How to change file extension to open backup score?
The Help article "How to recover a backup copy of a score" at https://musescore.org/en/node/52116 says to "remove the trailing comma (this is the vital part) and the leading dot". Please, how does one remove the trailing comma? When I select the file, right click, and choose "Rename", all that is available for editing is the ".filename" without the ".mscz,"extension. When I rename the file from ".filename" to "filename.mscz", MuseScore 2.3.2 perceives it as "filename.mscz.mscz," and is unable to open it. How to access the file extension for editing? I am using Windows 7. Thank you!
| Attachment | Size |
|---|---|
| Votes_for_WomenReclaimed.mscz.mscz, | 26.6 KB |
Comments
The way that always works is to
open the file manager
right click the file
select properties
edit the name in the properties window
click OK
Tell windows you really want to do it when it gives you the warning
Right click->rename->Right arrow to the end->Backspace
In reply to Right click->rename->Right… by Shoichi
Right, and then dismiss the warning Windows gives you about the possibility that changing the extension may render the file unreadable
Methods given here with right click work but there is (slightly) simpler.
1) make sure windows displays file extensions.
This option should always be activated anyway to make a better distinction than by icon only between file extensions.
2) click on the file to select it
3) once selected press f2
The name is selected with a cursor and you can rename. By default Windows hasn't selected the extension part but nothing prevents you to type there as well.
If you prefer, once the file is selected, instead of pressing f2, you can also just click again on the file it will also go in rename mode.
Attention click with a very small delay after you have selected the file, do not double click to select and rename. Double click opens the file instead.
In reply to Methods given here with… by frfancha
Now you you could also ask why isn't MuseScore able to open these backup files readonly and is this manual rename necessary?
In reply to Now you you could also ask… by frfancha
The answer would be, so people don't accidentally open their backup files and wonder why they've lost so much work (or worse, not notice they opened their backup files and not realize they've lost work until too late).
In reply to The answer would be, so… by Marc Sabatella
Except that it would be readonly and clearly displayed as backup file in the title bar.
And would enable user to quickly open and check its content to see if going back to backup version is worth it or not.
Much better than the current play with name in file system.
In reply to Except that it would be… by frfancha
If it's read-only, the next FAQ we get on the forum is "why can't I make changes to my score". I see this as trading one set of problems for another. But if that's the standard for how other applications tend to do it, we could certainly consider it as well.
In reply to If it's read-only, the next… by Marc Sabatella
Ok I hear what you say, so probably better than simply allowing file>open to open backup files, one should add a menu entry file>openbackup
Then no confusion can occur.
Keeping it readonly though and requiring "save as" action to save, otherwise that would defeat the purpose of backup.
In reply to If it's read-only, the next… by Marc Sabatella
Here's another voice for treating it as an import, perhaps as suggested some extra indication/notification (different tab color?) handling this.
Thanks to all who weighed in! The first few suggestions did not work for me at first, as I was unaware of the possibility or the means to "1) make sure windows displays file extensions", as frfrancha instructed. This was the key. Having already taken a related step to show hidden files, thus revealing the backup files, I was able to figure out how and I'm sharing it here in hopes of helping others. I'm using Windows 7.
Left click Windows icon at lower left corner of screen
Control Panel
Appearance and Personalization
Folder Options
Show hidden folders and files
Uncheck Hide extensions for known file types
In reply to Thanks to all who weighed in… by KARhoda
All part of https://musescore.org/en/node/52116
In reply to All part of https:/… by Jojo-Schmitz
Not quite! That document, the starting point for my inquiry, is invaluable, but neither includes nor points to instructions on how to remove the comma. Had it done so, I would have had no need to ask. The backup score file extension ".mcsz," is not part of the editable file name when default settings are in play, as frfrancha's input made clear. I'm grateful that the conversation here, while not answering my question directly, pointed me in the right direction.
In reply to Not quite! That document,… by KARhoda
Hmm, OK, maybe then it is time to clarify that document. Feel free to have a go at that
In reply to Hmm, OK, maybe then it is… by Jojo-Schmitz
How would a new forum member go about doing so, please? I see no opportunity for comment/feedback on that How To document.
In reply to How would a new forum member… by KARhoda
You can edit it, via the ... menu, in a wiki like fashion
In reply to You can edit it, vie the … by Jojo-Schmitz
Thank you very much! I see it at https://musescore.org/en/community-documentation and will follow up.