I’ve been an extremely happy Dorico user since version 3, and I’ve been pretty successful importing my legacy work via XML. I frequently use small-sized notes for instrumental cues and found that importing XML files (from Finale!) didn’t differentiate between ‘normal’ notes and cue-sized notes; Dorico renders them both as full sized notes.
I had assumed that XML didn’t contain the information about note size. However, I have just imported an XML file into MuseScore and seen that the cue-sized notes are recognised. I dived into the XML and found that there is a command: type size=“cue”>16th</type
Have I missed something? Is there a setting that allows Dorico to recognise the XML command for ‘cue sized notes’?
I tried, and it seems that Dorico, even with an exported xml from Dorico itself (of a projects containing cue sized notes and grace sized notes), and then opened into Dorico, doesn’t retain neither cue sized note, nor the grace sized notes information (I tried also with all MusicXML import preferences activated, even if none of them refers to note custom sizes).
Sure, but if you’re importing an XML file, it would be nice if Dorico retained these as cue-sized notes (not actual Dorico linked cues, since Dorico doesn’t know which instrument they came from).
Yes, I understand that. I thought that it would make sense to edit those notes out and use the Cues mechanism in that case, personally. It would result in a healthier score/parts relationship. But that’s just me, admittedly.
Thanks - Dorico’s cue feature is marvellous but in my case it would be wonderful if I could quickly see the small notes to replace them with Dorico cues!
Has this feature been updated? When I import XML files, the cues that I wrote in Finale still import as regular size notes. Is there a way to convert these notes into the Dorico inbuilt cues function?
In Finale, cues exist as actual notes on the staff/staves where they are displayed. In Dorico, cues are simply regions pointing to notes on other staves. I have no idea if that’s something that can survive the XML exporting/importing process.
As far as I know, one still has to manually delete the cue-notes and create cue regions. (Does the XML import at least keep the cued part name in the other player(s) reading the cues? If so, that’s at least a bit of help.)
It would be a great help if Dorico did recognise cue-sized notes when importing XML files, so I keep my fingers crossed that the developers will add that to the XML-import facilities.
I really value the linked/mirrored nature of cues in Dorico, as any changes to the source music dynamically populate into the cue(s). Also, the elements of the source music to be shown in cues are selectable as properties, rather than things that need to be added/deleted. I hope in the end those advantages outweigh the XML-importing inconvenience for you!
I am about the farthest thing possible from an XML expert, but my intuition says making software capable of distinguishing cues from other smaller notes (grace notes, alternate notes, etc.) and have Dorico automatically make the cue regions linked to the correct source would be a bit tricky. But I agree it would be super cool and helpful.
Oh absolutely. I think the Dorico method of cueing is great! Much better than Finale. But yeah, if someone wanted to take on the job of improving the XML import cue functionality I would be very grateful…!
The question is (for those who regularly examine raw XML code) whether the XML source identifies cues as such, since Finale possibly would not, given their means of implementing cues.
Speaking as a relative newbie to Dorico, I think @Derrek has a good point here: it is not a fault in Dorico’s import function but rather the non-standard export of Finale that causes the problem. (Yes, some apps have added functions to handle some non-standard items but IMHO it would be better if the standards were followed, and additions to the standard were implemented the same way.)
Does Dorico import XML files (with cues) from other notation apps correctly? Or can a 3rd party app read and convert to source XML so that Dorico can use it ?
But for good measure I added the FR tag to the topic.