.scw (Scorewriter) files open directly in MuseScore 3.6.2 (no MusicXML transport needed)

• Feb 13, 2022 - 02:30

Who would have known!

Scorewriter documents (with the extenstion .scw) open directly in MuseScore—no MusicXML required! Perhaps somebody contributed code that interprets Scorewriter file format?

I discovered this entirely by chance when dragging a .scw file and accidentally dropping it on a MuseScore window. So I'm wondering if this option has been documented anywhere.

Minor issues:

     • Individual notes come in with User velocities so the velocities in MuseScore match those in the original score
          There's pros and cons to that. Worst issue is that MuseScore doesn't apply dynamic markings to User velocites.

     • It appears all slurs are lost. (Ties come through.)

     • All line breaks are lost— Easy to fix, especially if you can see the file open in Scorewriter, Overture 4 or Overture 5.

     • Voltas have no Repeat List. Select and set the Repeat List to match the ending text.

     • Chord symbol placement is often one note late. (This also occurs when importing Overture MusicXML files.)

     • Tempos marks appear in gray and have no effect. Delete and replace.

I had about 400 Scorewriter files. The conversion process was time consuming. I was opening each score in Overture (its big brother), performing a series of special pre-export maneuvers, chanting the right incantations, exporting to MusicXML, importing to MuseScore, and cleaning up the expected debris. Usually with success.

Now I have about 150 .scw Score writer scores converted. And it's been worth the effort.

But now I simply drag the .scw file into MuseScore and then fix the issues listed above.

Coverting the remaining .scw remaining 250 scores now be a cinch.
Too bad .ovex (Overture 5 files) and .ove (Overture 4 files) don't open directly.

Scorewriter, Overture 4 and Overture 5 and by SonicScores.com ... but unfortunately there have been no signs of life there for over a year.

scorster

Comments

• Feb 13, 2022 - 05:08

@Jojo Interesting, seems the handbook needs to get updated

Indeed! Now in the know, I searched the Handbook and with some effort found some oblique and incomplete references on pages 172 and 185-186.

Since direct import is simpler and often times better than MusicXML import, I think the section on MusicXML import should clearly mention up front which formats MuseScore can open directly. Same with any area that explains the Open File option.

And what if the Open File dialog better advertised the supported file formats fact with a banner above the file filter menus, rather than displaying a menu which pretty much implies that only various types of MuseScore formats are supported.

      Open File Dialog with supported file types listed.png

Handbook entries:

Page 172
MuseScore uses the standard shortcuts to access system commands like Ctrl+O (Mac: Cmd+O) to open a file, Ctrl+S (Mac: Cmd+S) to save, Ctrl+W (Mac: Cmd+W) to close, etc.
If you press Ctrl+O (Mac: Cmd+O) to load a score, you are presented with a fairly standard file dialog. MuseScore can open scores in its own format (MSCZ or MSCX) as well as import scores in the standard MusicXML format, in MIDI format, or from a few other programs such as Guitar Pro, Capella, and Band-in-a-Box.

Page 185-186

Share with other music software
MuseScore can import and export MusicXML and MIDI files; it is also able to import a variety of native format files from other music notation programs.
MusicXML (.xml, *.musicxml)
MusicXML  is the universal standard for sheet music. It is the recommended format for sharing sheet music between different scorewriters, including MuseScore, Sibelius, Finale, and more than 100 others. MuseScore imports *.xml and
                
*.musicxml, but exports only.musicxml. If you need .xml (because the program you want to import it needs that), you need to rename it yourself after the export.
Compressed MusicXML (.mxl)
Compressed MusicXML creates smaller files than regular MusicXML. This is a newer standard and isn't as widely supported by older scorewriters, but MuseScore has full import and export support.
MIDI (.mid, *.midi, *.kar)
MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) is a format widely supported by sequencers and music notation software. For
details of the protocol see the MIDI Association  website.
MIDI files are very useful for playback purposes but contain little in the way of score layout information (formatting, pitch spelling, voicing, ornaments, articulations, repeats, key signatures etc.). To share files between different music notation software, MusicXML is recommended instead.
For details about how to import MIDI files seeMIDI import.
MuseData (.md) (import only)
MuseData  is a format developed by Walter B. Hewlett beginning in 1983 as an early means of sharing music notation between software. It has since been eclipsed by MusicXML, but several thousand scores in this format are still available online.
Capella (.cap, *.capx) (import only)
CAP and CAPX files are created by the score writer,Capella  . MuseScore imports version 2000 (3.0) or later fairly accurately.
 
