Re: Too complicated and time consuming ...

[Urs Liska]

Am 10.05.2012 16:36, schrieb joannesmith:
> Thank you all for your private emails ... they have been a great
> encouragement to me. I will probably end up sticking with Lilypond for all
> the reasons you mentioned. It really does seem like the best option ... I
> just need to hang in there long enough to get a good grip on it and be
> patient with myself.
>
> A little more specifics. I first tried to use lilypond on my Linux/Ubuntu
> system and could not figure it out 'to save my life.' I am still learning
> Linux, but that's a whole other issue. I ended up loading lilypond on to my
> Windows system and then, through some internet searching, got Frescobaldi
> and it seems they work together.
LilyPond is a command line program. If you call it it will read the file 
it is given and then produces the engraved output from it.
In principle you can use any text editor to produce the text files that 
LilyPond uses to do its magic on.
But there are editors who are better suited than others. The first thing 
is syntax highlighting. And the second one are more specific tools that 
are specialised on LilyPond and that can effectively aid you in working 
with LilyPond input files. Frescobaldi is one of them.
You may want to read http://lilypond.org/easier-editing.html.

> I'm ignorant as to why really but I do know
> how to do html and it seems kind of like the same concept in a way? I have a
> basic template that I am working off of and re-use it each time I start a
> new one. If I have a hymn that seems like another one, I'll use that other
> song as a template. Something I found that helps is if I keep notes of songs
> that are a bit unique. And then if I run into a difficult song, I can look
> at my notes and see if I've had that 'problem' before. Copying and pasting
> is good.
This is the usual way you start with.
And it's exactly this what you will love with LilyPond: it will make it 
possible to overcome this situation.
In an ideal world you'd have a framework of helper and score template 
files, and you'd chose for any given song which one to use and then the 
only thing you still have to enter is the plain music .
In an ordinary world it usually isn't as nice, but with 450 pieces you 
have the chance to really go into such a direction.
> Some have offered to help with questions, encouraged me to post questions
> here, and also pointed me to a forum that is for lilypond users who use
> shape notes. THANK YOU!!  These are all such excellent resources and I'm
> sure if I just keep pressing on I'll get better and better.
Maybe you could give some examples or explanations about what is 
characteristic, usual, special or whatever about your hynms. Especially 
interesting (and good for you to thoroughly think about in advance) are 
aspects that are common to most or even all of your pieces.
You will surely get some hints about what you should take care about or 
what better to avoid.
> Thank you again ... I'm so glad I posted this cry for help here!
and yes, the replies (at least the numerous ones I saw) _are_ public ;-)

Best
Urs