I'm using arrays to store drum patterns in a patch and trying to find a way of saving any changes to the arrays that I make at the end of a session, possibly to new arrays to make new drum patterns. Can I use savepanel for this? if so, how to implement it - I've seen the following in control examples:-

[bang]
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[savepanel]
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[array99 $1 write]

but not sure what the $1 and write are for in this case, since in my case the array would already have been written to (i just want to save it to disk).

[array99 $1 write] <- this looks wrong to me

[bang]
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[savepanel]
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[write $1(
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in this case, $1 represents the filename output by savepanel.

i'll write up another quick tutorial on the difference between $1 in objects and message boxes.

Yes sorry, it should be

[array 99 write $1]

.... so $1 represents the filename that you are about to specify when you save it? It's just a little confusing, as the data flow seems to be going in the wrong direction - I would expect the array to be sent to the savepanel rather than the other way around.

all savepanel does is output a filename. (eg /audio/samples/free-speech.aif)

actually, you don't even have to use soundfiler if you already know where you want to write the file. you can just put the filename instead of $1 in the message box.

eg.

[write /presets/preset1.txt(
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ah, now I've tried doing this:-

[write /abstractions/superdrummachine/wreltch.pd(
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where wreltch.pd is the new filename to save to, and knockin' is the array that I am saving a copy of.

After sending the message, sure enough there's a file called wreltch.pd now in my abstractions folder, but it contains only numbers without a canvas so does not open in pd - only opens as a text file. What am i doing wrong?

Please, someone help me on this.... I've tried loads of times using savepanel to save an existing array as a new array with a different name and it just doesn't seem to want to save it as an array - there is a new file on disk with the name I choose, but it contains numbers only, and won't open as a pd file. There is no data in the file representing the object canvas.

Basically I have some small arrays in a patch, and after modifying them a bit during a session I want to be able to save the modified version with a new name, without having to click on the array, open it, select save as.. etc etc as sometimes i might want to save several arrays in the patch.

I'm stuck on this at the moment so any more help would be much appreciated.

Thanks.

Brett

an array is just a list of numbers, so when you save it, what you get is a text file containing a list of numbers.

you can then read this text file back into an array any time you want.

you are NOT saving a pd patch, you're just savign a text file containing the list of numbers fromt he array,,,so actually putting a .pd extension on the file is wrong. you can use any extension you want, but .txt seems to be the easiest.

if you have have an array in a pd patch, then saving that array does not save the pd patch, it just saves the numbers from the array. you will still have to open your patch first and then send a 'read' message to your array to get the data from the textfile into the array.

like:

[bang(
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[openpanel]
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[read $1(
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saving several arrays in one textfile is a bit trickier, and is better done using the [textfile] object. see the attached patch for an example.

http://www.pdpatchrepo.info/hurleur/multisave.pd

attached : "preset_in_patch.pd",

should be adaptable to your needs.

http://www.pdpatchrepo.info/hurleur/preset_in_patch.pd

and how would you save several list values in a text file (one line per list)?

@brettb Hello! It 's a long time ago but I would like to do exactly the same, and I don't find the solution. Did you solve this issue?
Thanks!

@sylvain Hello Sylvain.......
Here is a way to do what you want (extended only I think). It was built for another purpose (obviously) and used principally [iem_pbank_csv] and [slist] as I wanted shared lists throughout my patch without needing to write them to a file all the time........... only when I really wanted to save the data.......
In this example a list of 17 pieces of data is saved within [iem_pbank_csv] at the line corresponding to the "number" (index) of the bus_control whenever any data is changed within that control. The bus names are shared to [slist tablets] for other parts of the patch....... to allow dynamic message routing. The data set is stored to a text file with the same name when that "name" is sent to "save_busses". Send and recall any name you wish and it will create/overwrite and read the file.

[iem_pbank_csv] is set to write a text file with 64 lines of 17 atoms using "blank" as the atom delimeter and "return" as the "end of line" delimeter....... (hence the "br" in the messages that it is sent)......
The lists are named for ease of human recall......."start" "hum" ("foo" "woof" if you wish)......
Open "top_patch.pd".......
list storage.zip

Otherwise there is [qlist] for vanilla..... and [value] could be used to share saved values until saving the lists.......
I think that might be easier..... but I didn't ask the question on the forum at the time..... doh!.......
David.

@whale-av Hello David, thanks for your answer, I think it will perfectly work for my project. I will try it asap.
Thanks again.