Bagpipe Music Writer (.bww) (import only)
BWW files are created by the niche score writer,Bagpipe Music Writer
BB (.mgu, *.sgu) (import only)
BB files are created by the music arranging software,Band-in-a-Box
Overture (.ove) (import only)
.
. MuseScore's support is currently experimental.
   
OVE files are created by the score writerOverture  . This format is mainly popular in Chinese-language environments, such as Mainland China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. MuseScore's support is currently experimental.
Guitar Pro (various—import only)
MuseScore can open Guitar Pro  files with the following extensions: .gtp, *.gp3, *.gp4, *.gp5, *.gpx, and, as of version 3.5, *.gp.
Power Tab Editor (.ptb) (import only)

Reply

• Feb 13, 2022 - 16:57

@Jojo >those page numbers probably refer to the PDF version, but that is pretty outdated, see #328598: PDF handbook generation stopped working, 8 months behind the soures, the online handbook

Yikes. I didn't know that. Mainly I use the PDF because I find it's far more searchable. Or has that improved in the online Handbook?

@Jojo >Added it to the handbook, see https://musescore.org/en/handbook/3/file-formats#overture

Thanks!

@Jojo >Overture and Score Writer apparently use the exact same format, just picked a different extension.

Overture 4 (or perhaps all versions prior to Overture 5) use the .ove extension.
Both .ove and .scw are openable in MuseScore 3.6.2 via the Open File dialog or by drag and drop.

Overture 5's .ovex format currently does not open by Open File dialog or by drag and drop (and indeed it's extension is not listed as a option.) I was hopeful that simply changing the extension from .ove to .ovex would work, but it does not.

scorster

Reply

• Feb 13, 2022 - 18:32

@Jojo Overture 5 cannot save as .ove anymore ...?

Sadly no. In Overture 5 neither the Save nor Save As dialogs offer any alternate formats like .ove or .scw
And Overture 5's Export menu only offers MusicXML or MIDI. But as you mentioned, Overture 5 can read .ove and .scw formats.

Do you think the minds that coded MuseScore's ability to open .ove documents would turn the skills on opening .ovex format? That would save me at least a month of work! And I think that would be valuable to many, as I suspect there will be LOTS of Overture users looking for a new notation app.

Overture's developer has abandoned the project for over a year, so Overture is down for the count. And if not dead, all signs suggest that Overture has lost its ability to compete in the top tier. Even if it were to limp back to life it will likely always remain built upon a ill conceived foundation, be riddled with bugs (the fixes of which lead to more bugs) and have major issues with simple operations like Copy/Paste which generally lead to notational positioning that fails to match the source measure and incorrect playback.

This is all pretty sad because, generally, there was so much brilliance in Overture's GUI/UX. I'd hope that in any overhaul of MuseScore's interface people involved look at Overture's general simplicity.

That said, for my purposes MuseScore 3.6.2 is 100 times better than Overture. And I'm really excited about the pending 4.0 alpha release.

scorster

Reply

• Feb 14, 2022 - 04:51

Here's an Overture 5 score, a PDF for reference, and two versions of musicXML export.

Well ... the forum wouldn't let me upload a file with a .ovex extension. I'll try compressing to zip.

In the mean time here's the PDF and two musicXML files:

Fire on the Mountain - Overture 5 (for Jojo).pdf

Fire on the Mountain - Overture 5 (for Jojo) without Legato at 100 percent.musicxml

Fire on the Mountain - Overture 5 (for Jojo) WITH Legato at 100 percent.musicxml

And it looks like the .zip file is good:

Fire on the Mountain - Overture 5 score (for Jojo).ovex_.zip

scorster

Reply

• Feb 13, 2022 - 19:11

@Jojo > MusicXML export from Overture 5 and import into MuseScore is certainly the better option.

Yes and no.

I'm compiling a list of required pre-export steps one must take in Overture 5 —though some of those steps may longer be necessary after Leon's work is committed.

Nevertheless, careful as I am occasionally I get an import with timing corruption in almost every measure. So I' have to set those scores aside, or export to MIDI.

I've already listed steps required before exporting from Encore and what one will likely need to address after importing.

scorster

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