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Messages - Lawrie Pardy

2
User Tools / Re: NWCCONVERTOR
Hi John,
nice to see you back.  If you check the very first post in this thread you'll find all you need.  N.B. there's no need to create a user.
3
Avant-garde / Re: Windows Copilot may help faster than searcing the forums for help .
Two words: Layered staves...

Create the chords once, move the staff that contains them to just below the staff requiring them and and layer.

Need 'em on another staff, move the chord staff below that one and layer...

I also use this for lyrics - quite often I have lyrics AND chords on one staff and layer as necessary.

If you need different lyrics on different staves (E.G. SATB scores where they don't all sing the same thing) then set up the lyrics as needed and use a separate, layered staff for the chords.

FWIW I tried using lyric lines for chords and found it was more trouble than it was worth.  IMHO
4
User Tools / Re: Rhythmic slash notation
OK, so the only times I need this kind of notation is for guitar parts.

typically I see:
  • Normal notes
  • Slash head notes denoting sub crotchet and dotted crotchet rhythm figures*
  • Slashes showing crotchet length rhythm
  • Actual rests

When notating I currently set up a crotchet rest (moved off the page) with a slash centred on it which I can copy when needed; and a slash head note that is muted, headless and with a slash positioned appropriately which I can also copy and adjust (ties and length) as needed.  Normal notes and rests get entered as normal.

Flurmy's 2 tools mean I don't need to faff around looking for my crotchet rhythm slashes or my slash headed notes so I can copy them, just place notes/rests and run the tool on the selection.  This should be just a little quicker, easier and more consistent between charts than my current method.

Notating in this way makes it much, much easier to know what's what.  Mike's wish for a transparent rest would be wonderful but in the meantime I'll stick with moving rests off the page.  A similar wish for actual slash head notes (like the current cross head notes) would also be a great boon.

* I very rarely have need of cues on guitar parts, so notating these with headless notes is not enough of an issue to worry about.  If I really need cues, I can place a cueheads object at the start and finish of the cue section and adjust visibility as needed.

5
User Tools / Re: Rhythmic slash notation
Quote from: David Palmquist –
<snip>
No need to use a rest pushed into the stratosphere.  Instead, try notes instead of rests.  Each one should be set to muted, stem length zero and nviible notehead. Then put a text slash (  /  ) before it aligned to next note or rest.  The target note itself should have an invisible notehead, should be muted, stem length zero, and invisible notehead. 

Sorry if this has already been touched on, I haven't read the entire thread yet.
Too much messing around.  Placing a rest is a single key stroke, then when it comes time to convert, just select the required notes/bars and run the tool, provided it pushes the rest off the page - easy peasy.
7
User Tools / Re: Beat slashes
Quote from: Mike Shawaluk –
Quote from: Lawrie Pardy –
My only objection to the headless, muted, stemless notes is that I make extensive use of the "CueHeads" object which functions on headless notes...
As the author of CueHeads.ms, I was thinking about this as well. In your usage of CueHeads, how often do the notes have zero-length stems?  The CueHeads object could have an option to exclude stemless (or mute) notes, so that it plays well with this tool.
Hi Mike,
I can't think of any time that I might have used a stemless one, excluding a semibreve, of course  ;) but I do often use them muted, and even more often, with Lyric Syllable Never set.
8
User Tools / Re: Beat slashes
Quote from: Flurmy –
This tool converts rests or notes to beat slashes (a purely visual marker; see attached image).
In jazz and popular music, passages are often notated with slash noteheads that indicate no specific pitch and show no rhythm.
Depending on the content, this might indicate an improvised solo and accompaniment pattern to be devised by the player,
or a suggestion to continue in the style of previously notated passage.

The NWC rests, notes or chords are uninportant, provided that their durations are multiples of 1/4.
It uses the char '/' of MusicDingsSans or MusicDingsSerif with the same size of the standard NWC2STDA.
By default that font is assumed as font User 1, but a different User font (1..6) can be specified on the command line.
E.g., "scripts\fl_BeatSlashes.lua 3" to use User 3.

N.B. Instead of hidden rests up in the sky I preferred headless, muted, stemless 1/4 notes because in the editor you can actually see their presence.

Version 1.1
Thanks Flurmy.
If I may, I think I would prefer if this tool ONLY worked on crotchet (and minim, and semibreve) rests.  If I have a note, or series of notes, it's almost certain that's what is required there.

My only objection to the headless, muted, stemless notes is that I make extensive use of the "CueHeads" object which functions on headless notes...

