i dont fully understand question but maybe try this: you could work with complex numbers for a while, i.e. send individual integers for the step number and the factor or column or whatever that is, route them individually, and combine them as late as possible.

This what is connected to my counter I thought it will cyclically repeat the 5 steps pattern

I can't see the image you posted... can you send us your patch instead (select everything in your patch, use "Copy Compressed" function in Max "Edit" menu, paste it into the forum)?

This was my "plastic duck effect" I replaced my route 12 by cycle 5 !!! thank you !!

Haha... I'm a proud owner of 4 plastic ducks: 2 in my atelier, 2 in bathroom. All of them have already heard many strange stories from me ...

if they could speak ...

hopefully not !

[cycle] means your sequencer will never jump to another position or run backwards. it also means you could replace counter with metro.

I didn't thought for backwards run - so this is not my solution :/ now I don't know where to go ?!

in older max versions cycle could not even be reset to 0; counter and route was allright and you should keep that. for suggestions we really needed to see the patch in the one or other form.

This is a part of the patch To use the cycle I did three patcher one for each direction (fwd, rwd, fwd-rwd) It working but if there is a better way to achieve this I like to know (to learn and improve)

using a parallel instance for reversed and palindrome mode is a legit option. while i have not really checked the details... and it probably works like that... there is for sure an even more elegant way how to generate that kind of output. for example you could assign 1, 2, 3 to the sectors and multiply the sector number with 30 degree only at the very output. 1, 2, 3 might have advantages for certain math and routing tasks. eventually you could also process things as list. have a look into funnel, listfunnel and spray and see if that kind of stuff can replace parts of the patch. it will not be better, but it will be different and that can activate other regions in the brain and then magic things can happen.

Sectors could be a good way, well I saved one operation Listfunnel + Coll could be a solution but I didn't managed to create a loop of 12 with a list of 5 for e.g Thank you for the brainstorming !

Hmmm... it seems to be something relatively simple achieved with a bit complicated methods.

Here is a simple example how to create a circular numeric pattern from any clock source (with reverse):

And here is a simple and safe method to extract a value from a list (less routing):

Hope this will help, especially compiled with remarks from Roman.

Ok I learnt new things with your patch I tried to add both in one, but I get similar result that I got before for e.g with a list of 5 steps 1, 3, 5, 8, 10. The sequence is 1,3,5,8,10, 1,3,5,8,10, 1,3, 1,3,5,8,10

I think, it's a kind of the "duck situation" here, as I'm not sure what behaviour you want to build. Can you describe the desired behaviour? It is also always a good idea to post a patch (with comments).

I'm making a patch to use with spat revolution in which I use a 12.1 configuration The patch allows me to set for a source a sequence based on geometric figure (hexagon, dodecagon ...) So the source will follow the path of my shape. at least the point position base on polar system. All worked fine with polygon with 2, 3, 4, 6 and 12 but the problem appeared when I wanted to implement pentagon heptagon ... as 5 is not a 12 divider. So I wish to create a simple loop of 5 steps with e.g 1,3,5,8,10 but running on 12. I used counte because of the 3 play options (fwd, bck, back and forward)

Is it something like that?

ahah this is so much simpler than what I did. I hope to get that skill with max ... maybe in few years thank you I will integrate it in my patch - I loose the forward backward loop but no matter.

Sorry... this ping-pong mode ("pendulum")... I think, this should be something like that:

Use [umenu] to change playing mode (normal, backward, pendulum).

Thank you for your solution I implemented it - some parts are still a bit mysterious, especially the pendulum.

a bit different construct

wow this solution is much simpler ?! I combined it with my patch (color patch is a game) Thank to all - great community !