importing MusicXML in Sibelius 5

• Jul 24, 2013 - 03:25

I don't know if anyone here will be able to help me with this, as it's got more to do with Sibelius than Musescore. I wanted to post about it on the Sibelius Forums, but I can't remember my sign in details so that's out of the question until I recall which of my umpteen email accounts I signed up with :|
So my only option really is to post here and hope someone is familiar with Sibelius.

I downloaded the free MuseScore plugin to enable Sibelius 5 to export XML files. I exported some of my Sibelius scores using it, and they open fine in MuseScore, but when I try to open them in Sibelius I get "Fatal error: Invalid document structure at line 574943, column 574943. Sibelius cannot load this file"
The weird thing is, when I put the file into a text editor to see what was going on at line 574943, I discovered the line DIDN'T EVEN EXIST - it only goes up to line 110000! Why do you think this is happening? From what I've heard, Sibelius 5 should be able to import XML files no problem.


Comments

There is no MuseScore plugin to enable Sibelius 5 to export XML files. The plugin you are mentioning is the Dolet plugin, produced by MakeMusic http://www.musicxml.com/dolet-plugin/
Since MuseScore is able to import the MusicXML, it's apparently not a Musescore issue. If I understand correctly you have the Sibelius 5 file already right? So why do you want to open the MusicXML file back in Sibelius?

In reply to by [DELETED] 5

No, there is a small plugin specifically designed to make it possible to export Sibelius files in a format that is compatible with MuseScore. I downloaded it at the time I downloaded MuseScore, I forget where, but it was somewhere official in relation to MuseScore, as I far as I recall. I'm fully aware this is a Sibelius issue not a MuseScore one, but as I said I can't log in to the Sibelius forums (I really, really can't...it's a long story.) so the only place I can ask for help is here.

The situation is rather complicated. I'm a Mac user and have been using Sibelius for years - I love it, especially the sound library. However, my laptop is about to die and I want to get a laptop with Linux as my next computer, so my only music notation option is MuseScore. I have an iMac which I will be able to run Sibelius on, but I like to be able to work on scores on my laptop. So my plan is to notate in MuseScore on my laptop running Linux and then, when it's finished and I want to create a beautiful audio file, transfer it to the iMac and put it into Sibelius for final touches.

The weird thing is since posting this I've realised it doesn't appear to be possible to export MuseScore files in any format other than MuseScore's own format. Please correct me if I'm wrong, but if this is the case, then my whole plan is ruined :( It does seem bizarre though that MuseScore uses XML format, yet won't export it.

In reply to by Jojo-Schmitz

FYI only Sibelius 7 has XML export built in. I'm using Sibelius 5.

I have successfully export XML files from MuseScore now, and these open in Sibelius without errors and look quite good, despite being a newer version of XML than Sibelius is meant to be compatible with. I think I could live with this arrangement.
However, there is still this problem with the XML files exported from Sibelius. I have a copy of MuseScore on my Macbook and I'm able to open them there, but when I email the file to my VM running Linux (which is currently the only way I can transfer files between the two), when I download the attachment it's only 3 bytes when it's meant to be several megabytes, and I can't open it, so obviously there is an error. I suspect the error started on Sibelius's end since it can't open its own exports. It's a mystery why my Mac copy of Musescore can. There may be an additional layer of trouble with Linux vs. Mac.

I know this is a ridiculously convoluted issue and I appreciate you all trying to help.

In reply to by dbaker

3 bytes it's too small. So the MusicXML file you are opening on your Mac is not the same than the one you are trying to open on linux.... You have a problem with your mailing procedure. Try to transfer the file by another mean like a USB key, a shared volume etc...

In reply to by dbaker

I think your memory may be failing you regarding a MuseScore-specific plugin for Sibelius. I seriously doubt such a thing ever existed. Just the normal MusicXML export plugin, which previously you had to buy but as of a year or so ago became free I believe. If you installed something other than the regular run of the mill plugin to allow Sibelius to export MusicXMl, perhaps that is the source of your problem, and you should uninstall that and install the regular one (which I believe is the one called Dolet, although I don't know for sure if that is what it would have been called when Sibelius 5 came out years ago).

To export musicXMl from MuseScorw, see File / Save As and the file type drop down at the bottom of the dialog. In future releases, this will move to File / Export where it belongs.

You may find that MusicXML loses a little too much information actually give you better playback. It will depend on the score. But are you aware it is possible to vastly improve MuseScore's own playback? See for example Soundfont in the Handbook. Simply insalling the free FluidR3 soundfont goes a long way toward bring the quality of MuseScore's playback closer to that of Sibelius. I'd actually rate FluidR3 *better* than Sibelius' default overall, especially with older versions of Sibelius such as you apparently are using. But if you are using Sibelius with a separate VSTi playback facility or the like, then it may inded be better still. And even with the Sibelius defaults, it probably does handle some things better than MuseScore, like maybe it gets crescendos and slurs right. MuseScore can handle escendos partially if you install and use the appropriate plugin (see menu at right of this page).

In reply to by Shoichi

Actually, I didn't realise the Dolet was free now! Obviously Google is failing me if the only information I can find is several years old.
The plugin I downloaded shows up in my Plugins menu as 'MuseScore converter' with 'MusicXML export' in a submenu. Having downloaded the one you linked to, it shows up as 'MusicXML export' without any submenus in my plugins menu. When I run it, it does EXACTLY the same thing as the 'MuseScore converter', and by that I mean EXACTLY - I suspect the 'MuseScore converter' is a rip-off of MusicXML export, repackaged inside a containing folder.

I have now tried exporting XMLs using the plugin you linked to and am getting exactly the same error as before.

In reply to by [DELETED] 5

I'm pretty sure I'm not the one who put it in a directory called MuseScore converter. When I downloaded it, it was already in one. It's certainly the same plugin though (and yes, it's not a converter...)
It's really weird that it doesn't work. There is nothing strange about the file when opened in a text editor. It must be something 'invisible' that's corrupted.

In reply to by dbaker

And this happens even when you don't email the file (which apparently is turning it into only 3 bytes)? That is, one a single machine, fire up Sibelius, open a score, export to MusicXML, immediately try to import that file you just exported? All scores or just some? Could you post a (hopefully short) sample?

As a workaround, what about importing the file in MsueScore, exporting again,k then importing *that* into Sibelius?

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