Open discussion: moving note by half tone should use existing alteration, ... or not?
My example: score is G minor.
In a bar with f#, a subsequent g should be f# instead.
I change it by down arrow and get a g flat.
Wouldn't it be more natural ( ;-) ) knowing that f is sharp in this bar to proposes a f# ?
Of course question can then be how do you do if you really need a g flat.
Comments
Currently, the rule is to prefer flats on the way down, sharps on the way up, but also to prefer the spelling in the key signature. So in G major, the F# would happen automatically, and it would take an extra step (pressing "J") to change to Gb. In G minor, though, the F# is not in the key signature, so the "prefer flats" rule wins. It would not be impossible to alter the algorithm to also consider accidental state for the measure and to prefer those spellings. Not sure it would always be advisable, though. Consider, a chromatic passage ascending and descending (like say C-C#-D-D#-E-Eb-D-Db-C), you'd really want the "sharps up, flats down" to win.