No. 565

Shortcuts to Jump to and Select the Previous or Next Object of a Given Type

IWBNI there were keyboard shortcuts (e.g. the Tab and Shift+Tab keys) that could be used to jump to and select the previous and next object of a given type.

When preparing a score, many prefer to edit all occurrences of a given type of object or a given property of a given type of object, at once, and then move on to another object or object property. This approach can be efficient and can result in few errors because one focuses on a single object or object property at a time. For example, one might adjust the position of various objects in the following order:

  1. Adjust the position of short ties and ultra-short ties.
  2. Adjust the horizontal and vertical position of all glissando tips.
  3. Adjust the vertical position of articulations.
  4. Place tuplet brackets on the correct side (above or below staff).
  5. Adjust tuplet extension lengths.
  6. Adjust the vertical position of tuplet numbers and brackets.
  7. Re-enter all slurs in page view (because contour is a function of spacing).
  8. Adjust the contour of all slurs across system breaks.
  9. Adjust the horizontal position of all expression markings (e.g. sul tasto).
  10. Adjust the vertical position of all expression markings (e.g. sul tasto).
  11. Adjust the horizontal position of all dynamic markings.
  12. Adjust the vertical position of all dynamic markings.
This could be implemented by allowing one to use the Tab and Shift+Tab keys to jump to the next and previous object of a given type, respectively. For example, suppose the articulation tool has been selected and the handle of a given articulation has been selected (i.e. the handle of the articulation is black). If the Tab key is pressed, the view would be adjusted automatically so that the next articulation in the score is brought into view and this next articulation would be selected automatically. Similarly, the Shift+Tab key would jump to and select the previous articulation.

There could be several options associated with this functionality. A menu item called Seek Options could be added to the Edit menu. This menu item would display a new dialog box called Seek Options that could contain the following controls:

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Seek Options Dialog Box

Search Direction:
( ) Measures: Search All Staves of Current Measure, Then Search Next Measure
( ) Staves: Search All Measures of Current Staff, Then Search Next Staff

Tab Key Functionality:
( ) Jump To and Select Handle
( ) Alternately Jump To and Select Handle

Object Qualifiers:
 
Tool Object Qualifier
Expression N=9-12
Tuplet B
Articulation N=10,11
Smart Shape Slur SB
Crescendo  

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Search Direction:

The Search Direction controls could be used to specify whether the search should proceed through the next staves in the current measure (i.e. the measure that contains the object that is currently selected) before moving to the next measure, or it should proceed through the next measure in the current staff (i.e. the staff that contains the object that is currently selected) before moving to the next staff.

Tab Key Functionality:

The Tab Key Functionality controls could be used to specify the functionality associated with the Tab (and Shift+Tab) key. For example, suppose the articulation tool has been selected and the handle of a given articulation has been selected. If the radio button Jump To and Select Handle is selected and the Tab key is pressed, the view would be adjusted automatically so that the next articulation in the score is brought into view and this next articulation would be selected automatically. If the radio button Alternately Jump To and Select Handle is selected and the Tab key is pressed, the view would be adjusted automatically so that the next articulation in the score is brought into view. One would then press the Tab key again to select the handle of the found articulation.

Object Qualifier:

The Object Qualifier table would be used to specify the subset of objects of a given type that are to be found. For example, to find only expressions for which the expression number is in the range 9 through 12, one could enter "N=9-12" in the Object Qualifier column for the expression tool. This would allow one to distinguish between dynamic expressions such as ff or pp and tempo indications (e.g. quarter note equals 120) or instructions (e.g. sul tasto). Or, to find only those tuplets for which a bracket is displayed, one could enter "B" into the Object Qualifier column for the tuplet tool. A qualifier of "SB" could be used to find only the smart shape slurs that occur on a system break. A blank qualifier could be used to find all objects associated with a given tool.



Created: June 4, 2000
Last Updated: June 4, 2000
Version: Finale 2000b