[PD-dev] representing parent patch levels as args

[Claude Heiland-Allen]

Hans-Christoph Steiner wrote:
> So I am just adding support to canvas_name and window_name for  
> getting the names from other canvases besides the current one, i.e.  
> parent, toplevel, etc. 

OK.

> I am using the now standard numeric notation  
> that is used in [getdir], iemguts, getdollarzero, etc.

Care to give a brief description of that for those that don't know?  I'd 
be interested in adding something similar to pdlua, so that .pd_lua(x) 
files can access the path(s) of their containing patch(es), would make 
sense to have the same numbers.

> What I am wondering is whether it is worth it to add symbol versions  
> of those names too, like "parent" and "toplevel". 

this sounds useful at first, but if it's only two cases then maybe it's 
not worth the hassle...

> Or perhaps it  
> would also be useful to be able to stick the name of a canvas there  
> too, like 'pd-mysubpatch' or 'pd-canvas_name-help.pd'.

Err, why would that be useful if the object is to get the name in the 
first place (and also, what happens if there are 42 copies of 
canvas_name-help.pd open...?)

> What are  
> people's thoughts on making that part of the standard technique of  
> looking up these kinds of things?

I think often numbers are nicer than names (eg, I'd hate to have to type 
"greatgreatgreatgrandparent" instead of 5 or whatever it would be).


Claude
-- 
http://claudiusmaximus.goto10.org