IWBNI it were possible to specify the information that is to be included on the status bar for the purpose of display and editing. As it is now, the information that is displayed on the status bar cannot be configured by the user and such information cannot be edited.

This feature would allow one to display and edit specified fields of data that are associated with a selected item without requiring one to display the dialog box on which such fields are normally displayed and edited.

This could be implemented by adding a menu item called Configure Status Bar to the View menu. This menu item would display a new dialog box called Configure Status Bar that could contain the following controls:

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Configure Status Bar Dialog Box
 
 

Tool	Status Bar for Selected Object
Expression	H,V,POT
Articulation	N
Tuplet	LE,RE
MIDI	ST,SP,V

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For each tool, the user could specify a sequence of controls that are to be displayed on the status bar. For example, in the table shown here, the command string "H,V,POT" specifies that whenever an expression is selected, the status bar should contain the following controls: a text box for the horizontal position (H), a text box for the vertical position (V) and a list box for the playback option type (POT). Similarly, the command string "N" specifies that whenever an articulation is selected, the status bar should contain a text box for the articulation number (N), and the command string "LE,RE" specifies that whenever a tuplet is selected, the status bar should contain a text box for the left extension (LE) and a text box for the right extension (RE). Finally, the command string "ST,SP,V" specifies that whenever a note handle is selected within the split screen of the MIDI tool, the status bar should contain a text box for the start time (ST), stop time (SP) and velocity (V). These controls would have the same effect as the corresponding controls on the Text Expression Designer, Shape Expression Designer, Articulation Designer, Tuplet Definition, and Edit MIDI Note dialog boxes.

Note: If it is not technically feasible to dynamically embed such controls in the status bar, then, as an alternative, these controls could be placed in a small toolbar or on a modeless dialog box which may be displayed at all times.

Created: June 5, 2000
Last Updated: June 5, 2000
Version: Finale 2000b