1. Music and Audio Computing I 216-306A
Prof. Marcelo M. Wanderley
Week 11

2. 306A - Music and Audio Computing
Week 11
This week's topics:
The user interface
Scripting in MAX
Test - Nov
Definition of Final Projects
Nov week 11
306A - Music and Audio Computing

3. Designing the User Interface
The interface is the (only!) connection between the user and your MAX program:
It must be simple enough so that the user understands what to do and complex enough to allow him control your application.
Huge research field!!!
Nov week 11
306A - Music and Audio Computing

4. Designing the User Interface
Implementing different user interface features:
Planning the layout of the program (patches)
Modifying windows and the menu bar
Adding graphics to the patch (week 4)
Making decision about the way to present information to/get input from the user
Nov week 11
306A - Music and Audio Computing

5. Designing the User Interface
Steps for designing a MAX application (MAX tutorial n. 45):
What things you want the program to do, and how you plan them;
What information you'll give the user, and how you plan to display it;
What information you need to get from the user and how the user can best provide it.
Nov week 11
306A - Music and Audio Computing

6. 306A - Music and Audio Computing
The menu bar
menubar object:
allows the modification of the menu bar for the patch or application.
There must be at least four menus: Apple, File, Edit, and Window.
Commands in these menus can be changed (not all) or added.
Extra menu items may be added to the right.
Double clicking in the menubar object opens a script editor:
Nov week 11
306A - Music and Audio Computing

7. 306A - Music and Audio Computing
The menu bar
Example:
Nov week 11
306A - Music and Audio Computing

8. 306A - Music and Audio Computing
Scripting in MAX
Scripting is performed by sending messages (beginning with the word script) to the thispatcher object.
Objects must be given names in order to be scriptable! (Object menu -> Name)
Several tasks can be performed:
connecting/disconnecting objects, sending messages, creating/deleting objects.
Nov week 11
306A - Music and Audio Computing

9. 306A - Music and Audio Computing
Scripting in MAX
Message format:
Nov week 11
306A - Music and Audio Computing

10. 306A - Music and Audio Computing
Scripting in Max
Modifications to the window settings:
Flags (on or off)
title, zoom, grow
size of the window
Window full screen !!!!
etc...
Nov week 11
306A - Music and Audio Computing

11. 306A - Music and Audio Computing
306 A - Test!
Tests 1 and 2 will take place on Nov 22 (next Thursday)
It will consist on questions and exercises about you've learned in 306A
Questions will be formulated by Alex and me
It represents 20% of the final grade
Good luck!!
Nov week 11
306A - Music and Audio Computing

12. 306A - Music and Audio Computing
Final Project
Topics to be discussed soon!
Deadline for final projects: December 18 noon (Tuesday) 2001!
Office hours: Mondays 2-4 pm
Extra course on Dec
Nov week 11
306A - Music and Audio Computing