you could also just take the code of zexy's [symbol2list] object. it does exactly what you describe.
You can also use [splitfilename] with [fromsymbol] for that. my Click Tracker (http://code.google.com/p/clicktracker/) uses exactly the 4/4, 7/8, etc. format. If you look for the subpatch [pd x/y-konv], the 4/4 to "4 4" conversion is isolated there.
of course, a more efficient/intuitive solution would also be desirable - as for complex manipulation of symbols in general, there is Pd still a bit too limited.
João _______________________________________________ [email protected] mailing list UNSUBSCRIBE and account-management -> http://lists.puredata.info/listinfo/pd-list