Maybe some additional command line options?
9
User Tools / Re: Rhythmic slash notation
Quote from: Flurmy –
Quote from: Lawrie Pardy –
Quite often I need to enter comping marks - these are really just a slash in place of a crotchet (quarter note) rest.
Do you mean something like in the attached image?
Of course I can make it as an enhancement, but I see it quite different, hence deserving his own tool.
I was indeed wondering if creating it or not.
Stay tuned.
Exactly as in the attached image.
I figured a single tool to do both would be less confusing, but I'll be happy with 2 tools.
Thanks mate.

Quote
Quote from: Lawrie Pardy –
then I move the rest off the page with Global_mod.  The rest must be moved instead of being made invisible or it won't take up the necessary horizontal space.  Perhaps you could modify this tool to automate that process too (it would need to move the rest).
Yuk, I forgot that trick (and I was hoping it wasn't needed anymore...)!
I don't remember which was the usual value for the offset. Perhaps the maximum allowed. Maybe 25000?
The max allowed is, I think around 2047 - I always use 2000 as it is an easy, round number.  I actually have an invocation of Global_Mod specifically for this function, and it is set to 2000.  I also have a -2000 version but I rarely have need to use it.
10
User Tools / Re: Rhythmic slash notation
Nice.
Can I make an enhancement suggestion?

Quite often I need to enter comping marks - these are really just a slash in place of a crotchet (quarter note) rest.
Currently I place a crotchet rest, then create a text entry centred on it in the correct vertical alignment (centred in the staff), then I move the rest off the page with Global_mod.  The rest must be moved instead of being made invisible or it won't take up the necessary horizontal space.  Perhaps you could modify this tool to automate that process too (it would need to move the rest).
14
General Discussion / Re: Sound problem
Firstly, please excuse the detail - I know you're a long term user, but I figured it best to give a detailed reply in case a newbie read this and wondered what I was going on about.

OK, I'm not sue what you mean by "sounds awful" but I'm going to assume you mean it sounds discordant.

If that's the case, then the first place I would look is for an erroneous key signature.  If the staff is in "C" or "Am" then make sure you still have a key sig.  It will be a hidden (faint) natural sign on the "F" line, and you have to enter it yourself, they are not automatic.

Another thing to check is that the clef is correct - E.G. an erroneous tenor clef instead of an alto clef can easily be missed but would cause all sorts of odd results.  Ditto any other clef substitution but they would be more obvious.

Next you might check to see if there's an erroneous staff transposition.  Check the properties for each staff:
Select a staff; press <Alt+Enter>; select "Instrument [tab]"; check the "Transposition" scroll box; rinse and repeat...
Normally this will be "0"* unless you have performed a transposition for a transposing instrument (E.G. saxophone) in which case it should be a number of semitones opposite to the transposition you did (E.G. transpose +9 for an Alto sax, the transposition in the staff properties should be -9).

It should be noted that if you've transcribed a score from a source that has transposing instruments included then the transposition scroll box in the staff properties needs to be updated accordingly.  See below for a table of common transpositions.

NB this transposition could also be in an instrument change object <I> or "Insert|Instrument Change..." <Alt+I> then <I>.
Locate and highlight the Instrument Change object; press <Alt+Enter>; select "Instrument [tab]"; check the "Transposition" scroll box as above for staff properties.

When transposing a staff "Tools|Transpose Staff", or <Alt+T> then <T>, the dialogue asks via a checkbox if you want to "Update the staff playback transposition".  This is used to transpose from concert pitch to the correct notation for a transposing instrument and will enter the reverse change as discussed above for the Alto sax example.  If you are changing a piece to a new key completely, then UNCHECK this box, otherwise if you are transposing for a transposing instrument then you should check it.

It is very important when using this feature that the staff have a key signature, even if it is in "C" or "Am" (this would be a hidden natural on the F line).  If this is not there the transposition has problems.

Some common instrument transpositions (where TC means Treble Clef):

InstrumentInst. KeyTrans from Concert Pitch (semitones)Reverse trans. for staff properties (semitones)
Trumpet, Sop SaxBb+2-2
Horn in F, TC F Tuba? (never seen it done)F+7 (+7 or +19)-7 (-19)
Alto Sax, Tenor (Alto) HornEb+9-9
#Tenor Sax, TC Trombone, TC Euphonium etc.Bb+2 (or +14)-14
#Bari Sax, TC Eb TubaEb+9 (or +21)-21
#TC Bb TubaBb+2 (or +26)-26
.
<edit> N.B. F Tuba has been edited - if an F tuba were ever to be put in transposed treble clef (unlikely but who knows), then you would have to lower it by an extra octave compared to a Horn in F) </edit>
.
# this is a little dependent on how the score was first written.  Quite often a score will be originally set up an octave high for ease of notation, BUT the playback must be an octave lower than would at first appear because these instruments are at least an octave lower than written Treble Clef at concert pitch. 

