Free Text Boxes

• Feb 2, 2014 - 16:43

Text boxes that we can drag and drop anywhere on a piece we wish.

Very simple feature, surprised its not already in the program. Relying on columns to enter text feels very limiting, and sometimes doesnt work with what I want to do.

Ive searched the handbook, the web, and on Musescore itself and I couldnt find this feature anywhere, so if it's already in Musescore please let me know.

Comments

• Feb 2, 2014 - 17:23

Without knowing exactly what you are trying to do - here, a picture would help - it's hard to know exactly how to advise. But MuseScore does support free text in a number of different ways.

If you don't want the flow the music interrupted - that is, you don't extra space between systems or to the left or right of any system - then simply create the the text as staff text by clicking the note you wish it logically connected to, pressing Ctrl+T, and typing your text. You can then drag the text wherever you like relative to that position, although it does pay to be smart about where you attach the text in the first place so it has a chance of still looking like it's in the right place if the page layout changes for any reason later. Or, if the text is meant to serve a particular purpose such as a rehearsal letter or tempo marking, don't use staff text but instead the specific type - see the Create / Text menu.

If you do want extra space allocated between systems, or to the left or right of any given system, you use a Frame as shown above - and again, text can then be positioned anywhere you like within that frame (or actually even outside the frame).

Which is to say, there is no particular restriction to lining things up in columns - not sure what you're referring to, actually, since MuseScore doesn't have any sort of column-aligning facility.

Reply

• Feb 2, 2014 - 22:22

The ctrl+t method is alright, but it still feels like a work-around for what im aiming for.

You know in MS Paint where you click the "A" icon and it lets you create a frame for text anywhere on the page? That is what I am aiming for here. A text box that doesnt rely on notes, staves, frames (my mistake for calling them columns) or anything to be created, and can be placed anywhere on the page you wish.

In my college assignments I am required to place roman numerals underneath partwriting style chord progressions (ie I IV V I). I am also required to insert my name, date, etc on the top left of the paper. The ctrl+t method is ok for inserting roman numerals, and placing my name under the "composer" text box works as well, but having a simple "insert a text box anywhere you want" feature would make these types of things run so much more smoothly. As you said earlier, Musescore does have a number of different ways of create free text, but having a button devoted to this feature would make life much easier (for me, anyway).

Hopefully this makes sense!

Reply

• Feb 2, 2014 - 23:16

The thing is, music is inherently different from text in ways that make the idea of "free text" as you describe it problematic.

For instance, if you create Roman numerals as "free text", what happens if the layout of the music changes later? Now the text doesn't line up with the music any more. Free text is *not* the right mechanism for this. Either staff text or - better, I think, in most cases - lyrics are. That way the text remains attached to the music. It's almost *never* the case aside from your name at the top of the page that you truly want text that remains at a fixed place on the page if the layout of the music changes. You practically *always* want the text to follow the music, and your example illustrates this perfectly.

Now, the one exception is stuff at the top of the page that comes before the music. Like your name. This should stay right where it is no matter how the music layout changes. But the existing text box gives you that control already. Either use the composer field as you are, or just add your own text to that frame (right click, add / frame text) and position it however you want. The positioning *is* completely free - you can put it anywhere on the page, and it will remain in that same spot regardless of how the music layout changes.

Anywhere but the top of the page, though, this is again practically *never* what you want. If you are trying to attach text like roman numerals to a particular passage, you want that text to follow the passage if the layout changes so the measures move to the next line or page. If you really *must* have text somewhere other than at the the top of the page that is guaranteed not to move no matter how the music layout changes, simply add it to the vertical frame at the top of the page and move it into position. Just because it is called "frame text" doesn't mean it's actually harder to use than if it were call "free text" :-)

Reply

• Nov 18, 2014 - 11:30

I just happen to come to this question and it covers exactly my problem and to MArk to explain it let me present the way I often make scores for (professional) combo's I work with.
I'm a jazz pianist and often write arrangements for the combo's I work with. I don't want to write everything out but I put on the last page the form I want it to be played.
So for example
FORM
INTRO: Piano solo (8 bars);
SINGER: 8# piano only;combo starting on bar 12
etc. (actually a lot more)
.....

I hope you see what I mean. For that a free text frame that can expand is ideal.
( I hesitate to mention it but in Finale it's standard at least since 2002, when I started to use it and I cannot think that it is a very difficult to add.) In Finale I use a number of text frames, 1 for each soloist and a few for the ensembles.

Reply

Do you still have an unanswered question? Please log in first to post your question.