Open a dialog box for text entry Allows entry of a symbol (as text) and sends it out the outlet when you click on the OK button in the dialog box. Cycling '74 Max Interaction Show Dialog for Data Entry TEXT_HERE 0 Sets Output as Symbol, 1 as List/Message TEXT_HERE Text Entered in Dialog TEXT_HERE bang When User Cancels TEXT_HERE The dialog window label Sets the prompt which will appear above the text entry box in the dialog window. Prompt for text entry with default In left inlet: Opens the dialog box with the previous text displayed as the default. Prompt for text entry with default See the symbol entry. Prompt for text entry with default In left inlet: Same as symbol. Set output mode In right inlet: The number 0 sets dialog so that whatever the user types into the dialog box is sent out as a symbol preceded by the word symbol. A non-zero number sets dialog so that the typed-in text is sent out exactly as is if it begins with a word, or preceded by the word list if it begins with a number. If no number is received, it is considered 0 by default. Prompt for text entry with default In left inlet: The word symbol, followed by any word, opens a dialog box prompting the user to enter text. The word following symbol is shown as the default text. If you want more than one word to appear as the default text, you must enclose the words in double quotes. Note that the output of a dialog object is not directly "caused" by sending the object a message, so you can't count on it happening by a certain time. If the user clicks OK, dialog makes a symbol out of the entered text (even if it's a number or it's more than one word) and sends it out its outlet with the word symbol prepended. If a non-zero number has been received in the right inlet, the typed-in message is sent out as is (without being preceded by the word symbol). This message can be displayed by prepending the word set and sending it to a message box (as shown in the example). If the user clicks Cancel, nothing is sent out.

Since your patch continues to run while waiting for the user to type text into your dialog box, you can't count on getting the typed-in symbol immediately after sending the message that opens the dialog box. If the dialog box is cancelled by the user, a bang message is sent out the right outlet.