Figured Bass Notation

• Jan 25, 2021 - 22:32

Whilst using the figured bass mode, I have encountered a few possible improvements that I believe would improve the usability of the feature even more. Firstly, I would suggest making the accidentals stored in the palettes-section applicable to the figured bass symbols as well. It would allow for the accidentals to be either dragged to the notation when not selected or to be able to include them when editing the notation by clicking on the desired accidental. In use, I would suggest the following:
User drags and drops accidental on figured bass symbol > Accidental is placed beside the symbol
Being in editing mode and clicking on an accidental in the left hand panel > Accidental is placed in the figured bass editing mode.
I believe that this would
1) allow first-time users to include accidentals in their figured bass notation without having to look up the shortcuts to include the accidentals
2) Allow users that include accidentals by dragging and dropping them on the desired note to do so on the figured bass symbol as well.
Secondly, I would like to suggest a few shortcuts:
When the figured bass symbol has been selected, either by clicking on it once or having moved there with the alt+-> command, the shortcut to enter the editing mode is alt+shift+E. My first intuition to enter the editing mode (not only for figured bass notation, but for other text elements as well) was to use some combination with Shift. As I presume the combination alt+shift is not being used yet, I would suggest it being used to enter editing mode.
Thirdly, when moving through the notes with the alt+arrow command, one can move vertically through the different voices. Intuitively, I assumed that when the lowest note is selected, the shortcut alt+downwardsarrow would bring me to the already written figured bass symbol below. As this is not the case, I would suggest implementing the shortcut to do this.
I’d be thankful for feedback and would love to hear if anyone had similar ideas concerning this topic.


Comments

I'm not understand the suggestion about wanting to use the palette just to enter an accidental - are you saying you prefer this to simply typing "b" or "#"? So use the palette to enter the accidental, type for everything else? That seems a step backwards to me, but maybe I am misunderstanding.

As for edit mode, the normal way to get there is double-click. The Alt+Shift+E command wouldn't normally be used except on systems with no mouse (or people who cannot easily use nice, like blind musicians). In that case, you can customize the "edit element" command to be something simpler if you like, in Edit / Preferences / Shortcuts.

The Alt+Up/Down shortcuts you mention are specifically designed just to move through notes. To move through all symbols (just about), use Alt+Left/Right.

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