sepulcky

I'm really exited about Max 7 release. I like the idea of shifting the programming paradigm to a bit higher level (essentially, to promote the programming with bpatchers).

I tried to work with Max today and I found some strange decisions in UX, imo.

1. New patcher toolbars are great! It is very convenient place to hold bpatchers. But I can't made the toolbars hidden by default. I always see the toolbar icons when with my peripheral vision and it is very distracting I would say. Especially when at the same time a lot of patcher windows are opened. Also they take a precious screen space on my 13-inch laptop. It would be nice to have an option to hide them.

 enabled by default? I use it since Max 5 and don't understand motivation to exclude this option from the preferences.

3. Cmd-M hotkey function has been changed. I use it to open Max window as a separate window. Imo, Max window embedded in sidebar is useful only when working on one-window patch, and with patch, consisting with a lot of other patches the separate window for messages is more convenient. In my opinion, sidebar is less important as separate window to change the traditional hotkey behaviour. But it is still OK, as I still have an alternative — Cmd-Shift-M. It will take some time to get used to it.

4. I don't see a way to change default theme without modifying the default.maxstyle? Sometimes I prefer to work with dark background. It would be great to have an option to customize default theme, as we had before in 

Despite all of this, Max 7 is a great release! Thank you for all your work.

1. New patcher toolbars are great! It is very convenient place to hold bpatchers. But I can't made the toolbars hidden by default. I always see the toolbar icons when with my peripheral vision and it is very distracting I would say. Especially when at the same time a lot of patcher windows are opened. Also they take a precious screen space on my 13-inch laptop. It would be nice to have an option to hide them.
2. There is no way to make Snap to Grid enabled by default? I use it since Max 5 and don't understand motivation to exclude this option from the preferences.
3. Cmd-M hotkey function has been changed. I use it to open Max window as a separate window. Imo, Max window embedded in sidebar is useful only when working on one-window patch, and with patch, consisting with a lot of other patches the separate window for messages is more convenient. In my opinion, sidebar is less important as separate window to change the traditional hotkey behaviour. But it is still OK, as I still have an alternative — Cmd-Shift-M. It will take some time to get used to it.
4. I don't see a way to change default theme without modifying the default.maxstyle? Sometimes I prefer to work with dark background. It would be great to have an option to customize default theme, as we had before in Object Defaults menu.

max-7-ux-questinable-decisions

Sounds like what you want is Templates. Create a patcher with the style you want, Snap to Grid turned on, and desired toolbar state, and then save as a Template. Once you've done that, you can go into Preferences and set your new template to be the default.

Hi Eugene,
Sounds like what you want is Templates. Create a patcher with the style you want, Snap to Grid turned on, and desired toolbar state, and then save as a Template.  Once you've done that, you can go into Preferences and set your new template to be the default.


This would be a good alternative, but it only solves the problem with toolbars. Templates doesn't save the state of Snap to Grid option. Also I can't change color theme globally for all opened patchers — the thing I really like in Max 5-6. I usually use light theme at day and dark as such regime is very comfortable for eyes.

Thanks Andrew,
This would be a good alternative, but it only solves the problem with toolbars. Templates doesn't save the state of Snap to Grid option. Also I can't change color theme globally for all opened patchers — the thing I really like in Max 5-6. I usually use light theme at day and dark as such regime is very comfortable for eyes.


Now with all toolbars hidden I can't show them up again with Cmd-4.

Another example of strange behavior:
1. Press Cmd-4 to hide all toolbars.
2. Save new default template.
3. Create new patch

Now with all toolbars hidden I can't show them up again with Cmd-4.


Replying because I'd also like to have snap to grid as a default and templates aren't helping. Templates also don't appear to save whether you want the grid visible or zoom setting. Is there any plan to address this?

Same for me - would be nice to have it stored in templates at least.

I was able to save Snap to Grid and [Show] Grid preferences as part of the template by choosing those options in the Patcher Inspector: "Show Grid on Open" and "Snap to Grid on Open". However,

a) those option don't pertain/persist in patcher objects opened within those patchers, and

b) those options should be part of Max Preferences, the way they were in the past, it seems to me.

I was able to save Snap to Grid and [Show] Grid preferences as part of the template by choosing those options in the Patcher Inspector: "Show Grid on Open" and "Snap to Grid on Open". However,
a) those option don't pertain/persist in patcher objects opened within those patchers, and
b) those options should be part of Max Preferences, the way they were in the past, it seems to me.


yeah, I agree with you there, Christopher - I can't imagine wanting to change this on a per-patch basis.

I agree with Christopher too. Things get more complicated than simpler. Very disappointing!

I still don't know how to hide the patcher toolbar (cmd 8) by default when the patcher is closed.

Bump for a “Snap to Grid” option in the preferences.

Use it 99% of the time — annoying to have to turn it on manually for every single patcher I make.

it is no so amusing that all these new things are in even more different places.

i would have preferred to have most of this functionality added either to thre runtime preferences files or to the thispatcher object.

it would have made migration, copying and sharing much easier.

* and a simple [t b] object in the middle of the patch

* and the [t b] is sitting in the patch taunting me

*edit: Actually these settings don't even save in my patchers themselves. I change the set up, save, close, re-open the patch, and all these settings are returned to the default Max 7 settings. Is this a bug?

I've saved a default template with:
 * Snap to Grid ON
 * Show Grid ON
 * Show Toolbars OFF
 * and a simple [t b] object in the middle of the patch

Now when I open a patch:
 * Snap to Grid is still OFF
 * Show Grid is still OFF
 * Show Toolbars is still ON
 * and the [t b] is sitting in the patch taunting me

*edit: Actually these settings don't even save in my patchers themselves. I change the set up, save, close, re-open the patch, and all these settings are returned to the default Max 7 settings. Is this a bug?


Hey, does anyone know if this got fixed? It's annoying me...

So. You gotta make a new patcher, setup the settings you want (snap to grid on open or whatever), go File - Create Template, check "Default for new patchers" and save (remember the name). This will make snap to grid default on all patcher created with File - New.

In the patcher inspector of the main patch, change "Subpatcher template" to the one you just made. This will mean any subpatcher you make will have the default template.

Figured it out.
So. You gotta make a new patcher, setup the settings you want (snap to grid on open or whatever), go File - Create Template, check "Default for new patchers" and save (remember the name). This will make snap to grid default on all patcher created with File - New.
But for existing patchers you do this:
In the patcher inspector of the main patch,  change "Subpatcher template" to the one you just made. This will mean any subpatcher you make will have the default template.


Some other bad Max 7 UX discussed in the Facebook group: 

https://www.facebook.com/groups/maxmspjitter/permalink/10154858552829392/

Some other bad Max 7 UX  discussed in the Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/maxmspjitter/permalink/10154858552829392/


Max 7 UX: questinable decisions