In the Linux version, I am unable to add a new instrument to the instruments file.
I play a G clarinet (not any more rare than some of the instruments that appear in the instruments.xml file) and in Windows I have been able to edit the instruments.xml file and add it in to the options. No problem.
But in the Linux version (at least Ubuntu Linux) this file comes in a large number of translations, all of which come compiled in to machine coded .qm files, about which I have been able to learn essentially nothing. I first thought I could force the program to read the original .xml version, which is provided, but I have been unable to accomplish that by the methods that have occurred to me.
Any ideas on how to either make the program use the .xml version of the file or, alternatively, how to compile a modified version into .qm format?
Comments
On Windows too there are instruments_*.qm files, these contain the translations. But on Linux too there is an instruments.xml. in either program you can have 2 such XML files, put your G clarinet into such a 2nd file.
And provide us with the data, so we can include it not the next version. Transposition, amateur and professional range, clef(s), long and short name, sound, genre.
Hold on, G-Clarinet is in instruments.xml already, under Ethnic, it's been added 9 days ago to fix #213391: Instruments update Well, it will be in MuseScore 2.2 and also in 3.0, You can have 2.2 in form of a nightly build, see the bottom of our download page
Generally you shouldn't be trying to modified the supplied instruments.xml, you should be adding your own secondary one and telling MuseScore to use it via Edit / Preferences
In reply to Generally you shouldn't be… by Marc Sabatella
Ah, I had looked there, but apparently not thoroughly enough, to figure out how to add another file.
I did learn back in the '90s to always make a backup copy of a file before modifying it. ;)
Thank you, I've got it working now.
In reply to Ah, I had looked there, but… by Arnold Hennig
Right, but I'm not talking about just making a backup before modifying it - I am saying you shouldn't modify it at all. MuseScore allows you to load two separate instruments.xml files The default one should be left entirely alone. You should load your instruments.xml file in addition to the default, not instead of the default. So, leave the default entirely alone - don't back it up, don't make a copy of it, don't modify it. Simply create a new instrruments.xml file containing only your new instruments.xml, and specify this as the second file to load in Edit / Preferences / Score.
In reply to Right, but I'm not talking… by Marc Sabatella
I see, and the two are combined in system memory and used as one, correct? That's a good design.
Too bad I couldn't figure it out earlier. Some of this stuff is not particularly easy to find in the online version of the manual (no, I don't have a hard copy, so I can't speak for it). I hate to have to bother people to find it out, and I suppose it's there, but I did spend a fair amount of time on it before resorting to the forum. Thank you, all, for your help in figuring it out.
In reply to I see, and the two are… by Arnold Hennig
Many specific things are not obvious in the manual. You often have to use several different items in the manual to do certain things. Don't be afraid to ask for help. There are many people here willing to help.
In reply to Many specific things are not… by mike320
Thank you.