ABC2Win Beta C    Download

I am very grateful to the many users who have reported on their experiences and problems with the earlier beta versions. Please keep them coming. I'm hopeful that we are near the end.

Users of windows 98se and earlier versions are likely to find that the beta is unstable.

Playback of ABC notation has changed for the better in the new version of ABC2Win. A full description of playback options and setup is available on the player setup page.

To send feedback on the beta, or to be added to the beta mailing list: write to:  betanew at abc2win.com

BETA C (version 02.02.124) released March 6, 2006. No Expiration Date.

This latest version includes a button on The Music Page which can be used to draw additional pages after the first page if sufficient tunes are selected in the Page List box on the Select Tunes window.

BETA B (version 02.02.122) released February 21, 2006 -- Expires March 15, 2006

When entering notation, some users encountered a problem with the save button receiving the focus when it should have remained in the control in which they had just typed the first letter. Happily, this was fixed. Here's hoping that there are no more of these.

BETA A (version 02.02.119) released January 30, 2006 and February 1, 2006

The second release here addressed files which had consecutive line feeds followed by a carriage return for a line end. This is rare enough that I have not called this a new beta release.

BETA 9 (version 02.02.115) released January 22, 2006

Now have eliminated problem where a tune file rewritten under a new name was not completely repaired. The rewrite occurs when lines are detected that exceed the maximum length given in the Options menu. However, lines which were not a part of the abc notation were rewritten at full length. When the new file was opened, these lines would again prompt for a new file name.  (Thanks for CP for reporting this.)

Added additional error checks to handle cases where a font name is given in the .ini file or in the initial installation and the font does not exist on the computer where abc2win is running.

BETA 8 (version 02.02.109) released December 24, 2005

Persons using the beta for the first time could not successfully run the program. This was reported as an abc2win.ini incompatibility. I regret any inconvenience this may have caused.

BETA 7 (version 02.02.106) released December 12, 2005

Conditions which could result in faulty printer and screen rendering of tunes have been corrected. Poor spacing of a grace note tied to a following note has addressed

BETA 6 (versions 02.02.0085) IS AVAILABLE -- Posted December 3, 2005

A problem with saving tunes in the page list to a new or existing file has been corrected. This was causing an error message or incomplete file output.

Minor fine tuning has been undertaken.

PLAYBACK -- Three Choices

Three players work with the present beta:  ABCPlay [link], ABCMus [link] and the old PlayQABC DOS program [details] [download] which was used with ABC2Win in years past. Specify the player to use in Options > Set Folder for Tune Files, File Size, and Playback Options.

BETA 5 (version 02.02.0082) IS NOW AVAILABLE  -- Posted November 11, 2005

A minor scaling problem in build 81 has been resolved. This caused drawn music which was about 1/2 normal size.

Builds 78 and 79 have been replaced to correct another problem with successive activation of windows. You would see this problem if you minimized and restored the windows.

I've also corrected a failure to correctly report a missing player and a problem in initializing the file length in the Options settings.

This version of the ABC2Win versions 2.2 beta expires December 31, 2005.

The update addresses several problems identified and reported following the release of beta 4. These are some of the items which have been revised or repaired:

• The print button on The Music Page prints the tunes drawn on that page. Draw either the selected tunes on the Page List or individual tunes from the file, then print everything on the page using the print button (or menu) on The Music Page. (The Print button on the Select tunes page only prints the currently selected tunes.)
• Logic to reformat files with unusual line lengths or line ending characters which are not customary in ms Windows has been reworked. The program now allows you to specify the file name to use for the reformatted file, rather than renaming the input file.
• Some users saw an error in line 204; that has been identified and eliminated.
• Clicking on the X at the right of the window title bar on The Music Page or the Tune in ABC Notation window no longer closes the application. If you close the Select Tunes window, the entire application closes.
• Player specification and operation has been improved.
• The program now works with abcplay and with abcmus.
• The occasional problem with windows activating one another continuously (showed up as flickering) is resolved.
• The placement of up and down bow signs no longer clashes with other objects on the page as drawn.
• Resizing of the Select Tune window should no longer obscure the last line of the tune list. A problem with resizing of the Tune in ABC Notation window is also solved.

Download (filename is ABC2Win2-2 beta 5 setup.exe,  about 2.7 megabytes)

BETA 4 (version 02.02.0063) IS NOW AVAILABLE  -- Posted Sept.7, 2005

• Sorting the tune list (options ...) no longer crashes.
• Printing from the Music Page now only prints tunes visible on the page. Printing using the button on the Select Tunes window under the list, prints tunes selected in the page list.
• Player will play all tunes in the page list if activated from the play button under the list.
  
• Player now starts playing when launched. If it is closed, it will play again. If it remains open, it is necessary to hit the play button. The little window exists no longer.
  
• Adjusted stem heights for some beamed groups.
• Adjusted other minor items, including adding more toolbar tips.
• Added a copies button in the Select Tunes window. This is useful to set the page count. It doesn't print anything.
• This beta EXPIRES at the end of October.
  

BETA 3 expires in mid-September and is withdrawn

• Used additional test sets to check out drawing routines
• Solved problem that some characters were lost when in-line K:, L:, and M: inline elements were found
  
• Improved preservation of extra text in tune files such as comments preceding tunes and notes between tunes.
  
• Added option to reformat files lacking valid line end characters.
  
• Eased entry of player program location by using an explorer-like dialog box. More Player Information
  
• Minor changes to registration code handling
• Further adjustment of file format validation and change support. Corrects problems where editing is cumbersome
  
• Fixed failure to link properly to temp file used by abcplay.exe.

BETA 1 HAS EXPIRED, BETA 2 IS RETIRED

• Works with 32-bit windows versions including ME, XP, 2000, NT.  See note below regarding Windows 98 and earlier.
  
• Uses long file names
• Includes a few minor improvements
• Provides an interface for use with the midi player by Bernard Chenery -- ABCPlay which you must install separately from this web site: http://www.geocities.com/Nashville/8773/abcplay.htm. After you install the player, you should set its location in the dialog you can find by clicking on the menu in the Select Tunes window: Options > Set Folder for Tune Files, File size, and Playback Options.
  
• The beta can be installed and live side-by-side with your earlier installed version.
• Works with the same registration information as earlier versions.
  
• Uninstalls easily. If you install this new version beta, the old one will be automatically uninstalled.
  
• Your testing help and feedback on your experiences with the program will help make it better.

Using the beta in Windows 98 is not recommended.

• Phil reports a problem with installation on windows 98. Please do not install the beta in windows 98 or windows 98SE unless you have the ability to restore your settings and dlls if you have a problem.
  
• My testing with Windows 98 shows that the current beta may not install properly in that environment. The main abc2win pages provide downloads for the current production version with does work in Windows 98 as well as other Windows operating systems.
  

Send feedback to betanew at abc2win.com.

PLAYER INFORMATION
The beta links to the player by Bernard Chenery, which must be downloaded separately. After the download and install of the player, abc2win beta 3 must be pointed at the player program (ABCPLAY.EXE) using the Options menu > Directory, File Size, Playback Options ... Further changes to the player handling are planned. The first time you launch the player, it may ask you for information about the midi device you wish to use for playback. ABCPlay opens a dialog box (sometimes covered by other windows) in which you specify this.


Thanks for your help,
Jim

Updated this page, December 2007