What is txtmus?

txtmus

txtmus ('text music', abbreviated as 'tm') is a fork of abc2svg that understands more text music notations, actually, ABC (indeed!), alda, BWW, cmn (Carnatic Music notations), MEI, MNX (XML, prior JSON switch) and PAE. MUP should come soon.

Switching from abc2svg to txtmus is mainly done by changing the version number of the scripts (the scripts are at the same location in my site). For instance, use

  snd-2.js

instead of

  snd-1.js

Note, the sets of scripts of both software are not compatible (you cannot mix 'xx-2.js' and 'xx-1.js'). Also some names have changed:

'edit-1.xhtml' is edit-2.html
'abcweb-1.js' and 'abcweb1-1.js' are tmweb-2.js and tmweb1-2.js
'abc2svg-1.js' is tmcore-2.js

For CLI/batch, the prefix 'abc' is replaced by 'tm':

'abcqjs', 'abcmjs' and 'abcnode' are tmqjs, tmmjs and tmnode

In the actual development state, txtmus can replace abc2svg with the same reliability (the bug fixes are cross reported), but switching from abc2svg to txtmus is interesting only if you need the new features.

The software is not yet under a VCS (version control system) because still in active development. You can get the source and the runable scripts of txtmus from my site:

source tarball
scripts tarball

They are updated at least at the same time as a new release of abc2svg is out.

Here is the entry page of the txtmus source.

Details on the changes

The command %%autobar can insert missing measure bars.
txtmus accepts beams starting or ending on rests. This is done using !beamon! on the rests.
In txtmus, the staff system definition (%%score or %%staves) can contain labels to be drawn on the left side of the staff system. These labels appear before a staff system item, either a voice ID, or a group [..] or {..}. There can be two labels, one for the first music line, and the second for the other music lines.
Example:
```
%%staves "Violin" "V." V "Piano" "P" {P1 P2}
```
The following commands/parameters are modified:
- %%printmargin is ignored
- in %%score/%%staves, the old floating voice definitions {1 2 3} or {1 2 3 4} create 3 or 4 staves.
With abc2svg, the generic font family text is used to change globally the font family of the texts. With txtmus, the generic font is replaced by the two CSS standard families ui-sans-serif and ui-serif.
With txtmus, the fonts that are used in the various texts are memorized with the texts, so that the fonts can be changed without changing the rendering of previous texts. For instance:
```
X:1
P:AABB        % no box with txtmus
%%partsbox 1
K:C
P:A           % box
.. notes ..
P:B
.. notes ..
```
The txtmus play engine fully handles repeated sequences using the marks !D.C.!, !D.S.!, !coda!, !fine! ...
txtmus contains a non standard music extension for playing explicit variants in repeated sequences.
For instance, the sequence
```
|: A |1 B |2 C ]| D |3 E :| F |]
```
is played
```
ABD ACD ADE F
```
In txtmus, the syntax of the P: field in the tune header has been extended according to a discussion in the ABC mailing list. The problem was to select only one or more variants in parts with repeated sequences.
The solution was to put the repeat numbers in the P: preceded by a '['. So, the following tune
```
X:1
P:A[2BA
K:C
[P:A] C |1 D :|2 E ||
[P:B] F |
```
is played
```
CE F CD CE
```
.
txtmus fully handles the %%concert-score parameter.
txtmus includes modules that convert some other music notations into the internal representation of the music. Here is an example of a tune written in ABC, alda, BWW and PAE.
The global variable is named tm instead of abc2svg. It contains mus instead of abc as the music object. The way to insert hooks inside the core has changed.
There have been many changes in the ABC parser. I don't know yet if this makes it faster or safer.
Some CLI backend scripts have been removed. They are toabw.js, topdf.js and toxhtml.js.
Some other ones have been added. They are
- tomnx.js
  This script is used to convert any music text to the old version of MNX (with XML).
- toparsons.js
  This script is used to generate the Parsons code of tunes.
In abc2svg, the global scale (%%pagescale) is done by a SVG container (<g>) in each SVG image.
In txtmus, the scale is done by setting different values in the image size (width and height) and in the viewBox. This may impact some programs that are using the scale container for adding global elements to the images.
In txtmus, some texts may contain links to other pages. A link is defined the same way as in MarkDown:
```
[link_text](URL)
```
Example:
```
[txtmus documentation](http://moinejf.free.fr/abcm2ps-doc/tm-readme.html)
```

Last update: 2025-03-10 - Jean-François Moine