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<DIV><SPAN class=529251306-23072002><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff
size=2>Firstly: 'tis grand that there's lots of work going into doco for
PD.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=529251306-23072002><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff
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<DIV><SPAN class=529251306-23072002><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2>There
was a post on the jmax list recently that got me thinking. It was
requesting automatic instantiation of parameter ui objects for an object -
to short cut the process of plonking a new object in, checking the doco for its
inputs, hacking together a quick rat's nest of its possible inputs and then
continuing. I find myself doing this quite often, particularly when
getting to know how an object works... and testing its operating ranges.
It's only really an issue for objects that have/require lots of paramters... but
there seem to be quite a few of those. Anyway, the problem reminded me of some
help patches I've seen for nato (in max)....</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=529251306-23072002><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff
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<DIV><SPAN class=529251306-23072002><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff
size=2>Many pd doco (help files) present little sections of useful
connections to illustrate the working of the relevant object. But why not
have the object with all (or almost all) of its useful inputs connected to
relevant controls in the help file, along with inlets and outlets to the help
patch? Then instead of plonking a new object into your patch, you can
insert the help file abstraction into your graph and then open it to manipulate
the controls? Someone did some help files for nato which work this
way. Very handy.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=529251306-23072002><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff
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<DIV><SPAN class=529251306-23072002><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2>As
Dave is doing such a thorough job of documenting objects I thought I'd throw
in this idea as a suggestion for discussion.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=529251306-23072002><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff
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<DIV><SPAN class=529251306-23072002><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2>I'm
working on a release of some GEM externals and I think I'll try to follow this
approach with those.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=529251306-23072002><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff
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<DIV><SPAN class=529251306-23072002><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff
size=2>Daniel</FONT></SPAN></DIV></BODY></HTML>