EDIT
I should have asked a more detailed question which is this:

I need to take a float like |329| and make the message |@329[

I can't find a way to do this without introducing a space between the @ and the number.

Is there a way in Vanilla?

A float is already a valid message in Pd.

Do you mean this:

[bang(
|
[float 42]
|
[set $1(
|
[(

That will set the empty message box to "42"

Yes of course!
I should have asked a more detailed question which is this:

I need to take a float like |329| and make the message |@329[

I can't find a way to do this without introducing a space between the @ and the number.

Editing the first post to reflect this!

@nuromantix said:

Yes of course!
I should have asked a more detailed question which is this:

I need to take a float like |329| and make the message |@329[

I can't find a way to do this without introducing a space between the @ and the number.

Editing the first post to reflect this!

You can use implicit string concatenation in that case:

[42(
|
[@$1(
|
[print]

Hmm thanks but i can't figure out how to use your example to make @42 appear in a message box…

I did figure out this though:

[7643
|
[symbol @$1(

[set $1(
|
[ (

you could also use makefilename probably