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With the Annotation Tools, you can annotate scores in the score viewer or opus window with
text, circles, arrows, etc. You can then save or print the modified scores.
Saving annotations
Annotation files are saved as .v2a files. All of the annotations for the score,
even if multiple pages are annotated, will be saved. Select File, then
select Save Annotation.
Opening annotations
You may open a saved annotated score by choosing Open -> Open Annotated
Score from the File menu of any Variations window. A score viewer will open.
Annotating your own scores
You can open and annotate an image located on your own computer (such as a scanned
score) by choosing File -> New -> Annotated Score. Acceptable image
file types include GIF, JPG, BMP, and TIF.
Printing annotations
To print score annotations, choose Print from the File menu and select
the pages you would like to print. To print a score without annotations, hide
your annotations before printing. Note: Highlights will print as an unfilled
rectangle.
Deleting annotations
Selecting Delete from the Annotation menu or clicking the delete key
on your keyboard will delete any selected annotations on the current page. You
currently cannot clear all annotations on all pages at once. Control-Z
will undo the last action.
Aligning annotations
You can use the Align options in the Annotation menu to reposition multiply
selected annotations. You can align their left sides, centers, right sides,
tops, middles, or bottoms.
Arranging annotations
Annotations are drawn in a layered format. You can adjust whether selected annotations
appear on top of or underneath other annotations by using the Arrange option
in the Annotation menu. Bring to Front puts the selected annotations
on top of the other annotations while Send to Back puts them underneath.
You can group sets of annotations by using the Group option in the Annotation
menu. Annotations that are grouped can be dragged as a group and will have their
properties changed as a group. You can ungroup annotations by selecting the
group and choosing Ungroup from the Annotations -> Group
submenu.
Opening the Annotation Tools
The annotation tools may be activated in the score viewer. On the
sidebar [left-hand side], there is an annotation box with two toggle buttons, Hide/Show Tools and
Hide/Show Annotations. By clicking on the Show Tools button, the annotation
tools will appear surrounding the score. The button will change to Hide Tools,
and clicking it again will hide them. This is the same for the Show/Hide annotation
button. However, hiding the annotations will also hide the tools. Hiding the
annotations will not delete or clear them.
The Annotation Toolbar
| Drawing Tools | ||
| Selection Tool |
 |
The selection tool is used to select, drag, and resize
annotations. When the mouse is over an annotation, a drag cursor will appear.
If you click on the annotation, selection handles will appear. You can resize
the annotation by dragging the selection handles. You can select multiple
annotations by clicking and dragging a box around them, or by holding down
the shift key while clicking on the annotations. The selection tool is the
default tool. |
| Line Tool |
 |
The Line Tool is used to make straight lines. To draw a
line, click where you want the line to begin, and then drag the mouse to
the place where it should end, and release the mouse button. |
| Arc Tool |
 |
The Arc Tool is used to make arcs. Arcs are created in
the same way as lines, with a single click-drag-release motion. You can
adjust the height and direction of the arc by dragging the selection handle
at the middle of the arc. |
| Bracket Tool |
 |
The Bracket Tool is used to make brackets. Brackets are
created in the same way as lines, with a single click-drag-release motion.
You can adjust the height and direction of the bracket by dragging the selection
handle at the middle of the bracket. You can adjust the length and direction
of the bracket ends by dragging the selection handles on the ends. |
| Ellipse Tool |
 |
The Ellipse tool is used to make circles and ellipses.
To create an ellipse, click on the screen and drag diagonally. To create
a circle, hold down the shift key while dragging. |
| Rectangle Tool |
 |
The Rectangle Tool is used to make squares and rectangles.
To create a rectangle, click on the screen and drag diagonally. To create
a square, hold down the shift key while dragging. To adjust the roundedness
of the rectangle's corners, drag the yellow handle in the upper left-hand
corner of a selected rectangle. |
| Polygon Tool |
 |
The Polygon Tool is used to make closed polygons. To create
a polygon, click on the screen to place the first point. Each successive
click will add a new point to the polygon, increasing the number of sides.
To create the final point (and stop using the polygon tool), just double-click.
A completed polygon may be resized and rotated by dragging the yellow handle
found in one of its corners. |
| Polyline Tool |
 |
The Polyline Tool is used to make polylines. Polylines
are created in the same way as polygons, with each successive click adding
a new point to the shape. To create the final point (and stop using the
polyline tool), just double-click. |
| Pencil tool |
 |
The Pencil Tool is used to make freehand line drawings.
To create a freehand drawing, click on the screen and drag the mouse. The
line will follow your mouse moves. Release the mouse button to end your
drawing. |
| Highlighter Tool |
 |
The Highlighter Tool can be used to highlight parts or
sections of music. To create a highlight, click and drag a rectangle over
the area to be highlighted. You may change the color of a selected highlight
by choosing a new highlight color from the Properties Toolbar found above
the score. |
| Connection Tool |
 |
The Connection Tool can be used to connect two annotations
with a line. To connect two annotations, click on the first shape, then
drag the mouse onto the second shape and release. If one of the linked annotations
is later dragged to a new location, the connecting line will automatically
adjust itself to maintain the connection. To change which two annotations
are connected, select the connecting line and adjust one of the green selection
handles at the ends by repositioning it over the desired annotation. |
| Elbow Connection Tool |
 |
The Elbow Connection Tool is similar to the Connection
Tool, but it has a bend in the middle that can be adjusted. |
| Text tool |
 |
The Text Tool is used to add text to a score page. To create
a text box of a particular size, click and drag a box. Single-clicking will
create a text box of a default size. A cursor will appear in the box allowing
you to type in text. To finish editing the text, click anywhere outside
of the text box. To edit the text later, just click on the text. A border
with selection handles will appear. You may reposition the text box by dragging
the text box border. You may adjust the size of the text box by dragging
the selection handles. You may alter properties of the text (such as the
font face and font size) by using the Properties Toolbar, described below.
