Shift will change how the mouse interacts. Also, the right outlet sends a bang if the number box has focus (triangle highlight) and you press tab, which you can send to a "select" message to cycle through a series of them, see patch below.

One caveat: if you are in a number box, any [key] commands that the number box understands (numbers, backspace, return, tab, decimal, negative sign) will be captured by the box. So if you're using numbers and [key] to control other processes, they won't work while a box is selected.

If you need to replace one with the other in an existing patch, Paste Replace will often do.

newbie number box question