Re: beginner problem

[Colin Campbell]

On 12/01/2013 06:51 PM, Siena wrote:
> Hi all - I just downloaded LilyPond, ran the test which worked fine, and now
> I'm trying to follow the tutorial, and ran into a problem right off at the
> command line section.  When I open LilyPond, a command prompt box opens,
> which is I assume where I'm supposed to type the command "lilypond test.ly"
> to compile.
>
> Here's the problem: I can't type in the command prompt box.  No matter what
> I do, nothing shows up when I type.  Am I making a really dumb mistake, or
> has something gone wrong with installation?  I'm on Windows 7, if that
> helps, and searching the archives of this list makes me think I should maybe
> have something called cygwin installed, and I don't seem to, so maybe that's
> the problem, but those messages were also from a long time ago.
>
> Any ideas would be very appreciated...
>
> Siena

Hello, Siena
Since test.ly compiles under drag and drop, your installation should be 
good to go, so you might be well served by adding a special purpose 
lilypond editor.
Even though I was playing with computers and command lines since the 
60's, I *strongly* recommend newcomers to have a look at programs such 
as Frescobaldi, which makes text-mode entry of LilyPond really simple, 
then generates the graphic layout, or Denemo, which uses a more graphic 
mode of entry by placing notes on a staff and showing the resulting 
lilypond code. My personal favourite is Frescobaldi, but either one will 
take you off the command line and into the reason you are exploring 
LilyPond: engraving beautiful music, and the developers of each are 
frequent readers and posters on the lilypond lists.

As Ben has said: welcome to the community!  You're doing The Right Thing 
working through the Learning Manual (always my second recommendation!), 
and the lilypond-user list is a great resource as well.

Cheers,

--
The pursuit of truth and beauty is a sphere of activity in which we are 
permitted to remain children all our lives.
 - Albert Einstein, physicist, Nobel laureate (1879-1955)