Objects – Factory Boxes
In OM, objects are created and used in patches via " factory " boxes. A factory box refers to a class1 and allows to create instances2 – exemplars, in other words –, of this class.
- Factories can be connected to the other components of a visual program.
- Their inner editor is a graphical user interface that allows to visualize, edit and manipulate the objects produced by factories. For instance, one can edit a musical sequence in a traditional score editor.
This dual aspect of formalized computation, associated with direct manual interaction on the musical material, is a fundamental feature of OM, which makes the factory box a major patch component.
Factory boxes are accessed via the menu or can be added in a patch from the Library window.
- Class
A category of objects sharing common properties – characteristics and behaviour. A class specifies the internal structure and behaviour of an object. In OM, it is represented in a patch by a factory box that can produce an instance of a class.
See also : Object, Instance
- Instance
An actual object created at runtime, out of a given class. In OM, more specifically, an object created when evaluating a factory box. An instance can be saved as a global variable.
‷ SHIFT click on an outlet – especially the first outlet representing the self, the whole object – of a factory box to materialize an instance.
- OM 6.4 – User Manual
- About this Document...
- Introduction
- System Configuration and Installation
- Going Through an OM Session
- The OM Environment
- Visual Programming I
- Visual Programming II
- Basic Tools
- Score Objects
- Maquettes
- Audio
- SDIF
- Lisp Programming
- Errors and Problems
