Dan Nigrin

Lot's of discussion recently on ways of working in Max, efficiently 

coding, etc.. So, a question and feature request for segmented patch 

1) Question - I notice in many Max help files and in other people's 

patches that when segmented patch cords are used, people manage to 

line up the segments from multiple connections very neatly, so they 

all line up, like this example from page 85 of the Max Tutorials 

Is there any easy way to get the patch cords to "line up"? Ideally, 

I'd like to be able to "Align" the patch cords like one can do now 

with objects (command Y). I find myself often trying, and missing by 

a pixel or two, and things look ugly (I know, I'm type A), like this:

2) Feature request - notice in the first example above that there is 

ambiguity introduced; one can't tell where the number boxes in the 

top row are connected to by just looking. This is the main reason 

that I often *don't* use segmented patch cords, even though I'd like 

to from a neatness perspective. I wonder if there isn't some smart 

UI change that could be implemented to more clearly illustrate what 

is connected to what in these types of cases?

202 Hack / PC-1600 User / VSTi Host / OMS Convert / Jack OS X

Lot's of discussion recently on ways of working in Max, efficiently 
coding, etc..  So, a question and feature request for segmented patch 
cords:

1)  Question - I notice in many Max help files and in other people's 
patches that when segmented patch cords are used, people manage to 
line up the segments from multiple connections very neatly, so they 
all line up, like this example from page 85 of the Max Tutorials 
documentation:

Is there any easy way to get the patch cords to "line up"?  Ideally, 
I'd like to be able to "Align" the patch cords like one can do now 
with objects (command Y).  I find myself often trying, and missing by 
a pixel or two, and things look ugly (I know, I'm type A), like this:

2)  Feature request - notice in the first example above that there is 
ambiguity introduced; one can't tell where the number boxes in the 
top row are connected to by just looking.  This is the main reason 
that I often *don't* use segmented patch cords, even though I'd like 
to from a neatness perspective.  I wonder if there isn't some smart 
UI change that could be implemented to more clearly illustrate what 
is connected to what in these types of cases?

Thanks,
Dan
-- 
Dan Nigrin
Defective Records
202 Hack / PC-1600 User / VSTi Host / OMS Convert / Jack OS X
http://www.defectiverecords.com
http://www.jackosx.com


segmented-patch-cord-neatness-and-ambiguity

At 11:23 AM -0500 3/27/06, Peter McCulloch wrote:

>>Is there any easy way to get the patch cords to "line up"? 

>>Ideally, I'd like to be able to "Align" the patch cords like one 

>>can do now with objects (command Y). I find myself often trying, 

>>and missing by a pixel or two, and things look ugly (I know, I'm 

>If you align the objects first (in your example, highlight the 

>number boxes, then align them), then select the patch cords (using 

>option-drag) and do align (to make the segmented patch cords) then 

>they should segment at the same y position. If you segment, then 

>align, you'll probably have to do the hand-tweaking.

Holy smokes -- I never knew that Align worked like that with patch 

>>2) Feature request - notice in the first example above that there 

>>is ambiguity introduced; one can't tell where the number boxes in 

>>the top row are connected to by just looking. This is the main 

>>reason that I often *don't* use segmented patch cords, even though 

>>I'd like to from a neatness perspective. I wonder if there isn't 

>>some smart UI change that could be implemented to more clearly 

>>illustrate what is connected to what in these types of cases?

>Generally speaking, colored patch cords take care of most of these 

>issues. Also, if you wanted to keep the two different paths from 

>having the same segment position, move one group up a couple of 

>spaces, then segment, then move back down. The Duplicate trick is 

>also useful for making separated patch cords: Duplicate, move it 

>into the x position desired (using the arrow keys), then move it up 

>several spaces (4 works well) and keep duplicating. Segment, then 

>align, and you'll have patch cords with a small space in between 

At 11:23 AM -0500 3/27/06, Peter McCulloch wrote:
>>Is there any easy way to get the patch cords to "line up"? 
>>Ideally, I'd like to be able to "Align" the patch cords like one 
>>can do now with objects (command Y).  I find myself often trying, 
>>and missing by a pixel or two, and things look ugly (I know, I'm 
>>type A), like this:
>>
>If you align the objects first (in your example, highlight the 
>number boxes, then align them), then select the patch cords (using 
>option-drag) and do align (to make the segmented patch cords) then 
>they should segment at the same y position.  If you segment, then 
>align, you'll probably have to do the hand-tweaking.

Holy smokes -- I never knew that Align worked like that with patch 
cords - thanks!  Now I feel silly...

>>2)  Feature request - notice in the first example above that there 
>>is ambiguity introduced; one can't tell where the number boxes in 
>>the top row are connected to by just looking.  This is the main 
>>reason that I often *don't* use segmented patch cords, even though 
>>I'd like to from a neatness perspective.  I wonder if there isn't 
>>some smart UI change that could be implemented to more clearly 
>>illustrate what is connected to what in these types of cases?
>>
>
>Generally speaking, colored patch cords take care of most of these 
>issues.  Also, if you wanted to keep the two different paths from 
>having the same segment position, move one group up a couple of 
>spaces, then segment, then move back down.  The Duplicate trick is 
>also useful for making separated patch cords:  Duplicate, move it 
>into the x position desired (using the arrow keys), then move it up 
>several spaces (4 works well) and keep duplicating.  Segment, then 
>align, and you'll have patch cords with a small space in between 
>each cord.

Dan
-- 
Dan Nigrin
Defective Records
202 Hack / PC-1600 User / VSTi Host / OMS Convert / Jack OS X
http://www.defectiverecords.com
http://www.jackosx.com


Also, be sure to check out "Extras" > "Tips" for a slew of other very 

Also, be sure to check out "Extras" > "Tips" for a slew of other very 
useful Max shortcuts.

segmented patch cord neatness and ambiguity