Spat 5.2.4 export preset issue/bug

srs · September 5, 2021, 4:39pm

There is an issue in Spat 5.2.4 where if you provide a destination folder when using (/preset/export), it will save the file in /Users/yourlogin/[full file path]

For example, if saving a preset file to the Desktop (on Mac), Spat will create a new folder with this file path:

/Users/yourlogin/Macintoch HD/Users/yourlogin/Desktop/preset.txt

export works fine if you only specify a filename and it saves it in /Users/yourlogin but it’s not possible to save it anywhere else.

Is it possible to use export/preset to save a preset outside of this folder or is this a deliberate limitation?

I’m currently using [savedialog] to send the filepath to (/preset/export/) but there might be a particular string formatting issue that is preventing this from working…

tcarpent · September 5, 2021, 6:18pm

Hi,

In theory you can export presets anywhere (assuming the destination folder has the proper write permission, of course).

I believe the issue is with the (horrible?) “Macintosh HD:” thing that a number of Max objects (such as [savedialog]) use. You can probably get rid of that using [conformpath]

Using /preset/export /Users/yourlogin/Desktop/preset.txt seems to work properly for spat objects. No ?

Hope this helps,
T.

tcarpent · September 5, 2021, 6:52pm

Also : sending the “/preset/export” message (without a file location) will automatically open a save dialog. Maybe that can also be useful for you ?

srs · September 5, 2021, 7:00pm

Ah yes, that was the issue. Using that message works but it’s an M4L device so I need something like [savedialog] to choose the location.

Looks like [conformpath] will do the trick to re-format it for /preset/export

Thanks for your help Thibaut!

srs · September 5, 2021, 7:05pm

Yes, that works but I need the filepath info to save it with the M4L device. Ideally I would be able to store spat preset with the device so the workaround is to store the preset filepath and load it with a loadbang when I open the Live session.

picasso · September 6, 2021, 7:31am

Hi srs,

Another option : using a [live.drop] object might be also handy for your case. This object stores the path passed in in your Live session. You can [set] it also.

https://docs.cycling74.com/max8/refpages/live.drop?q=live.drop

It (the path) can be recalled easily and might allow you also to drag & drop new spat presets too.

Usually it might be better to store your preset inside your Ableton Live project folder and I think (should be verified…) that this object handles well the case, so your preset’s path should be always reloaded properly, even if you move your project folder later.

HTH,
Charles

fraction · October 8, 2021, 7:02am

I m not sure what values from spat you are trying to save as preset, and as i understand, it is m4l objects state/values right? Speaking from myself, i don’t use spat preset system in m4l. Instead, you might be interested to see how i manage this in xp4l. I have established a generic way to handle preset storing of all the datas, using ofc pattr/pattstorage, and json file stored in ~/Documents, so the files are read/saved dynamically. If you download the devices, you can get the abstraction to manage this.

best.