Mouse-Free Functionality to Attach Articulations and Expressions to Notes
IWBNI it were possible to attach articulations and expressions to notes without using the mouse. As it is now, one must use the mouse to attach these objects to a note.
The type-into-score interface that is associated with the chord tool could be used as a model.
For articulations, this feature could be implemented by inserting an Articulation menu item into the main menu when the Articulation tool is selected. A menu item called Type Into Score could be added to the Articulation menu.
When Type Into Score is selected and a note is clicked, the list of articulations that are attached to the current note could be displayed as a character string above the note in the same way as an attached chord symbol is displayed. Articulations would continue to be positioned by using settings specified on the Articulation Designer dialog box. Existing articulation metatools (i.e. user-defined one-key equivalents for articulations) could be used to specify articulations that are to be attached to the current note. A menu item called Articulation>Show Metatool Keys could be added to allow one to specify that metatool key letters should be displayed in place of the articulation symbols in the string used for editing.
The following keystrokes could be supported:
| Keystroke | Action |
| spacebar, tab, shift+right arrow | Move to next note |
| shift+spacebar, shift+tab, shift+left arrow | Move to previous note |
| left arrow | Move to previous articulation for the current note |
| right arrow | Move to next articulation for the current note |
| articulation metatool | Attach the associated articulation to the current note. The articulation is inserted into the list at the position of the caret. |
| delete, back space | Delete an articulation from the list of those attached to the current note |
| enter | Accept changes to the current note |
| esc | Discard changes to the current note |
Similar functionality could be added to the expression tool by adding a menu item called Type Into Score to the Expression menu.
Created: February 13, 2000 (based on a submission from Andrew Stiller)
Last Updated: February 13, 2000
Version: Finale 2000b