ksp

Last modifiedby & filed under Kontakt Scripting (KSP) - Basics, UIs, Tutorials, Scripts and Tools, Kontakt Scripting (KSP) :: Sublime Text.

You get Sublime Text from https://www.sublimetext.com/

Note: you can use it without any restrictions but you still need to buy a license. It’s really worth it!

Thx to Nils Liberg and nojanath who created a KSP plugin for Sublime Text with many new possibilities like macros, for statements, functions and many more, using Sublime is almost essential when it comes to complex scripts since it simplifies things a lot (like structuring our code and saving lots of code-lines). It also helps us to better reveal some errors. There are also new practices & features, like a different (easier) coding with less required code.

please note this blog also covers the original KSP syntax. At the top of the each article you can see weather the Sublime Syntax is used or not.
With the increase of complexity of your code Sublime saves lots of time and frustration so it is highly recommended to use it.

Example – less code writing

we can write this line:

set_control_par_str(get_ui_id($textfield),$CONTROL_PAR_TEXT,"hello, it's me")

like this now (the above is still allowed):

$textfield -> text: "hello, it's me"

Also refer to this guide:
https://github.com/nojanath/SublimeKSP/wiki/Added-Features


CONTENT


Installation

  1. download Sublime 3 and install it (at best as portable version on a non-system drive)
  2. install Package Control (installation instructions)
  3. restart Sublime
  4. install the special KSP Plugin from Nils Liberg / nojanath fork (GitHub) by opening the command palette with:
    Command Shift P
    Ctrl Shift P
  5. type “install package”
  6. type “ksp” and select “KSP (Kontakt Script Processor)”
  7. hit    ↵     to install
  8. restart sublime

Start new project – activate KSP syntax

if you open a new tab, start writing and your code stays just white, the KSP syntax is not activated.

  1. To activate the KSP Syntax hit:
    Command Shift P

    Ctrl Shift P
  2. type “ksp” and select “Set Syntax: KSP”
  3. copy & paste the following test code into your tab. If it’s colorized now everything works fine:
on init
    declare ui_label $lbl(1, 1)
    make_perfview
    set_ui_height_px(300)
    set_ui_color(9aaaaaah)
 
    $lbl -> text := ""
    $lbl -> text := 'WAITING FOR COMMAND'
    $lbl -> width  := 300
    $lbl -> font_type := 5
    $lbl -> textpos_y := 2
    $lbl ->text_alignment := 1
    $lbl -> pos_x := (632-300)/2
    $lbl -> pos_y := 200
 
    declare $btn_width := 100
    declare $btn_height := 28
       declare $center_x := (632-$btn_width)/2
 
       declare $output
 
    //declare_button(#idx#,#name#,#x#,#y#,#pos_x#,#pos_y#)
    declare_button(0,main,$btn_width,$btn_height,$center_x,50)
    declare_button(1,main,$btn_width,$btn_height,$center_x,100)
end on
 
on_ui_control_button(0,main)
on_ui_control_button(1,main)
 
 
macro declare_button(#idx#,#name#,#x#,#y#,#pos_x#,#pos_y#)
    declare ui_button $btn_#name#_#idx#
    $btn_#name#_#idx# -> text := "BUTTON " & #idx#
    $btn_#name#_#idx# -> width := #x#
    $btn_#name#_#idx# -> height := #y#
    $btn_#name#_#idx# -> pos_x := #pos_x#
    $btn_#name#_#idx# -> pos_y := #pos_y#
end macro
 
macro on_ui_control_button(#idx#,#name#)
    on ui_control($btn_#name#_#idx#)
        myFunction(output, #idx#)
        $btn_#name#_#idx# := 0
    end on
end macro
 
function myFunction(output, idx)
    $lbl-> text := "BUTTON" & idx & ": CALLED ME"
    message("BUTTON " & idx & ": CALLED ME")
end function

Sublime Settings

here are some recommended settings you should do when it comes to compiling your code. Go to tools and enable all KSP settings as shown in the screenshot:

Explanation:

  • Remove Indents: when compiling all indents are removed which slightly compacts  your code
  • Compact Variables: this compacts your code by shorten all variable names.
    Note that this makes your compiled code almost unreadable 

    Original Code

    on init 
         set_ui_height_px(540) {height of your UI}
         make_perfview {makes this UI visible outside the edit mode}
     
         { SET: initial wallpaper }
         set_control_par_str($INST_WALLPAPER_ID,$CONTROL_PAR_PICTURE,"wallpaper1") {sets your initial wallpaper which can only be overlayed}
     
         { SET: vraiables }
         declare $label_id {used to store the label id, later we will use arrays}
         declare $button_id {used to store the button id, later we will use arrays}
     
         { SET: label / wallpaper 2 }
             declare ui_label $wallpaper (0,0) {creates a label "container" for your additional wallpapers}
             $label_id := get_ui_id ($wallpaper) {get the numeric unique id of the label}
     
             set_control_par_str($label_id ,$CONTROL_PAR_TEXT,"") {clear the default text}
             set_control_par_str($label_id ,$CONTROL_PAR_PICTURE,"wallpaper2") {set background image}
             set_control_par($label_id ,$CONTROL_PAR_HIDE,$HIDE_WHOLE_CONTROL) {hides the whole label because we first use the initial wallpaper}
             move_control_px($wallpaper,0,0) {move to top left position}
     
