The Alternative Csound Reference Manual
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# #include

#include -- Includes an external file for processing.

## Description

Includes an external file for processing.

## Syntax

#include "filename"

## Performance

It is sometimes convenient to have the orchestra arranged in a number of files, for example with each instrument in a separate file. This style is supported by the #include facility which is part of the macro system. A line containing the text

    #include "filename"

where the character " can be replaced by any suitable character. For most uses the double quote symbol will probably be the most convenient. The file name can include a full path.

This takes input from the named file until it ends, when input reverts to the previous input. There is currently a limit of 20 on the depth of included files and macros.

Another suggested use of #include would be to define a set of macros which are part of the composer's style.

An extreme form would be to have each instrument defines as a macro, with the instrument number as a parameter. Then an entire orchestra could be constructed from a number of #include statements followed by macro calls.

      #include "clarinet"
      #include "flute"
      #include "bassoon"
      $CLARINET(1)
      $FLUTE(2)
      $BASSOON(3)

It must be stressed that these changes are at the textual level and so take no cognizance of any meaning.

## Examples

Here is an example of the include opcode. It uses the files include.orc, include.sco, and table1.inc.

Example 1. Example of the include opcode.

    /* include.orc */
    sr = 44100
    kr = 4410
    ksmps = 10
    nchnls = 1

    ; Instrument #1 - a basic oscillator.
    instr 1
      kamp = 10000
      kcps = 440
      ifn = 1

      a1 oscil kamp, kcps, ifn
      out a1
    endin
    /* include.orc */

    /* table1.inc */
    ; Table #1, a sine wave.
    f 1 0 16384 10 1
    /* table1.inc */

    /* include.sco */
    ; Include the file for Table #1.
    #include "table1.inc"

    ; Play Instrument #1 for 2 seconds.
    i 1 0 2
    e
    /* include.sco */

## Credits

Author: John ffitch
University of Bath/Codemist Ltd.
Bath, UK
April 1998

Example written by Kevin Conder.

New in Csound version 3.48

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