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Selecting {Play}{Reading List...} or pressing [ The system is based upon the entry of measure sequences. Up to 48 such sequences can be added to the list. If you've entered 1-4, 2-3, 5-5, -- end -- in the Reading List, TablEdit will play the measures in the following order : 1 2 3 4 2 3 5. The system is not very sophisticated but very efficient. For example, an 8 bar repeat might look something like 1-8, 1-7, 9-9, end, where measure 8 is the 1st ending and measure 9 is the second ending for the section. To add a new sequence to the list, click on [>]. The new item will be inserted before the highlighted item in the list. To delete a sequence, select it in the list then click on [<]. The beginning and ending measures of the sequence are then displayed in the "From measure:" and "To measure:" fields, respectively. This is handy when you want to edit an incorrectly entered sequence. The scrollbar at the bottom of the allows you to scroll back and forth in the tablature to check your sequences. Any time you add or delete measures in the tab, TablEdit adjusts the Reading List automatically. The Reading List is saved with your tablature. [Zip] allows you to optimize your reading list automatically by consolidating unnecessary entries. Thus, two sequences entered as 1-4 and 5-8 are converted to a single entry of 1-8. This is necessary for correct display of the reading guides which are derived from the reading list. [Auto] allows the creation of a reading list based on an analysis of repeated measure in the piece. This function, although at present only rudimentary, can be of interest after MIDI import. The button is active only if the current piece doesn't already contain a reading list of its own. [Play] allows you to play through the tablature beginning with the selected sequence. As opposed to the "Play" function described under {Notes}{Play>}, playback of a tablature from the Reading List dialog does take into account all returns, section endings, etc. included in the list. Note! You can also insert return, repeat, Signo, da Signo, etc. markings manually. See the section on Endings & Repeats. A detailed example Let's have a look at the example shown in the illustration above. This is the playing order for a classical ragtime piece (Scott Joplin's "Solace - a Mexican Serenade", as it happens). The piece is composed of a four measure intro followed by four 16 measure sections with the first section being repeated once after the second section. The first sequence, 1-20, plays the intro and the first run through of the first section. The second sequence, 5-19, returns the playback to the first measure after the intro (measure 5, the first measure of the first section) and plays through to measure 19. The next sequence, 21-37, causes the playback to skip measure 20 (marking it as a first ending as it does so) and go directly to measure 21 and then on to the first run through of the second section. 22-36 returns the playback to measure 22 for the repeat of the second section and marks measure 21 as the second ending of the first section. 38-70 causes measure 37 to be skipped and goes directly to the next section. A special comment is needed here. This particular sequence is a result of a personal prejudice which, in this case, serves to demonstrate the versatility of the function. I don't particularly care for the use of da Signo markings. I could just as easily have entered the sequences:
I would then have had to add an extra measure after 38 (the alternate ending for the first section). The following sequence would then have been:
Rather than run the risk of misunderstandings, I prefer to simply copy measures 5>19 and insert them after 38, add the appropriate ending and then continue directly with the third section. TablEdit automatically assumes that the second section has a second, one measure ending (measure 38) and inserts the appropriate reading guide. 55-69 returns playback to the beginning of the third section and plays through it. 71-87 skips measure 70 (marking it as a first ending) and continues with the fourth, and last, section. 72-86 returns playback to the first measure of the fourth section for the second run through. and, finally: 88-88 skips measure 87, marking it as a first ending and establishes 88 as a second ending. --end--, of course, shows that "Th-th-that's all, folks". A simpler example Assume you are looking at a song that contains 18 measures, with a first ending that spans measures 15 and 16, and a second ending that spans measures 17 and 18. The begin repeat symbol will be at the beginning of measure 1. A line with a small number one beneath it will be located above measure 15. The end repeat symbol will be at the end of measure 16. A line with a small number two beneath it will be located above measure 17. Finally, the end of song symbol will appear at the end of measure 18. Being a musician you have been taught to read these symbols and you would interpret them as:
If you were to write this out using numbers, it would appear as: 1-16, 1-14 and 17-18. The above set of numbers above is a reading list! Here are the steps to create the above reading list:
You can add as entries as needed to describe how the measures are to be played and the proper symbols will be automatically added. When done, it is advisable to click the "Zip" button at the bottom of the window. This will compress the reading list into the most accurate format. For instance, you may have added two separate entries like 45->64, 65->70. These should actually be written as 45->70. The "Zip" button will correct these for you. Experimenting with the reading list entries will enable you to add Signo and Coda symbols also.
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