How to reliably save samplemaps in preset? (Expansions)

[Straticah]

Hey there i have a basic setup that loads the samplemaps of my 3 expansions into a multi column dropdown for the user to choose from (works fine!)

We have been adding a few more samplemaps today and experienced that the old presets dont work anymore because the combobox only saves a value/index (but array+values change due to variable expansion content)

<Control type="ScriptComboBox" id="ComboBox1" value="123.0"/>

That is why i would prefer saving my samplemaps as a path inside of the preset file instead - quick example mockup:

<CustomData>
  <Data key="ComboBox1_SampleMap" value="{EXP::Hardware Lab}Absorbing"/>
  <Data key="ComboBox2_SampleMap" value="{EXP::Pro Essentials}Detuner"/>
</CustomData>

Any ideas on how to solve this? Maybe Expansion-specific indexing (i dont think that is possible)? I think i am overlooking something beacuse with this setup expansions in general would not be possible...

[bendurso]

@Straticah Oh, I just reread your original question—you were actually asking how to do it.

Yes, I used a label to save the samplemap name. The combobox still relies on the samplemaps array (with saveInPreset disabled), but I use the label to store the string name. Then I restore the combobox by matching the samplemap name.

edit: actually, David told me to do this a couple a months ago lol.

[bendurso]

@Straticah Oh, I did something similar a few days ago.

I asked ChatGPT to create a script to transform all the numeric values ​​into strings. To do this, I gave it the list of sample maps for each expansion (using Expansion.getSampleMapList), letting it know that the combo box has index 1. It worked like a charm.

I can't find the script.. but in my case it was a little different because I used a hidden label to store the names of the samplemaps. Then of course it's required to update all the expansions.

[Straticah]

@bendurso Yes that makes a lot of sense - whats the way you used to save strings to a preset?

Edit: oh i see you used a hidden label

[Straticah]

@Christoph-Hart sry to bother - is there a less hacky way?
@bendurso I would have never thought about that good idea.

[bendurso]

@Straticah Oh, I just reread your original question—you were actually asking how to do it.

Yes, I used a label to save the samplemap name. The combobox still relies on the samplemaps array (with saveInPreset disabled), but I use the label to store the string name. Then I restore the combobox by matching the samplemap name.

edit: actually, David told me to do this a couple a months ago lol.

[Christoph Hart]

Multiple options:

1. Use a hidden panel with saveInPreset=true and store all loaded sample map in a JSON array, then call Panel.setValue() with this. In its control callback, restore all comboboxes / load the sample maps. The comboboxes must not be savedInPreset for this to work.
2. Use the custom user preset system and define your data model as you wish.

Number 2 is probably overkill, so I would go with option 1.

[Chazrox]

@Straticah Have you tried calling presets by its name? I do that because if I add new presets AND sort in alphabetical order, the index obviously changes and will break my presets.

[Straticah]

@Chazrox The issue is currently only with samplemaps not with loading presets.
I am now doing what @Christoph-Hart and @bendurso suggested which is saving the samplemap via a label which adds it to the preset data.

<Control type="ScriptLabel" id="presetpath_01" value="{EXP::Hardware Lab}Juno Elements"/>
<Control type="ScriptLabel" id="presetpath_02" value="{EXP::Hardware Lab}Movement-120"/>

Not as hacky for HISE as i thought :)

[Oli Ullmann]

@Straticah
Why don't you do it this way? It works in my project.

First, get all the sampleMaps into the project:

const sampleMaps = Sampler.getSampleMapList();

Then fill your combo box with all the maps.

And the combo box callback looks something like this:

for(m in sampleMaps)
{
    if(m.contains(combobox.getItemText()))
        sampler.asSampler().loadSampleMap(m);
}

The combo box must, of course, be saveInPreset.

I think that should still work even if you add new sample maps to the existing plug-in. But I still need to test that.

You also could do:

if(m == combobox.getItemText())

[Christoph Hart]

@Oli-Ullmann said in How to reliably save samplemaps in preset? (Expansions):

The combo box must, of course, be saveInPreset.

comboboxes store their value as index, so if the sample map items change because you load in a different expansion, it will not load the correct one.

[Oli Ullmann]

@Christoph-Hart
Ah, I see. Thanks for explaining!