When I'm preparing a score that will include transposed instruments, I will usually preset the staff transposition accordingly, E.G if there's a Tenor, or Bari Sax, I will preset the staff transposition to -12, notate in concert pitch, then transpose the staff accordingly (+2 for the Tenor and +9 for the Bari), WITH the staff playback checkbox mentioned earlier checked.  This will result in the correct final staff transposition of -14 for the Tenor and -21 for the Bari.

Note that Trombone (excluding Bass Trombone), Tuba, Euphonium, Tenor (Alto) Horn, and Baritone are  written in Transposed Treble for British tradition brass bands (this includes Salvation Army scores) otherwise Trom, Euph, Bari. and Tuba are written in Concert Pitch bass clef - the only exception I've seen to this is the occasional European score that also includes BC versions of Trombone, Euph or Baritone in Bb - in these case the BC score is transposed - a true sacrilege IMHO.

Note also that in old scores, the Horn was written in bass clef without a key signature and referred to as Horn in F, or Horn in D etc. to denote which crook was being used.  In "modern" literature (from sometime in the mid 20th century) Horn is always written in transposed F, in both Treble and Bass clef, WITH a key signature.

Horn is hard... - https://www.hornmatters.com/2008/08/transposition-tricks-old-vs-new-notation/
especially for us non-horn players.

* there are cases where it might be -12 for certain instruments - this is just an octave shift for instruments that are normally notated an octave high, like a guitar, bass guitar, or double bass - I'm sure there are others.
16
User Tools / Re: NWCCONVERTOR
Hi Gust,
confirmed.  Perhaps, given this is a problem that will certainly occur in the future, you could specifically check for these problems during conversion and either delete or replace them with a flag - maybe "BLANK"?

Also, and I don't know if it's a problem specific to my installation or Win11, NWCCONVERTOR can't seem to remember how to open the MusicXML file with Musescore.  The correct path is in the options screen, but if you press OK, the config file is updated without the entry, UNLESS your browse to it beforehand.  Then if you press OK the config file is saved with the correct path and it all works until next time you run NWCCONVERTOR, where, even though the correct path is in the config file, NWCCONVERTOR ignores it and you have to browse to it again...
17
User Tools / Re: NWCCONVERTOR
Hey Gust,
thanks for the quick response.  I tried this quick test file and Musescore didn't like it at all, it threw 39 errors, though NWCConvertor seemed happy.

The source .nwctxt file is just the first one that I found on my system when I went looking for a test file.
The MusicXML file is the output from V 2.0.05.05 (NB I had to ad .txt to the filename to get it to upload - you will need to remove this for Musescore to recognise it)

I concede this may be an unfair test...
19
User Tools / Re: NWCCONVERTOR
Quote from: Mike Shawaluk –
I was able to get the score to convert without errors by stripping out a few things. Specifically, I removed the segno and coda markings, since I was pretty sure they wouldn't have worked the same in the MusicXML file.
This is not really viable for me, some of my scores have over 50 staves...
20
User Tools / Re: NWCCONVERTOR
The only version I have that is currently working at all for me is:
2.0.05.01 - NB I haven't exhaustively tested this one so it may also throw similar errors with the right file.

The later ones either create unusable MusicXML files or else throw a bunch of errors like the ones you've listed.

21
User Tools / Re: NWCCONVERTOR
Quote from: Flurmy –
Lawrie, you missed the point.
I started with a .nwctxt file and, after the conversion,  my only option is to save it as  .nwctxt!   :o
I think I'm able to code myself such a converter.  :))
I need a file .musicxml or .mxl.
Sorry mate, I missed that little subtlety...
NWCCONVERTOR should do the conversion to MusicXML for you though - I've used it for exactly that in the past...

OK, just did some testing with Versions 2.0.05.04, 2.0.05.03 and 2.0.05.01
None allowed me to select "save as type" other than .nwctxt, BUT the offered filename ended in .musicxml and saved as such.

