DAT - Data Operators (Text)

DATs are used for tables, scripts, XML, JSON, and plain text.

Text vs. Tables

DATs generally fall into two categories:

Tables: Data organized in rows and columns. Accessed via scripts using row/column indices or names (e.g., op('table1')[0, 'name']).
Text: Free-form text strings. Typically used for Python scripts, GLSL shader code, or raw JSON payloads.

Table: Store data in rows and columns.
Text: Write Python scripts or GLSL code.
Select: Isolate rows/columns from a table.
Execute / CHOP Execute: Run scripts based on events (Frame start, Project start, or CHOP value changes).
Web Client: Make HTTP requests to REST APIs.
JSON: Parse JSON strings into usable dictionaries/tables.

DATs manage anything text or script-related in TouchDesigner.

Adding a DAT: Open the OP Create Dialog (Tab) and select the DAT family (pink/magenta color).
Working with Text:
- Drop a Text DAT to write notes, Python scripts, or custom GLSL shaders.
- Click the node and type directly into the viewer if ‘Viewer Active’ is on, or right-click and choose “Edit Contents” to open it in your external text editor (like VS Code).
Working with Tables:
- Drop a Table DAT. You can add rows and columns via its parameters, and type in values in ‘Viewer Active’ mode.
- Process tables using nodes like Select DAT to extract specific rows/columns or Merge DAT to combine multiple tables.
Running Scripts:
- Attach your data/text to an Execute node (CHOP Execute, DAT Execute, Panel Execute) to trigger Python scripts when specific network events occur.
- For example, you can write Python inside a CHOP Execute DAT’s onValueChange function to print a message whenever a button is clicked.
Conversion:
- DATs easily convert to other families. DAT to CHOP is incredibly useful for turning numerical table data into CHOP channels, while CHOP to DAT turns signals into a historical table of values.