Getting true flat/sharp signs in text

Sibelius beginners can discuss all things Sibelius here ("how do I...?").
Post Reply
mend0c1n0s1buser
Posts: 10
Joined: Tue Aug 18, 2020 12:47 am
Sibelius Version: 6
Operating System: Mac

Post by mend0c1n0s1buser » Tue Aug 18, 2020 10:58 pm

Greetings and salutations. I am creating a score where I need to indicate key names (Bb, F#, etc.) on the left margin of the page where tempo markings often go. Because of the similar location, I was thinking of using Create>Text>Tempo to generate the text. However, this way I am stuck with “b”s and “#”s for writing flat and sharp signs. Is there a way to generate text on the left margin and in the font size of tempo text where I can get true flat and sharp signs? Thank you.


MikeLyons
Posts: 1631
Joined: Fri Jun 24, 2016 7:20 pm
Sibelius Version: Ult. 2024.3.1/7.5
Operating System: Windows

Post by MikeLyons » Wed Aug 19, 2020 8:25 am

Does [ctrl][numpad 7/8/9] not work?

If you can't do this in actual tempo text a plain system text style should work.
text flats and sharps.png
text flats and sharps.png (78.9 KiB) Viewed 15159 times
Sib 6.2, 7.5 and 2023.6, Windows 11, 32GB RAM, 16TB 7200RPM Storage, 2TB SSD, Note Performer 3.3.2, EWQLSO, EWQLSC, Harmony Assistant and some others. mike@mike-lyons.co.uk

mend0c1n0s1buser
Posts: 10
Joined: Tue Aug 18, 2020 12:47 am
Sibelius Version: 6
Operating System: Mac

Post by mend0c1n0s1buser » Wed Aug 19, 2020 3:14 pm

Thank you, Mike, for your response.

[ctrl][numpad7/8/9] does not work,
nor does Create>Text>Other System Text>Boxed System Text or Plain System Text.

I’m just remembering that when I bought my iMac 10.12.6, Sibelius 6.2 was listed as “not compatible”, and while It actually has worked quite well for me for several years, this may be a type of glitch that wasn’t worked out, therefore prompting the notice of non-compatibility.

Create>Chord symbol DOES do the conversion from “b”s and “#”s to true flat and sharp signs, but that font size is too small for my purposes. Is there a way to increase the font size of chord symbols?

MikeLyons
Posts: 1631
Joined: Fri Jun 24, 2016 7:20 pm
Sibelius Version: Ult. 2024.3.1/7.5
Operating System: Windows

Post by MikeLyons » Wed Aug 19, 2020 6:09 pm

Have you checked out the rt-click menu for text entry? That should bring up a list of all available symbols of this type.
AFAIK, there is always an unintended consequence to altering the size of chord symbols text.
plain sys text rt click list.png
plain sys text rt click list.png (55.63 KiB) Viewed 15146 times
Sib 6.2, 7.5 and 2023.6, Windows 11, 32GB RAM, 16TB 7200RPM Storage, 2TB SSD, Note Performer 3.3.2, EWQLSO, EWQLSC, Harmony Assistant and some others. mike@mike-lyons.co.uk

mend0c1n0s1buser
Posts: 10
Joined: Tue Aug 18, 2020 12:47 am
Sibelius Version: 6
Operating System: Mac

Post by mend0c1n0s1buser » Wed Aug 19, 2020 7:58 pm

My <plain system text> right click menu looks identical to yours with the exception that my menu ENDS at the em dash.......there are no accidentals following the em dash on my menu. This is the case with tempo text and boxed system text as well.......flat, natural and sharp signs do not appear to be available on my right-click menu.
How strange......I've got a 6.2.0 version, build 88, audio engine v1.0155.
But thank you for the right-click tip which I know will solve other issues in the future.

MikeLyons
Posts: 1631
Joined: Fri Jun 24, 2016 7:20 pm
Sibelius Version: Ult. 2024.3.1/7.5
Operating System: Windows

Post by MikeLyons » Thu Aug 20, 2020 7:43 am

You haven't edited the standard font assignments at any time, have you? Even the basic sibelius and the free Sib|First both have these symbols AFAIK.
Sib 6.2, 7.5 and 2023.6, Windows 11, 32GB RAM, 16TB 7200RPM Storage, 2TB SSD, Note Performer 3.3.2, EWQLSO, EWQLSC, Harmony Assistant and some others. mike@mike-lyons.co.uk

mend0c1n0s1buser
Posts: 10
Joined: Tue Aug 18, 2020 12:47 am
Sibelius Version: 6
Operating System: Mac

Post by mend0c1n0s1buser » Thu Aug 20, 2020 3:15 pm

No, I have not edited the standard font assignments.
I have sent the instructions you sent, re right clicking on tempo text, to a colleague to generate what I need. I'm thinking I may be able to paste from her document into mine.
Thank you for your help.

mend0c1n0s1buser
Posts: 10
Joined: Tue Aug 18, 2020 12:47 am
Sibelius Version: 6
Operating System: Mac

Post by mend0c1n0s1buser » Thu Aug 20, 2020 7:12 pm

I emailed my colleague who also has Sibelius on a Mac. Her version is 8.0.1 and she writes that she too does not have accidentals on her text right click list. Any further thoughts?
Thanks!

