[maxmsp] ? Pd style $0 arguments

Hi list !

My copy of MaxMSP just authorized this morning and I've spent the day  
adapting from Pd. I've been searching tutorials and MaxMSP forum for  
a convention like Pd's $0. In Pd, $0 used as part of an obj's  
creation argument within a subpatch (ie. named send or receive) is  
replaced with a random number. This allows several subpatches to  
maintain their own namespace without recoding. Tried #0, to no avail.  
Incidentally, I can't get #1, #2, ... to work either, I'd come across  
mention of this convention on MaxMSPForums.
Cheers,

-- 
regards Todd
toddconover438 at gmail.com