Re: [Denemo-devel] Question about developing notation software for solfeggio

[Richard Shann]

I'm replying to this on the mailing list, as I'm fairly sure there are
others more familiar with note-entry from the PC keyboard than I am, who
may wish to comment
On Wed, 2017-02-22 at 21:04 +0100, Haris Brković wrote:
[...]
> Maybe Ill need help. Is it  possible to suggest something from time to
> time?
yes - help is gladly available via the mailing list...

>  If you help me it will improve my work but maybe it will be useful
> improvement to other users.
> For example number one improvement for me would be that when I input
> pitch by PC keyboard after I input ,for example 16 bars rhythm values
> it would be very useful that it behaves like midi key input. After
> pressing midi key cursor imediately moves to next note. This is not
> case with PC letters. You have to move cursor to the right with arrow
> key. I think there must be option to cursor move automatically even
> with PC letters. This will improve typing speed by half.

The reason this is not done automatically is that with the PC keyboard
the keypresses a, b, c... only give the note-name, without specifying
the accidental, so you would have to back-track.
However, since that decision was made the "Pending Sharp" and "Pending
Flat" commands have been introduced. With these it would be possible to
enter pitches continuously from the keyboard.

Indeed, here is how:

Open the Scheme window (View->Scheme) and paste the following script
into it:
;;;;;;;;;;;;;
(d-C)
(d-NextNote)
;;;;;;;;;;;;;

This changes the note at the cursor to C and moves to the next note.
Now save this as a new palette button (right click on an existing
palette button and choose "Save Script from Scheme Window"). Choose a
suitable label for this button, e.g. "C"

Now typing p,C <Return> will change the note at the cursor to C and move
to the next note.
Typing the sequence

equal, equal, p, C, return

will change the note at the cursor to c-double-sharp and move to the
next note.
Now if that is going to be very useful you will want to install a set of
these in a menu as commands, and give them a single keypress short-cut.
This you do by choosing the place in the menu system where you want the
command to appear and the right-click and choose "Save Script as New
Menu Item" and follow the prompts. (You need to avoid name-clashes with
already existing commands - use CAndMove, DAndMove, ... for example).

I suspect there may be wrinkles to sort out, so please report back if
you find this nearly-but-not-quite works!

And, please, anyone else who uses a PC keyboard to enter note pitches,
please say if this would be useful as a standard command.

Richard