icu222much

I know this is a noob question, so please bare with me. As far as I understand, the Pack object allows you to turn a bunch of numbers or symbols into a list. What I don't understand about the Pack object are the numbers that follow the Pack object. For example, in the picture I have attached, I have circled in red my problem. In one of the objects in that attachment, I have an object "pack 1 2 6.5" and another one "unpack 0 0 0". What do the "1 2 6.5" and "0 0 0" mean ?

[img]index.php?t=getfile&id=581&private=0[/img]

I know this is a noob question, so please bare with me. As far as I understand, the Pack object allows you to turn a bunch of numbers or symbols into a list. What I don't understand about the Pack object are the numbers that follow the Pack object. For example, in the picture I have attached, I have circled in red my problem. In one of the objects in that attachment, I have an object "pack 1 2 6.5" and another one "unpack 0 0 0". What do the "1 2 6.5" and "0 0 0" mean ? 

noob-question-pack-object

As the help file states, "the arguments set the types and initial values of the list items".

- the "type" refers to the data type (integer vs. float). If you set element 2 of your list in [pack] to be an int, and then send the object a float value for that element, it will be truncated to an integer.

- the "intial values" are the default numbers that will come out of pack. so, in the help example, if you click on the leftmost number box going into the pack object and change it, the output will still be a 3 element list, with 2 and 6.5 as the 2nd and 3rd members.

- also keep in mind, the number of arguments determines how long of a list the [pack] and [unpack] objects will be expecting to deal with.

Quote: icu222much wrote on Wed, 11 April 2007 16:39

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> I know this is a noob question, so please bare with me. As far as I understand, the Pack object allows you to turn a bunch of numbers or symbols into a list. What I don't understand about the Pack object are the numbers that follow the Pack object. For example, in the picture I have attached, I have circled in red my problem. In one of the objects in that attachment, I have an object "pack 1 2 6.5" and another one "unpack 0 0 0". What do the "1 2 6.5" and "0 0 0" mean ? 

> [img]index.php?t=getfile&id=581&private=0[/img]

- the "type" refers to the data type (integer vs. float).  If you set element 2 of your list in [pack] to be an int, and then send the object a float value for that element, it will be truncated to an integer.

- the "intial values" are the default numbers that will come out of pack.  so, in the help example, if you click on the leftmost number box going into the pack object and change it, the output will still be a 3 element list, with 2 and 6.5 as the 2nd and 3rd members.

Quote: icu222much wrote on Wed, 11 April 2007 16:39
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> Hello
>
> I know this is a noob question, so please bare with me. As far as I understand, the Pack object allows you to turn a bunch of numbers or symbols into a list. What I don't understand about the Pack object are the numbers that follow the Pack object. For example, in the picture I have attached, I have circled in red my problem. In one of the objects in that attachment, I have an object "pack 1 2 6.5" and another one "unpack 0 0 0". What do the "1 2 6.5" and "0 0 0" mean ? 
>
> [img]index.php?t=getfile&id=581&private=0[/img]
>
> Thanks
> -Jon-
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As the help file you helpfully included states, for pack, "the arguments 

set the types and initial values of the list items." There are a few 

basic types of data in Max which should be well-explained in the 

"Tutorials and Topics" and "Fundamentals" (aka "Getting Started") PDF 

In the help file, the arguments for pack are "1 2 6.5". This means the 

input for the first inlet will be considered an int (integer), as will 

the second inlet's input, and the input for the third inlet will be 

considered a float (floating point, decimal). Note that in Max, "1." 

means one, but it's a floating point one, not an integer one.

Again from the help file, unpack's arguments are "0 0 0.". This is the 

same order as the pack which precedes it: int int float.

The different data types are very important to understand. I suggest 

you go over the explanations for them until they begin to make sense. 

Otherwise you may seem to get through things ok, but without the 

understanding I guarantee you will have a number-type problem in the 

For an intimidating introduction to the perils of numeric type- 

carelessness (and even some of the perils of numbers inside computers in 

general), search the archives of the forum (using Google/etc) for the 

As the help file you helpfully included states, for pack, "the arguments 
set the types and initial values of the list items."  There are a few 
basic types of data in Max which should be well-explained in the 
"Tutorials and Topics" and "Fundamentals" (aka "Getting Started") PDF 
documentation.

In the help file, the arguments for pack are "1 2 6.5".  This means the 
input for the first inlet will be considered an int (integer), as will 
the second inlet's input, and the input for the third inlet will be 
considered a float (floating point, decimal).  Note that in Max, "1." 
means one, but it's a floating point one, not an integer one.

Again from the help file, unpack's arguments are "0 0 0.".  This is the 
same order as the pack which precedes it: int int float.

The different data types are very important to understand.  I suggest 
you go over the explanations for them until they begin to make sense. 
Otherwise you may seem to get through things ok, but without the 
understanding I guarantee you will have a number-type problem in the 
future.

For an intimidating introduction to the perils of numeric type- 
carelessness (and even some of the perils of numbers inside computers in 
general), search the archives of the forum (using Google/etc) for the 
phrase "floating point precision".

Noob Question - Pack Object