However, when I tried to open the saved musicxml test files the ones from the two more recent versions would NOT import into Musescore while the older one did just fine.  Something is broken...
22
User Tools / Re: NWCCONVERTOR
Quote from: Flurmy –
There is more.
I clicked "Select NWC txt file", loaded my file, selected the options, got "Conversion completed", clicked "Save as" and the only option is to save it... as .nwctxt!  :))
This is correct.  The compressed NWC file format is proprietary, which is a big part of why .nwctxt exists in the first place...  Or so I understand.
23
General Discussion / Re: Merry Christmas
Hey Eric,
good to see you online again.

Praying you have a fantastic 2026 mate.

"5-bit era" is a bit obscure for me though... :D
26
General Discussion / Re: "Text" window size
Quote from: lawrroc –
<snip>
The problem with the "line break" (or next line) still needs to be solved without resorting to the infamous %br%. But it's not a big problem.
Hi Lorenzo,
I hate to break it to you, but %br% IS the only mechanism for PageTxt.nw to start a new line.  By design, it doesn't recognise any other kind of line break.
FYI, %br% wasn't even included in the original release of PageTxt.nw, it was added later.
28
General Discussion / Re: Strong accent
Hi Lorenzo,
it sure is.  Simply use the caret <Shift+6> as you did in your question.  It will automatically flip when below the note.

I found it interesting that you call it "sforzato" - I've always understood it to be "marcato"*
I've only ever seen "sfz" and variants (e.g. sffz" etc.) for "sforzato"

* played full note length in classical literature, but short in jazz and often contemporary literature.
29
Object Plugins / Re: PageTxtMaestro.nw
Just a FYI, EVERY PgTxt that is going to be printed in any print MUST have a different name.

That said, when I write a set of charts for, say, a big band, I have a set of standard PgTxt objects that are at the start of every staff.  they are all identical and use variables to present different content.  One attribute they all have is that they are only visible on the top staff.

That way if I hide all the other staves so I can print, say, the Guitar part, it becomes the top staff and all the PgTxt objects on it are active, then I can hide it and unhide, say, the Bari part.  Again, all the PgTxt objects on the Bari part become active and work as intended.

PgTxt objects can have any name you want to give them, you aren't limited to the standard names.  E.G. I have Subtitle and Subtitle2 in my standard set.  They reference variables defined in the Info dialogue, just like all the other ones I use.  This way I can just create a new file from my chosen template and all the objects are pre-defined - I never have to edit them, excluding exceptional circumstances
31
General Discussion / Re: Windows 11
Hi David,
as long as you have the 2.8 beta installer you'll be fine.  Uninstalling 1.75 should have no effect on 2.8 but if you keep the 2.8 installer safe, you can reinstall it if something does actually go wrong.
33
Object Plugins / Re: BarLabel.ms (1.2)
OK, that makes sense to me.  Like my march card example, it's a bit unusual and not likely to happen very often.
34
Object Plugins / Re: BarLabel.ms (1.2)
hi fathafluff,
could you explain your reasoning a bit please?
The reason I ask is that when rehearsing, bar numbers (and rehearsal marks, of course) are used to locate a place for the band/orchestra to start together for working on a section, or maybe even just a single chord in a bar.

Taking your example into account, if there was a need to work on, say, bar 6, do we call it bar 6, or 16?
Say the MD calls it bar 16, it could create some confusion for those not familiar with the double numbering of the repeated section.

With the above in mind, I'm also aware of some older pieces, most commonly marches on march cards, where some parts have (again using your example) 20 bars at the start and the second block of 10 are different to the first block, but other parts have the first 10 bars the same as 11 to 20, so the music has a repeat in those parts.  Thus you end up with some parts with a different bar count to others.  These charts usually don't use bar numbers but the confusion is real...

I'd love to hear your thoughts.
36
General Discussion / Re: Old files don't open
Quote from: Faysalshire –
It's my first time to use registered version. I was downloaded and write all music after that i was deleted cause i didn't have a credit card whatever, i made a lot of files and tried to open but nothing appears. I wrote my own music can someone help how to open an old files thnks? I was using noteworthy composer 1.75 thnks again.
Something doesn't make sense here... You said you didn't have a credit card, how then could you possibly have downloaded a registered version?
You cannot get the registered version without paying for it first.
If you are a registered owner of a V1.75 licence then the upgrade is $15 USD but you MUST have a valid V1 licence, otherwise V2.75 is $49 USD.
Either way, you must first buy it before you get it.

