Exchanging notes between two staves with a "Swap" edit command
I've really wished for this feature - an easy way to swap multiple measures of notes and other markings between two staves. Sometimes you decide, for example, that some measures that Flute 1 is playing should be played by Flute 2 (or perhaps an oboe or someone else) and vise versa.
Currently I do this by creating a third temporary stave (using the create instruments function) and then copying the contents of the stave 1 measures to be swapped into it. Then I erase stave 1. Next, I copy stave 2 and paste into stave 1. Then I erase stave 2. Finally I move the notes from the temporary stave into Stave 2. Swap accomplished! Oops, not quite done yet - now I have to delete the temporary stave.
As you can see, this is slow and error prone. It is easy to lose concentration for a moment and then accidentally wipe out a part.
Comments
Use the Swap with Clipboard command that was introduced in version 2.1. Select a region and copy (or cut), select the destination and press Ctrl+Shift+x. This will copy a region the same size as the clipboard and the contents of the clipboard will be pasted at the destination. You can then paste the clipboard to the original spot or swap with another location.
As with cut, copy and paste this is available on the edit menu and the speed menu (that you get when you right click).
In reply to Use the Swap with Clipboard… by mike320
Thanks. Your method does work, and is a bit faster and easier than my procedure. With some practice, swaps can be accomplished quickly. I still think a "one click" swap feature would be nice. It could work like this:
1) select an area of the score where the swap will occur.
2) Hit the new "Swap" button in the edit menu.
3) Note and markings are swapped between the top and bottom staves in the selection area.
In reply to Thanks. Your method does… by jayW
That would only work for the special case when the areas to be swapped happen on adjacent staves and happen to start at the same time position. That's probably a very small percentage of all swaps. To me, not worth adding a new special command just to save two keystrokes.
In reply to That would only work for the… by Marc Sabatella
In my proposed Swap function, the selection box could cover any number of staves, and the swap would occur between the top and bottom staves , while the in-between staves remain unaffected. The swap would not be limited to adjacent staves.
I agree, this function would be not used much, but when I have needed it in my own work, having this simple swap command would have been really nice.