Here's an idea for a useful gui object in case anyone else has seen a need:
Problem: using [t a] or [pd] to extend a wire requires all incoming connections at the top of the object which makes it a crude substitution for segmented wires. Problem 2: segmented wires can end up making patches harder to read (though I don't necessarily agree) Problem 3: Often, esp. in help patches, you want to stack a bunch of msg boxes and connect them to the object like so: [method_1( [method_2( [method_3( [method_4( [object] But doing so obscures the visual diagram-- for example, [method_4( might erroneously have been left unconnected but the connection from [method_1( to [object] obscures this error. Solution: an "extension cord" object-- a line segment which, like a real extension cord, can take in connections all along the length of the line. It has a base at the bottom like a flagpole, with an outlet (or outlets). The line segment can be at any angle, and an object can connect to it anywhere along that line. Could also call it [flagpole], because in the message box example above the message "flags" would each have a small 45-degree wire connecting to the vertical line of [flagpole], and [flagpole] would have a single outlet at the base connecting to [object]. Thus, each 45-degree angled wire coming from each message box would show clearly that each box is connected, and there would be no ambiguity when viewing the patch as to the dataflow. Similarly, there are times when having the line of [flagpole] extending horizontally would make it easier to read a patch-- for example, if you have a lot of objects fanning into one object and end up with some wires of a very small angle that extend very close to another inlet (or cross through some other object). In such a situation it'd be much more elegant for each object to have a vertical connection to the extension cord. There might also be examples with an angled line, but vert/horiz might cover most situations. If you made it a one pixel border around a one pixel empty area for the pole and just made the base the name of the object in a box, it'd be visually distinct from wires. -Jonathan _______________________________________________ Pd-list@iem.at mailing list UNSUBSCRIBE and account-management -> http://lists.puredata.info/listinfo/pd-list
