IWBNI it were possible to playback any set of documents simultaneously. As it is now, only one document may be played at a time.

This would enable one to, for example playback any subset of a collection of part documents. In addition, it would allow one to playback a piece for which the part documents do not all share the same meter or tempo. (For examples of polymetric scores for which each part has a different tempo, see pages 168-173 of Modern Rhythmic Notation by Gardner Read).

This could be implemented by adding an item called Document List... to the existing Playing list box on the Playback Controls dialog box. This list box item would display a new dialog box called Document List that could contain the following controls:

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Document List Dialog Box

Open Documents: |multi-select list box of open documents|

Files: |list box of selected files| [Add File...] [Remove File]

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Using this dialog box, one could specify any collection of open documents and files for documents that are not open, all of which are to be played simultaneously. Of the selected documents to be played, one document would be specified as the master document to be used for specifying measure number ranges in the Playback Controls dialog box. A checkbox would be provided next to each list box item to enable one to specify which item is to serve as the master.

Once the document list has been specified, simultaneous playback could be invoked from the Playback Controls window or by pressing Spacebar+Click on any measure of any open document in the list.

Created: March 21, 2000
Last Updated: March 21, 2000
Version: Finale 2000b