Multiple coll objects using same data
Can multiple coll objects refer to the same data file in a patch? It sees to work, but I haven't tested it extensively and now wonder if this is a bad idea for a reason I have not yet encountered. I'm doing this to tidy up a patch and make the logic easier to follow.
it works in most cases as described in the helpfile - that is what the option to give a name is for: [coll mydata]
but be warned... it can become confusing... for example when you edit a copy which is not set to "save with patcher".
best practice is probably that when you need it at 3 positions in your patch, you make a fourth copy in a special place which is the "main" one - and then edit only this copy.
Thanks, Roman, for your quick response. I am currently using it with a data file saved with the patch. But thinking ahead, I'm including a receive node on the input of each coll object so that I can send a new file name to all the objects at once if the patch evolves into needing that feature. Not sure if it would be necessary, but I could also send any file editing messages to the same common receive input.
loading from disc at startup (loadbang) might fail when you have more than one instance.
Yes. I think you have hit the unease that I have had in the back of my mind. I don't understand exactly how the files live in memory. Since my files are fairly large, currently 10,000 lists and potentially several time that, I guess I better get a better understanding before I go too far.
Be careful not to conflate the coll "name" and the coll "file". By all means give all your coll objects the same name (and even better: consider using one of the special localizing prefixes like --- or #0 if they're appropriate).
Then just read a stored file into one of them and they will all have access to the same data. Or, as Roman mentioned, if you need embedded data (rather than read from a file): keep one in the top level of the patcher with the "embed" checkmark checked and leave that bit unset everywhere else. I usually keep this one isolated from any other connected objects and marked with a different color so it's easier to find.