MikeLyons
Posts: 1631
Joined: Fri Jun 24, 2016 7:20 pm
Sibelius Version: Ult. 2024.3.1/7.5
Operating System: Windows

Post by MikeLyons » Thu Aug 20, 2020 9:14 pm

Not really. These symbols (as you might imagine) are basic solid parts of Sibelius. the only thing that comes to mind is an issue with Macs and fonts. other than that I am all clued out.
Sib 6.2, 7.5 and 2023.6, Windows 11, 32GB RAM, 16TB 7200RPM Storage, 2TB SSD, Note Performer 3.3.2, EWQLSO, EWQLSC, Harmony Assistant and some others. mike@mike-lyons.co.uk

mend0c1n0s1buser
Posts: 10
Joined: Tue Aug 18, 2020 12:47 am
Sibelius Version: 6
Operating System: Mac

Post by mend0c1n0s1buser » Fri Aug 21, 2020 8:04 pm

Thank you for your help. I've learned about the text <right click menu> in the process, and will see if I can procure those pesky accidentals from a PC-using Sibelius colleague. All best wishes.

LorenC
Posts: 1
Joined: Tue Jul 27, 2021 9:07 pm
Sibelius Version: 8
Operating System: Mac

Post by LorenC » Tue Jul 27, 2021 9:11 pm

I found it! In the text tab, choose "Styles", then under "Chord symbols (special)", choose the actual chord symbols style. The letter b now automatically produces a flat-sign, and shift-3 automatically produces a sharp-sign. :)

Or, in whatever style you're using, chose from the "Opus chord" fonts. I'm doing this for figured bass notation (Tiny Text style, bumping the size up to 8, and italic for standard numbers in the default Plantin font).

I'm still not finding a way, however, to use slashed numbers (eg. [slash]6 for sharp-6 or [slash]5 for flat-5).

MikeLyons
Posts: 1631
Joined: Fri Jun 24, 2016 7:20 pm
Sibelius Version: Ult. 2024.3.1/7.5
Operating System: Windows

Post by MikeLyons » Wed Jul 28, 2021 7:15 am

Glad you found a solution.
I had a couple of other thoughts - the word menu attached to a text style can influence what symbols are included. I'm on holiday at the moment so not near my computer, but i think these are assigned from file-preferences.
The other thought was that if you change the font setting with just the b selected by clicking on the Music font dropdown under the text tab you should get a flat. Ditto for #.
Sib 6.2, 7.5 and 2023.6, Windows 11, 32GB RAM, 16TB 7200RPM Storage, 2TB SSD, Note Performer 3.3.2, EWQLSO, EWQLSC, Harmony Assistant and some others. mike@mike-lyons.co.uk

mend0c1n0s1buser
Posts: 10
Joined: Tue Aug 18, 2020 12:47 am
Sibelius Version: 6
Operating System: Mac

Post by mend0c1n0s1buser » Fri Aug 13, 2021 9:24 pm

Thanks very much for your July 2021 emails on this topic. I have Sibelius version 6.2.0 and with your information went to House Style in the main menu, then to Edit all Fonts in the dropdown. I chose the main text font to edit, switched to Opus Chords,and bingo, I could type in true flat and sharp signs in text. Yay, success!

Since the original August 2020 emails on this topic, I discovered that on my iMac, command 7 will type a natural sign in title text, command 8 a sharp sign, and command 9 a flat sign.

MikeLyons
Posts: 1631
Joined: Fri Jun 24, 2016 7:20 pm
Sibelius Version: Ult. 2024.3.1/7.5
Operating System: Windows

Post by MikeLyons » Sat Aug 14, 2021 9:01 am

Some of this is my fault. I didn't see that you had a Mac. You should always substitute [cmd] for [ctrl] and [opt] for [alt] in any instructions I give if you are on a mac.
Sib 6.2, 7.5 and 2023.6, Windows 11, 32GB RAM, 16TB 7200RPM Storage, 2TB SSD, Note Performer 3.3.2, EWQLSO, EWQLSC, Harmony Assistant and some others. mike@mike-lyons.co.uk

mend0c1n0s1buser
Posts: 10
Joined: Tue Aug 18, 2020 12:47 am
Sibelius Version: 6
Operating System: Mac

Post by mend0c1n0s1buser » Tue Aug 17, 2021 2:10 pm

Thanks for clarifying!

Post Reply