Group folding
When working with big scores, like orchestras, the instruments are arranged in groups, like woodwinds, voices, strings etc. The usual approach for someone who deals with such scores is to buy a big computer screen and turn it sideways, for example.
I think it would be useful if there's an easy way of toggling a group's visibility. Maybe I'm working with the strings, down below the score, and woodwinds, way up high. The inner section of the score have no use for me at the moment. So, I click somewhere near the left corner of the main screen, right over the group I wish to fold, and the corresponding staves become invisible until I toggle them on again. Something like a folding menu.
Comments
Edit/Instruments(or press 'I')-> uncheck Visible?
Yes, that would be useful. Meantime, make Parts comprising the different sections of the orchestra and it may help.
It might be useful to use View->Documents side by side (or possibly Documents stacked) from the menu. You don't have to have two documents open so you can use it to view two different parts of the score at the same time. You do have to manually scroll each section of the score though, but it might be less tedious than making parts of the score invisible to allow them to be on the screen at the same time.
I think this is a great idea. There are kludges but they are labour intensive.
In reply to I think this is a great idea… by xavierjazz
As I think more about this idea, it strikes me that it could be a facility like muting and soloing in the audio mixer.
I think images are better to explain what I'm talking about. It's an interface change, not the addition of a new feature.
In reply to I think images are better to… by Borale
I understand. It just struck me that there was a similarity in intent, to be able to select which sections are visible/invisible.
In reply to I think images are better to… by Borale
iirc QT does support a list tree structure which allows expanding and collapsing items, which will do what you want. The view/data framework QT uses is supposed to allow interface changes, such as a collapsable group, without disturbing the underlying data (functions). However, MuseScore has deliberately avoided using QT's 'special' signal/slot mechanism, so it might be more problematic to implement. I would also like this when playing a score because many times I can't see the instrument(s) notes that are actually playing.
In reply to I think images are better to… by Borale
With the work that's been done on the timeline for version 3, it appears that hiding and unhiding instruments will become as easy as a single click on an instrument while the timeline is visible, which can be all the time if you like. It can also be toggled with a single key. You will have to scroll a little in the timeline to see the instruments you want to make invisible in a large score, but it will be far easier than is currently possible.
I have been involved in discussions about being able to group instruments in a manner you are talking about, and I think it would be a small jump to be able to make all of the instruments in a group visible or invisible as needed like you are requesting. I have seen nothing that tells me this work is being done, but I don't test 3.0 nightlies yet.
In reply to With the work that's been… by mike320
Great.
Do the commercial programs feature this function?
https://musescore.org/en/node/260706#comment-804656