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'Sib. 6.x: Can I create a "combo" keyboard shortcut?'

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Sib. 6.x: Can I create a "combo" keyboard short... - André van Haren, 24 Apr 05:21AM

Re: Sib. 6.x: Can I create a - Jim Druckenmiller, 24 Apr 06:44AM

Re: Sib. 6.x: Can I create a - Jim Druckenmiller, 24 Apr 07:04AM

Re: Sib. 6.x: Can I create a - André van Haren, 25 Apr 11:33AM

Re: Sib. 6.x: Can I create a - Kenneth Gaw, 26 Apr 05:14PM

Re: Sib. 6.x: Can I create a - Bob Zawalich, 27 Apr 10:21PM

Re: Sib. 6.x: Can I create a - Bob Zawalich, 01 May 01:13AM

Re: Sib. 6.x: Can I create a - Kenneth Gaw, 05 May 03:57PM

Re: Sib. 6.x: Can I create a - Bob Zawalich, 05 May 05:44PM

Sib. 6.x: Can I create a "combo" keyboard shortcut?
Posted by André van Haren - 24 Apr 05:21AM

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I have a workflow when final editing music and always start with the same 4 commands:
Reset Design/Reset Position/Reset Note Spacing/Optimise staff spacing.

It would be good to have a keyboard shortcut that could them with one single click, but I am not sure if this is possible in Sibelius, is there a way?

Re: Sib. 6.x: Can I create a
Posted by Jim Druckenmiller - 24 Apr 06:44AM (edited 24 Apr 08:15PM)

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Hi Richard,

I think this would be more properly called a ‘macro’, since you're trying to run a set of instructions in sequence.

And the short answer to your question is both Yes and No.

Yes, because Sibelius does include an option to create extensions in the form of plug-ins, and those in turn could be programmed in such a way as to act like simple macros.

and No, because by comparison to a program such as Excel, which lets you record macro’s in a dead simple manner, it’s not something that you’ll be able to learn or do in a few minutes of time.

You’ll have to get acquainted to the Sibelius ManuScript Language , and learn how to write a plugin for Sibelius - which is the equivalent to a kind of programming, but its user friendly and designed specifically for music notation and the terms/objects that are used within Sibelius. It is essentially programming however, and will come with a learning curve.

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Having said that, going about this from a different direction, you also have the option of using a 3rd party program where you could record your actions in Sibelius, and then trigger them to replay with an assigned keyboard shortcut. One such program is AutoHotKeys, and others are available via a Google Search for Macro Recorders.

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Anyhow, getting back to Sibelius and the ManuScript Language,. . . I say give it a shot, I messed around with it and was able to come up with something that was very modest, and it happened during the course of a weekend.

I think it's possible for you to at least attempt the challenge. There's an active support group where you could find help and advice, and it just happens to be frequented by one ot the all time great Sibelius Plugin authors, Bob Zawalich, as well as others, so I'm pretty sure you'll get good advice as to what direction to move in, as well as how to structure and design it. But more importantly, they should be able to tell you what's NOT possible, so you won't waste a ton of time trying to do just that.

Re: Sib. 6.x: Can I create a
Posted by Jim Druckenmiller - 24 Apr 07:04AM

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On a separate note... I remember a plug-in which came out a while ago and it was essentially some sort of shortcut to rerun the last action you did in Sibelius.

I can't recall it's name, and I haven't found it yet, but I'll keep looking for a while, and report back if I do find it this evening.

I figured I'd mention it just in case others might remember, or perhaps you'll stumble upon it yourself.

Re: Sib. 6.x: Can I create a
Posted by André van Haren - 25 Apr 11:33AM

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Hi Jim, thanks for the fast reply.
I tried to write a Sibelius plugin some months ago but I think it's not for me. I cannot get the hang of it so I hope that someone else could take up this challenge.