I think you must have downloaded the demo version.
The demo version has several limitations:
Quote
Specifically, the following commands are unavailable in this demo version: File->Open Backup, Save, Save As, Export, and Tools->User Tool.
37
General Discussion / Re: What's a plus?
Quote from: Flurmy –
In current violin music, pizzicato with the left hand is indicated by a + above the note (see: Alban Berg - Violin Concerto).
Ok.

But in ancient music (and not for violin)? For example, Telemann for flute (see figure).
(My best guess: accent.)
Dunno - you could well be right.

Quote
And the vertical dashes? For example, Telemann for flute (see figure).
(My best guess: staccato.)
Possibly staccato, but if I encountered it while sight reading I'd probably immediately think staccatissimo.
38
General Discussion / Re: REINSTALL nwc after computer crash
Hi Gilbert,
I would remove those details if I were you.  Try to avoid being scammed.

There are plenty of USB CD and DVD devices that you can purchase for very cheap and you can install from the CD that way.
41
General Discussion / Re: REINSTALL nwc after computer crash
Further to David's reply, no, you shouldn't need to buy anything AFAIK.

The upgrade from 2.5 to 2.75 was a freebie.  Simply install 2.5 from your CD, run NWC, and then click:
Help|Access NoteworthyComposer.com* and it should take you to a relevant upgrade page.

Follow the prompts from there.

* The actual item might not be named exactly that but it will be informative, and I hope obvious.  It's a while since I ran 2.5...
42
General Discussion / Re: Beats in a bar
Hi Andrew,
we could probably use a little more context:
3 minims is 6 beats, but a dotted minim plus 3 quavers is 4 1/2 beats.

Do we assume it's a 6/4, or maybe a 3/2 bar?
How do the quavers line up with the minims below?

Have you learned how to make chords and rest-chords?
Or perhaps it might be best approached with layered staves.

Perhaps you could post an image of the source?
43
General Discussion / Re: Fonts.ini
Hi Flurmy, TBH, I'd completely forgotten that feature as I install my font suites into the Windows Fonts folder...
45
General Discussion / Re: Two in the place for three
Arguably, you could put a bunch of restchords with hidden rests in the right hand and fiddle the rest portion values to fit it in, BUT you can't beam restchords, and the playback wouldn't be quite right as it would inevitably be uneven.

Sadly, tuplets have always been something of a bugbear in NWC.

Check out Warren's post above.
46
General Discussion / Re: Two in the place for three
I would just place the crotchets, then add text dots that are position left at next note bar - pad the text entry with leading spaces to position the dot where you want it.  No messing around with tempos, which would affect other staves that may not have tuplets to worry about.
47
General Discussion / Re: Copying a guitar chord in GuitarChord.ms
Are you wanting to copy the object to other places in your score, or do you want to copy the image to another application?

For the former, simply highlight* the anchor (a small, greyed, image at the bottom left of the chord grid) and use your normal copy process.  In my case I use the windows <Ctrl+C>, <Ctrl+V> combinations.

* I position the cursor just to the left of the object and press <Shift+RtArrow>

For the latter, I have no idea other than to perhaps print to, say, a PDF and then copy the image from the PDF; or maybe take a screen shot and use something like MSPaint to clip the chord grid from that.
48
General Discussion / Re: starting NWC application
Quote from: Marianne van Harten –
I tried to start my NWC, but it wouldn't.
So, I installed it again, but still it wouldn't

How can I delete NWC completely - including the registry settings - so that I can do a clean install?
Hi Maryanne,
there are 2 ways I know of, but before that rather drastic approach, can I ask an obvious question, plus one a little less so?

1) Have you restarted the PC?  The only times I've ever had a problem (about twice) starting NWC is because it still had a process running in the background that Windows hadn't cleaned up.

2) has your anti-malware software recently been updated?  There may be a false positive that is silently killing NWC.  I would do a scan and check for reports.  If there's nothing I'd then disable it and try NWC again - might be good to not be online while the anti-malware is disabled, and definitely do the scan FIRST.

OK, now to answer your question:
a) you should be able to use add/remove programs (later versions call it Programs and features) in control panel.
OR
b) in the install directory (normally "C:\Program Files (x86)\Noteworthy Software\NoteWorthy Composer 2") there is "uninstall.exe".

I don't know how thorough this will be in cleaning up your appdata directory:
:localappdata:\Noteworthy Software\nwc2

or object plugin directory:
:programdata:\Noteworthy Software\nwc2\UserPlugins

NB - my install has been modded so much over the years that I'm not certain these are the defaults, though I think they are.