> so standard objects have right to left ordering of outlet processing, but
> what about send and receive for messages? if multiple objects receive for
> the same name, which one gets it first? is there a triggerlike object for
> messages, or should I send multiple messages each with a differentiated tag
> like s bla1, s bla2, s s bla3 even when I send the same message?

There is a way to sync data from multiple receives and it is to use the [buddy] object.  [buddy] waits until it has received data at each inlet and then outputs everything it received through the corresponding outlet in the standard right-to-left order.  It might not be a good solution in all cases since the receive objects need to be in the same patch window as the [buddy], but I have used it successfully for synchronizing receives within subpatches.  [buddy] is in pd-extended, but I do not believe it is in pd vanilla.

Hope this helps,

Michael