I’ve been keeping a running list of features I’d love to see in the next version of Dorico.
New Features:
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User templates. These would make a huge, huge difference to my workflow.
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Rulers. Same.
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Since many charts are prepared for iPad nowadays, I’d love the ability to easily add pre-determined text (in one click) on a page for things that come up often. Say, “verse”, “chorus” etc. These should be user-definable as well.
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I’d like the ability to save border justifications for user-chosen fonts. I’d also like to be able to use these fonts in round rehearsal markings.
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Smart adjusting. Once I move something that forced systems apart, I’d like the option to have Dorico “smart adjust” to the new spacing, so that I don’t need to move each of the following systems.
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Parenthetical chord symbols (with optional labeling like “2nd x only”)
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Alternate chord changes (ala New Real Book)
Changes:
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I’d love if the same shortcuts for inputting key signatures held for inputting chord symbols (i.e. “d” for Dm)
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Better default alignment of rehearsal letters and Coda to match Gould’s placement in Behind Bars.
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Tempo should open with a wider range of tempi visible. Ironically, the tempo on the icon isn’t immediately visible without adjusting the slider.
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I’d like to be able to click and drag final systems to the left to shorten them. The key commands take too long.
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I’d like to be able to add a hyphen to a final lyric. This comes up in songs with an ABCB form. Currently, I have to manually add them as text.
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I’d love for Dorico to be handle vertical spacing better when there are rehearsal markings and segnos in proximity.
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I hate having to constantly switch sub-modes in Engraving mode to move things. They should be consolidated, or moving items like rehearsal letters should be allowed in the vertical and horizontal spacing modes.
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Lyrics hyphenation is sometimes too close (running into the lyric) at the beginning of some systems.
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When I delete everything in a flow, it leaves a lot of weird time signature flags and takes multiple “select all” and delete actions to remove them.
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playback on a D.S. al fine only plays one repeat if the segno is to a repeat ending section. It should play twice (or at least be user selectable to do so.)
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Rounded corners on bordered text (like was added to rehearsal letters in the last version).
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Align system text. Why do I need to both turn on a toggle switch AND select a check box in the properties panel to “Align with system start”? One of these options should be enough.