Hi I am new to Pd, but made some progress since I started a few weeks ago. I am stuck on something that should be really simple. I am trying to make an abstraction. I have made a patch and saved it. Then in the main patch I create an object with the abstraction name (without .pd extension), but whenever I open it I just get a new blank canvass as if it was a new subpatch. I have tried storing the abstraction in various different locations, and modifying the search paths, but no luck.

I am working on Windows 10. and using Purr data

Any ideas gratefully received

Best wishes

Jim

Sorry I have just answered my own question! Funny how sometimes asking someone else can clarify ones own thoughts!. I realize now that subpatches have an object with pd followed by subpatch name, but abstraction just has the name on its own in the object box.

@JJLloyd You need to create a new patch...... name it "my-abstraction.pd" for example, put something inside, and save it.
Then you can put a [my-abstraction] object in your main patch and it will work. Open it for proof of concept.
As you say, if it is in the same folder, or a named path then it will be found.
You can also force your patch to find it by placing an object [declare -path subfolder-name] in your main patch if the abstraction is in a sub-folder below where your patch is stored, or [declare -path C:/......... path....... to.....] if it is somewhere else.

Reading this should help..... https://forum.pdpatchrepo.info/topic/9774/pure-data-noob/4
The text (below the screenshot) explains abstraction use...... with $ arguments....., and $ in a message too.....and if you still don't understand everything then playing about with the show_me_dollars.zip should clarify.
David.

@whale-av Thanks David - some very helpful advice there!
JIm