The first thing I always do when opening a new score that needs to be finalised, is importing the house style that I created for my publisher according to their layout rules. After that I unlock the score, do a Reset Design, Position, and Note Spacing. After that a Reset Space Above Staff, Reset Space Below Staff and an Optimise staff spacing. These are 7 steps, It would be so nice to be able to do this in one step...

Re: Sib. 6.x: Can I create a
Posted by Kenneth Gaw - 26 Apr 05:14PM

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Try creating a new plugin and entering these few lines code accurately in the run method. This works on Sibelius 7. Perhaps you could test it for me on Sibelius 6. It does all of the things you wanted except import the house style and unlock the format. I don't think it is generally useful enough to submit to for inclusion on the Sibelius website. I would probably use keyboard shortcuts in this situation instead.

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Re: Sib. 6.x: Can I create a
Posted by Bob Zawalich - 27 Apr 10:21PM

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I have a couple of plugins that do most of this (all except Optimize Staves and Reset Design/Position). The plugins are Reset Spacing In Score and Parts and Tidy After Conversion.

I have been in contact with Richard and offered to add these features to the options.

I am setting them up as options, because it is really easy to totally mess up the layout of a score using these options.

I find that in many cases Optimize Staves messes up the first page of a score (conflicting with the title and other system text, even if done page by page). I don't really know what it is about the scores this happens to, but I suggest because careful with this option.

For Richard: Kenneth's code should work fine in both Sib 6 and 7; you way want to make up a plugin that uses the code until mine become available (or even always if you prefer a plugin that runs with no options).

--
Bob

Just a user of Sibelius. Sib 1.2 - 7, Windows 7 Pro SP 1 64 bit, 4 G RAM. Year 2014.

Re: Sib. 6.x: Can I create a
Posted by Bob Zawalich - 01 May 01:13AM

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Please see http://www.sibelius.com/cgi-bin/helpcenter/chat/chat.pl?com=thread&start=652155&groupid=3& for info on updates to Tidy After Conversion and reset Spacing In Score And Parts.

Kenneth: it would seem to me that a plugin like you one you show, which will just do these operations without having any options or dialogs could be a worthwhile thing. You might consider packaging it up and offering it for the download page.

Either of the updated plugins should perform the same actions, though.

--
Bob

Just a user of Sibelius. Sib 1.2 - 7, Windows 7 Pro SP 1 64 bit, 4 G RAM. Year 2014.

Re: Sib. 6.x: Can I create a
Posted by Kenneth Gaw - 05 May 03:57PM

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Bob,
I think you are right about it being quite useful. I found myself using it when tidying up parts. I'm working on something else at the moment which is nearly ready, so I'll send them both to Sam when I'm finished.

Re: Sib. 6.x: Can I create a
Posted by Bob Zawalich - 05 May 05:44PM

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Kenneth - personally, I might tend to prefer a version that does not do Reset Design, but only Reset Position, because I find that it is relatively rare for Reset Design to not change something into something unrecognizable, and if you are not going to have options, it might be safer to just do the other stuff. But it's your call, of course.

--
Bob

Just a user of Sibelius. Sib 1.2 - 7, Windows 7 Pro SP 1 64 bit, 4 G RAM. Year 2014.

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Messages in this thread

Sib. 6.x: Can I create a "combo" keyboard short... - André van Haren, 24 Apr 05:21AM

Re: Sib. 6.x: Can I create a - Jim Druckenmiller, 24 Apr 06:44AM

Re: Sib. 6.x: Can I create a - Jim Druckenmiller, 24 Apr 07:04AM

Re: Sib. 6.x: Can I create a - André van Haren, 25 Apr 11:33AM

Re: Sib. 6.x: Can I create a - Kenneth Gaw, 26 Apr 05:14PM

Re: Sib. 6.x: Can I create a - Bob Zawalich, 27 Apr 10:21PM

Re: Sib. 6.x: Can I create a - Bob Zawalich, 01 May 01:13AM

Re: Sib. 6.x: Can I create a - Kenneth Gaw, 05 May 03:57PM

Re: Sib. 6.x: Can I create a - Bob Zawalich, 05 May 05:44PM