number~

Signal monitor and constant generator

Description

The number~ object has two different display modes. In Signal Monitor Mode it displays the value of the signal received in the left inlet.

In Signal Output Mode it displays the value of the float or int most recently received in the left inlet, or entered directly into the number~ box (the signal being sent out the left outlet). When a number~ object is highlighted (indicated by a yellow downward arrow), numerical keyboard input changes its value. Clicking the mouse or pressing Return or Enter stores a pending typed number and sends it out the left outlet as the new signal value.

Arguments

None.

Messages

bang In signal output mode, a bang message will output the current signal value.
int input [int] Converted to float.
float input [float] In left inlet: The value is sent out the left outlet as a constant signal. When number~ is in Signal Output display mode, the value is displayed. If the current ramp time is non-zero, the output signal will ramp between its previous value and the newly set value.
In right inlet: Sets a ramp time in milliseconds. The default time is 0.
  (inlet1) input [float] In right inlet: Sets a ramp time in milliseconds. The default time is 0.
list input-value and ramp-time (milliseconds) [list] The first number sets the value of the signal sent out the left outlet, and the second number sets the ramp time in milliseconds.
allow display-mode-availability [int] The word allow, followed by a number, sets what display modes can be used. allow 1 restricts number~ to signal output display mode. allow 2 restricts number~ to input monitor display mode. allow 3 allows both modes, and lets the user switch between them by clicking on the left triangular area of number~.
flags appearance/behavior [int] The flags message is provided for legacy support of the number~ object; all the original functionality is now provided by object attributes.
max maximum-value [list] The word max, followed by an optional number, sets the maximum value of number~ for signal output. Note that unlike a floating-point number box, the maximum value of number~ is not restricted to being an integer value. If the word max is not followed by a number, any maximum value is removed.
min minimum-value [list] The word min, followed by an optional number, sets the minimum value of number~ for signal output. Note that unlike a floating-point number box, the minimum value of number~ is not restricted to being an integer value. If the word min is not followed by a number, any minimum value is removed.
mode display-mode [int] The word mode, followed by a number, sets the current display mode, if it is currently allowed (see the allow message). mode 1 sets signal output display mode. mode 2 sets signal input monitor display mode.
(mouse) Clicking on the triangular area at the left side of number~ will toggle between Signal Monitor display mode (green waveform) and Signal Output display mode (yellow or green downward arrow). When in Signal Output display mode, clicking in the area that displays the number changes the value of the signal sent out the left outlet of number~ and/or selects it for typing.
set set-input [float] The word set followed by a number sets the number~ object to display that number without causing output.
signal Any signal, the value of which is sampled and sent out the right outlet at regular intervals. When number~ is in Signal Monitor display mode, the signal value is displayed.

Attributes

Name Type g/s Description
bgcolor float Sets the color for the number~ box object's displayed/unclicked background.
bordercolor float Sets the color for the number box object's outline.
ft1 float The word ft1, followed by a number, sets the interpolation ramp time in milliseconds. The default time is 0.
def.:0.
hbgcolor float Sets the RGBA values for the background of the number~ box when it is highlighted or being updated.
def.:0. 0. 0. 1.
htextcolor float Sets the RGBA values for the number values displayed by the number~ box when it is highlighted or being updated.
def.:0.87 0.87 0.87 1.
interval float Sets the update interval, in milliseconds. This controls the rate at which the display is updated when number~ is input monitor display mode, as well as the rate that numbers are sent out the object's right outlet.
def.:100.
maximum atom Sets the maximum value that can be displayed or sent out by the object.
def.:<none>
minimum atom Sets the minimum value that can be displayed or sent out by the object.
def.:<none>
monitormode int Toggles the signal monitor mode. The default is 1 (on).
def.:1
numdecimalplaces int Sets the number of decimal places displayed by the number~ object.
def.:0
sigoutmode int Toggles the signal output mode. The default is 1 (on).
def.:1
textcolor float Sets the color for the number~ box object's displayed/unclicked number values.

Legacy

brgba list (3 ints) brgba is a legacy RGB alias for the bgcolor RGBA attribute. See here for more information.
frgba list (3 ints) frgba is a legacy RGB alias for the textcolor RGBA attribute. See here for more information.
rgba2 list (3 ints) rgba2 is a legacy RGB alias for the htextcolor RGBA attribute. See here for more information.
rgba3 list (3 ints) rgba3 is a legacy RGB alias for the hbgcolor RGBA attribute. See here for more information.
rgba4 list (3 ints) rgba4 is a legacy RGB alias for the bordercolor RGBA attribute. See here for more information.

Information for box attributes common to all objects

Output

float: Out right outlet: Samples of the input signal are sent out at a rate specified by the interval message.
signal: Out left outlet: When audio is on, number~ sends a constant signal out its left outlet equal to the number most recently received in the left inlet (or entered by the user). It sends out this value independent of its signal input, and whether or not it is currently in Signal Output display mode. If the ramp time most recently received in the right inlet is set to a non-zero value, the output will interpolate between its previous value and a newly set value over the specified time.

Examples

Several uses for the number~ object

See Also

Name Description
line~ Linear ramp generator
sig~ Constant signal of a number
snapshot~ Convert signal values to numbers
MSP Tutorial 23: Analysis - Viewing signal data MSP Tutorial 23: Analysis - Viewing signal data