Im pretty new at Max and have been through all the tutorials in Max but never really understood the use for prepend.

and with a couple of examples where I have to use prepend and why

Can someone please help me with this?
and with a couple of examples where I have to use prepend and why

what-is-prepend-good-for

It's great for loading things into [buffer~]/[jit.qt.movie] etc where you can use [dropfile] or [opendialog] to select the target file and then [prepend read] or [prepend open] it. As with all the objects available you shouldn't feel like you 

 to use them just because they exist. Wait until youu find a need for them - don't force yourself to patch a certain way.

The only exception to the rule is [trigger], start using this almost everywhere and you'll thank me later.

It's great for loading things into [buffer~]/[jit.qt.movie] etc where you can use [dropfile] or [opendialog] to select the target file and then [prepend read] or [prepend open] it. As with all the objects available you shouldn't feel like you have to use them just because they exist. Wait until youu find a need for them - don't force yourself to patch a certain way.

The only exception to the rule is [trigger], start using this almost everywhere and you'll thank me later.


For example in a patch like this - why is prepend used here [prepend read]:

Is it any reason for why or should I use [trigger b] instead of a [button] for creating a bang?

but what does it do exactly?
any other ways I can use it?

another question that came up now:
Is it any reason for why or should I use [trigger b] instead of a [button] for creating a bang?


prepend puts one thing before another thing - so if i have [prepend muffintin] and send it 25.7, it will output the message muffintin 25.7

in that patch it just puts the word 'prefix' in front of the path of the folder coming out so you can use the prefix feature of umenu, which I personally have never explored.

prepend puts one thing before another thing  - so if i have [prepend muffintin] and send it 25.7, it will output the message muffintin 25.7

in that patch it just puts the word 'prefix' in front of the path of the folder coming out so you can use the prefix feature of umenu, which I personally have never explored.


For one thing [t b] is considerably more efficient than using the bang graphic object.

 using [prepend foo] was an overdrive-safe way of generating a message, while using a message box [foo $1] was not. This overdrive restriction went away so long ago that probably only people with long grey beards remember.

In the really dim dark past using [prepend foo] was an overdrive-safe way of generating a message, while using a message box [foo $1] was not. This overdrive restriction went away so long ago that probably only people with long grey beards remember.


prepend also was the only way to prepend a symbol to a list using only one object, because

we did not have [pak] before, it used to be jitter only.

prepend also was the only way to prepend a symbol to a list using only one object, because
we did not have [pak] before, it used to be jitter only.

Dude. I have a short grey beard, and I don't remember that. I'll keep growing it.

Dude.  I have a short grey beard, and I don't remember that.  I'll keep growing it.

Aha! Now I get it. Banging away at [append more_beard] was getting me no place.

Aha! Now I get it.  Banging away at [append more_beard] was getting me no place.

I remember it, but I shaved my beard off. Does that mean I have to forget?

Either forget, or lose the razor. No exceptions.

You were only waiting for this moment to arise

Take your smoothened chin and learn to see

you were only waiting for this moment to be free

Blackbeard shaving in the dead of night
Take these broken hairs and learn to cut
All your life
You were only waiting for this moment to arise

Blackbeard shaving in the dead of night
Take your smoothened chin and learn to see
all your life
you were only waiting for this moment to be free

Blackbeard go, Blackbeard go
Into the light of the dark black night.

reading this over a decade later -- I thought I was being smart by using prepend instead of message boxes. at least i got to chuckle at the blackbird parody!

reading this over a decade later -- I thought I was being smart by using prepend instead of  message boxes. at least i got to chuckle at the blackbird parody!

what is prepend good for ?