(You currently cannot edit the properties of individual characters in the
text box-all property changes are applied to the whole text box). |
|
Label Tools The label tools provide a quick and easy way to attach certain commonly used labels to a score. To attach a label, select one of the label buttons and click on the score. To change the label's text, select the label and choose the desired label text using the drop-down controls that appear. The label text is also editable: position the cursor within the text part of the label to insert or delete text. To reposition the label, position the cursor over the label when it is not selected, then click and drag it. The individual label tools are described below. (One application of the label tools for instructors might be to attach labels to a score beforehand and have students choose the correct label text in class.) |
||
| Non-Chord-Tone Labels |
 |
This set of labels can be used to label non-chord tones
in a score. The abbreviations stand for Appoggiatura (APP), Anticipation
(ANT), Escape Tone (ET), Pedal Tone (PED), Passing Tone (PT), Neighbor Group
(N GR), Neighbor Tone (NT) Retardation (RET), and Suspension (SUS). Note
that for suspensions, you may edit the label's text by adding 9-8 or 7-6,
etc. before the word "SUS". |
| Cadence Labels |
 |
This set of labels can be used to label
cadence types. The abbreviations stand for Perfect Authentic Cadence (PAC),
Imperfect Authentic Cadence (IAC), Half Cadence (HC), Plagal Cadence (Plagal)
and Phrygian Cadence (Phyrgian). |
| Phrase Labels |
 |
This set of labels can be used to attach
lower-case phrase labels to a score. Note that you can add additional primes
(e.g. a'') or letters (e.g. x, y, z) by typing directly into the label. |
| Formal Labels |
 |
This set of labels can be used to attach
upper-case formal labels to a score. Note that you can add additional primes
(e.g. A'') or letters (e.g. X, Y, Z) by typing directly into the label. |
| Sonata Form Labels |
 |
This set of labels can be used to quickly label the parts of sonata form
in a score. |
| Scale Degree Labels |
 |
This set of labels can be used to attach scale
degrees to notes in the score. (If the music symbol font CSTimes is not
installed on your machine, these will appear as "^1", etc.) Note that you
may add sharps and flats before the scale degrees by typing directly into
the label. |
| Key Labels |
 |
This set of labels can be used to attach
key descriptors to a score. (Instructors might attach this label below the score where
students need to determine the key). |
| Roman Numeral Labels |
 |
This set of labels can be used to attach basic roman numerals
to a score. Note that you can add inversion symbols to the Roman numeral
by typing directly into the label. If the music symbol font CSTimes is
installed on your computer, you should also be able to add the special
figured bass characters and musical symbols contained in that font. (See
your CSTimes documentation for more information). |
Locking Tools On
Normally when you finish creating an annotation, the tool you are using is deactivated
and the default tool (the selection tool) is activated. You can also lock a
tool on, allowing you to create multiple annotations of a single type rapidly,
by double-clicking on a tool button in the toolbar. For example, when the ellipse
tool is locked on, each click initiates a new ellipse shape. To unlock a tool,
select any other tool or click on the selection tool.
Creating Default-sized
Annotations
With some of the tools, you can create a default-sized annotation by single-clicking
rather than click-dragging. For example, when the ellipse tool is selected,
you can click on a notehead to circle it. The default sizes cannot currently
be adjusted. Other tools with this capability are the line tool, the arc tool,
the bracket tool, the rectangle tool, and the text tool.
The Properties Toolbar
The properties toolbar has two states (shape properties or text properties),
depending on the type of annotation you have selected or the tool that is selected.
If an annotation or set of annotations are selected, all property changes will
be applied to those annotations. If nothing is selected, any property changes
you make will become the default properties for future annotations.
Shape Properties
If you select one of the shape annotations or click on one of the drawing tools,
the shape properties will appear.
| Left Arrow End |
Control This control lets you change the arrow type for
the left end of a shape. Closed shapes (like squares or rectangles) do not
have this property. |
| Line Style Control |
This control lets you change the line style of a shape,
such as solid line, dotted line, etc. |
| Right Arrow End Control |
This control lets you change the arrow type for the right
end of a shape. |
| Line Width Control |
This control lets you change the line width of a shape.
|
| Line Color Control |
This control lets you change the line color of a shape.
Choose a color from the drop-down menu or choose "More…"
for more color options. |
| Highlight Color Control |
This control lets you change the color of a highlight. |
Text Properties
If you select one of the text or label annotations or click on one of the text
or label tools, the text properties will appear.
| Font Control |
This control lets you change the font face of a text box
or label. |
| Font Size Control |
This control lets you change the font size of a text box
or label. |
| Bold, Italic, and Underline Controls |
These controls allow you to set the bold, italic, or underline
property of a text box or label |
| Font Color Control |
This control lets you change the font color of a text box
or label. Choose a color from the drop-down menu or choose "More…"
for more color options. |
| Text Alignment Controls |
These controls allow you to align the text to the left, right or justified. |
Samples
Visit the Samples Page for a list of samples to practice using the annotation tools.