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Copy parts layouts between files?

Posted: Fri Sep 07, 2018 9:39 pm
by jborum
Is there an elegant way to copy part layouts between files? I suspect there isn't.

I am working on a show that will be performed with orchestras of two different sizes, so every tune gets two slightly different orchestrations. Many of the parts are identical between the two, so I would love to copy layouts from one file to the next.

As often as possible I will prep parts before the initial arrangement is split into two versions, but there are three of us working on the files so that won't always be possible.

Re: Copy parts layouts between files?

Posted: Sun Sep 09, 2018 11:17 pm
by bobp
You can copy and paste parts between scores in Sibelius just like you can copy and paste text between documents in Word. Is that what you are asking?
Triple click (Windows) the flute part from score A to select it all, then copy and paste it into the flute line of score B.

Re: Copy parts layouts between files?

Posted: Mon Sep 10, 2018 4:22 am
by jborum
No, I'm trying to copy the system breaks, page breaks, horizontal spacing, and vertical spacing from a part in one file to another part in another file. It's the LAYOUT I want to copy, not the music.

Roman Molino Dunn's plugin Import Export Layout might do the trick, but I haven't tried it yet.

Re: Copy parts layouts between files?

Posted: Mon Sep 10, 2018 5:44 am
by MikeLyons
Does Parts->Copy part layout not do what you want?

Re: Copy parts layouts between files?

Posted: Mon Sep 10, 2018 5:48 am
by jborum
No, Parts->Copy part layout works within a SINGLE file. I'm hoping to copy layouts from one file to another.

Re: Copy parts layouts between files?

Posted: Mon Sep 10, 2018 9:00 pm
by MikeLyons
Set up your layout and export a MSS paper or House style (MSS paper is likely to be more successful) Other than that, I don't think you can.

Is there a reason why you want this? All pieces of music are different. it is rare, in my experience, for them all to use the exact same layout successfully.

What is your objective?

Re: Copy parts layouts between files?

Posted: Mon Sep 10, 2018 9:08 pm
by jborum
To expand on my original post, I have a whole show that is being orchestrated for two different ensembles. One has 8 winds, 4 horns, 3 perc. The other has 5 winds, 2 horns, 2 perc. The rest of the full concert orchestra is identical.

Each song in the show will have two versions, but the only differences will be those winds, brass, and percussion named above. I was hoping to layout the rest of the orchestra only once, and then copy the parts layouts from one file to another to avoid spending time duplicating the parts prep I just completed.

Re: Copy parts layouts between files?

Posted: Wed Sep 12, 2018 10:57 pm
by stevenedis
I'd definitely avoid any layout copying. The simplest way to proceed for you I think is this. Create both orchestrations on the same master Full Score. So you have the instruments that don't change, plus you have the instruments that do change in both the 'big band' and 'small band' versions.

If you need to create a printed 'full score' for each separate version you then have two choices
(1) make a "conductor's part" by creating a new Part which has all the instruments of the relevant version (in other words in the parts window, make a new part by successively adding all the relevant staves). The disadvantage here is that if you have done a lot of 'Show In Score'/'Show in Parts' stuff, that will be lost, as the conductor's part is hierarchically just a part
or (2) save & print two different versions of the master full score, having in each case deleted the staves you don't need. Here the disadvantage is that any subsequent changes must be carefully added to both versions.

As a third alternative you could experiment with 'Focus on Staves' - I'm not sure how that behaves with printing.

Steve

Re: Copy parts layouts between files?

Posted: Fri Sep 14, 2018 8:35 pm
by bobp
Are parts rewritten for the smaller group, or just left out.

What if you had (say) larger score "A" which you have saved. Modify that score as needed. Write new parts or modifications. Delete now unnecessary parts and save as smaller score "B" or whatever name you need. That leaves you with both scores with the same layout. I know you said three of you are working on this, but it sounds like you want a blank score with the same layout. That might be doable, but I'm not sure why.

Is it the number of parts that is different, or the number of players? You could just not hand out some parts to the smaller group. This happens all the time.