         { SET:button }
             declare ui_switch $button_switch_wallpaper {create a simple button to switch the wallpapers}
             $button_id := get_ui_id ($button_switch_wallpaper) {get the numeric unique id of the button}
        message("") {clears the status bar}
    end on
     
    on ui_control($button_switch_wallpaper)
         if ($button_switch_wallpaper = 1)
             set_control_par($label_id ,$CONTROL_PAR_HIDE,$HIDE_PART_NOTHING) {shows your label}
             else
                 set_control_par($label_id ,$CONTROL_PAR_HIDE,$HIDE_WHOLE_CONTROL)
         end if  
         message("") {clears the status bar}
    end on

    Compact Code:

    on init
      declare $yjjle
      declare $q3qgi
      declare $t0rma
      declare $vlhs0
      set_ui_height_px(540)
      make_perfview
      set_control_par_str($INST_WALLPAPER_ID,$CONTROL_PAR_PICTURE,"wallpaper1")
      declare $s1cn2
      declare $hr102
      declare ui_label $rhngx(0, 0) 
      $s1cn2 := get_ui_id($rhngx)
      set_control_par_str($s1cn2,$CONTROL_PAR_TEXT,"")
      set_control_par_str($s1cn2,$CONTROL_PAR_PICTURE,"wallpaper2")
      set_control_par($s1cn2,$CONTROL_PAR_HIDE,$HIDE_WHOLE_CONTROL)
      move_control_px($rhngx,0,0)
      declare ui_switch $5bcxz
      $hr102 := get_ui_id($5bcxz)
      message("")
    end on
     
    on ui_control($5bcxz)
      if ($5bcxz=1)
        set_control_par($s1cn2,$CONTROL_PAR_HIDE,$HIDE_PART_NOTHING)
      else
        set_control_par($s1cn2,$CONTROL_PAR_HIDE,$HIDE_WHOLE_CONTROL)
      end if
      message("")
    end on
  • Extra Syntax Checks: this detects some additional syntax errors. (Undeclared variables, wrong statements are already checked by default)
  • Signal Error on Empty if/case statements: warns you when you leave statements empty like so
    if ($x=1) 
    end if
  • Optimize Compiled Code: this simply optimizes your code

Compiling

You have to compile your code when you are using all the helpful extra features since this one:

$textfield -> text: "hello, it's me"

wouldn’t work at all if you copy it into Kontakt.

When compiling, Sublime Text “rewrites” the short syntax code and makes it readable for Kontakt. So the above gets:

set_control_par_str(get_ui_id($textfield),$CONTROL_PAR_TEXT,"hello, it's me")

But actually you don’t have to worry about this. Simply compile your code by hitting   F5    . The compiled code gets copied to your clipboard and you can just paste it into Kontakt  Ctrl V
If there are some errors in your syntax Sublime aborts compiling and outputs an error pointing you to the affected line.

You can use the above test code and try to compile it.

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7 Responses to “Kontakt Scripting (KSP) :: How to install Sublime Text, setting it up for the first time & compiling your code”

    • YummyBeats

      Hey,
      sublime text, or more precisely the integrated plugin host, does this automatically every time sublime text is started. So you don't have to worry about anything. If there is an update for the ksp extension, a new tab will open automatically to inform you about the update history and new features.

  1. Mike

    Hi, I cannot seem to get Sublime working...I tried installing it ages ago and things seem to be all messed up..I need to wipe everything but guess there's loads of hidden files everywhere..any advice for a clean install much appreciated!

  2. Jochen

    Thanks for the detailed explanation! When I paste the above test code, Sublime will color everything fine, but Compile is greyed out and I can't make the code ready for Kontakt. Is this only possible with the licensed version of Sublime 3?

    • YummyBeats

      Thanks. That sounds weird because when everything is colored correctly, the KSP package should be installed correctly as well.
      Under Tools you can also see the "SublimeKSP" menu, right?

      Have you tried with a simple code like
      on init
        message("works")
      end on


      As far as I know the payed version of sublime isn't different from the evaluate version.
      Also the KSP package for sublime should work independently from the actual Sublime Version.
      Have you installed the portable sublime version? Shouldn't make any difference though.

      Maybe there is another bug somewhere else?
      Like an incorrect installation of the KSP pack?! So try to reinstall everything again.

      Sorry I can't help out more, I haven't faced this problem yet and I'm just brainstorming right now :)

      EDIT: I just did a fresh installation of the latest sublime portable version (Build 3211) and added the ksp package.
      Everything seems to work fine for me. So I guess something went wrong with your installation?!

      • Jochen

        Thanks very much! I deleted and reinstalled Sublime 3 and all of the component from scratch – and now it is working as expected. So exciting to explore this new universe of possibilities in Kontakt!

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