Hi all,

I'm trying to figure out how to open Pd files with a Python script. I am trying to figure this out to run Pd on a Raspberry Pi 3 and use an LCD screen to navigate to the file I want to open. I also want to be able to close one patch and open another when I am done, so only one patch open at a time. I noticed that on a Pi when you close a Pd file the program quits, so you have to launch Pd again everytime you open a new file, is there a way around this too? so that I can switch files without closing Pd?

It seems like I've seen lots of pure data headless Pi projects with LCD screens, but can find much about how to go about it.

Thank you and any advice is appreciated.

@nicnut Hello. Is your LCD a touch screen? Or are you using a mouse? If so you are not really running headless as you have local control, and a screen. In which case you can select and open your patches from the screen.
Check whether the Pd terminal closes or stays open when you click the message in this patch....... close_this_file.pd. Usually the terminal should stay open, unless it has crashed.
If you have started the patch from a shell then closing the shell will also close the Pd app. That could be the problem?
David.

David,
Ok thanks for that patch, I'll try it out and see what happens. I guess what you are saying is that normally the Pd terminal should stay open. The LCD screen I have has some buttons on it so I use those for local control, so yes, I guess it's not headless.

Hi,

So when I use close_this_file.pd it works and closes a patch. Also, I think I was mistaken about Pd on my Raspberry Pi. When I close a patch the terminal window does stay open and the program is still running, and I can open another patch fine.

So getting back to my initial query, is it possible to open and close a patch with a Python Script? Any advice on where to look or examples of code would be appreciated.

thanks, Nick

@nicnut Open....... https://www.blog.pythonlibrary.org/2010/09/04/python-101-how-to-open-a-file-or-program/
Close....... I doubt that it can be done directly, but you could send a message to the patch that is open through a tcp local port, receiving it in the patch using [netreceive] and use the message to close the window (banging a "close" message as above).....https://guitarextended.wordpress.com/2012/11/03/make-python-and-pure-data-communicate-on-the-raspberry-pi/
David.

@whale-av, Excellent. Thanks I'll check this out and report back.

Nick