SoundCanvas Edit Help
SoundCanvas Graphics - Text Editor   Help

Program Overview

Graphics Edit

Text Edit

Options

Program Notes-Info


Program Overview

  This program was designed to take some of the difficulty out of adding a SoundCanvas text or graphical display to a midi file.  It is not a parameter editor for the SoundCanvas... parameter edit programs already exist and it is not my intent to undermine the authors' hard work that went into those programs.

  The program essentially runs in the "graphics" mode where the screen is made to somewhat resemble the SC55's 16x16 graphical grid area.  Clicking on a "cell" will toggle it.  Pressing the "To Clipboard" pushbutton will format and send a complete sysex message, including checksum, to the Clipboard in ASCII text format.  From there, the message can be "pasted" using the ctl-v keyboard combination into a sequencer software application that supports sysex messages.  Optionally, the sysex message can be sent directly to the SC55 so you can view the display as it would appear when the midi file was "played".  Under the main Help menu is an item labeled "Send sysex to SC55".  When checked, the sysex message will be sent to both the clipboard and the SC55.  Note:  If you are switching between this application and a sequencing application that uses the midimapper, its best not to send the sysex message to the SC55 as a port conflict will generate an error message box.  Selecting this menu item toggles the checked/unchecked status.  The selection status is saved when leaving the program.  The second optional parameter is to enable/disable the startup screen that is displayed when the program is launched.

  Text messages are created by select Text Editor from the Text Edit menu.  This will display a dialog box with an edit field for entering Text messages.  Messages over 32 characters are truncated at 32 characters.  Pressing the "To Clipboard" pushbutton operates the same a described above for graphics mode.

  SC55 HARDWARE NOTE:   My SC55 has a display "refresh" rate of about 3 seconds -- meaning:  Either a graphic or text event sent to the SoundCanvas will only stay on the screen for about 3 seconds before the display reverts back to what was shown before sending the sysex event.


Graphics Edit

     The graphics area of the SC55 display is 16x16 grid where each cell can be on or off.  The graphics editing window somewhat resembles the SC55 display.  Clicking on a cell will toggle its state.  WYSIWYG (or should get) on the SC55.


Text Edit

     To create a Text message: from the Text Edit menu - select Text Editor .  This will display a dialog box with an edit field for entering Text messages.  Messages over 32 characters are truncated at 32 characters with no warning.  You will receive an error message if the edit field is empty.

     The SC55 will accept keyboard characters with scan codes from 20hex to 80hex -- in human terms: most of the keyboard items excluding Function keys.

     Pressing the Finished button returns to the Graphic edit mode.

     If there are more than 17 characters in the text message, the SC55 will enclose the message in > < markers and scroll the message horizontally.


Program Notes-Info

This is the initial program release: version 1.  I would really like to hear from you if you find problems or don't like something about this program.  Yes, the graphics and icons are tacky.... but, you get what you pay for.  If I can find time - I can attempt to correct problems.  It's probably easiest to try my internet email address; which is:

     richarpr@gateway.bv.tek.com

This program is written in Microsoft C and compiled for 80386 and higher PC's with version 8.0 of their compiler.  It is a standard C Windows application.  It uses a private .ini file which it writes and maintains in the same directory as the executable.  Win.ini is NOT affected.  When Send sysex to SC55 option is on:  the program writes the sysex event in a midi type 1 file (sc55.mid) then calls the media sequencer to play the file using the midimapper.  This can cause driver conflicts if two applications dont like to play together and one is hogging the midimapper port.  The sc55.mid file is not removed, but is written over.  If youd like to modify the code - or just look at some really bad C coding for a laugh -- send me email and I will see if I can get it to you.... no promises.

The usual copyrights:   Microsoft and Roland for -- Microsoft C, SoundCanvas, SC55, etc.


Welcome to SC55 Graphic-Text Editor

Since this is the first time you have started this program - please allow me to give you a little info about it:

     Since you got this far, I'm assuming you have a 80386 or higher, Windows3.1, a mouse, SoundCanvas, and a little patience to read this.  I don't make my living programming... I write a few small "utility" Window programs that typically do things that the commercial programs don't address.

     This program was designed to allow you to formulate a sysex graphic or text message which could be pasted into a midi file using one of the available sequencer software packages that support adding sysex events to a midi "track".  Though maybe not specifically stated; many of these sequencer programs support "pasting" (with ctl-v) from the clipboard.  This application allows you to compose graphic/text messages then sends them to the clipboard in ASCII to be pasted into your sequence editor.  Using the alt-Tab key combination to switch between applications is not terribly "painful".

     I apologize if you were expecting a parameter editor -- this application only edits the graphical display and text sections of the SoundCanvas.

     A selectable menu item will also allow the sysex event to be sent directly to the SoundCanvas for viewing -- along with sending the formatted message to the clipboard.  Unless you select the menu item to turn it on (puts a "check" mark next to the item), it will always be off.  The very first time you run this program (now?) it will be off and will stay that way unless you check the Send sysex to SC55 menu item under the Help menu.

     I would recommend you take a few minutes to scan through the Help menu topics (select Contents from menu above) for more information on running this program.

     ----  Don't worry....the help file and this note are only opened the very first time the program is run.  It will not show again as long as you don't remove the sc55.ini file in this directory (or the sc55.hlp file!).  The program help file is available from within the program from the Help menu.


Options

     There are two program options - both are selectable from the Help menu.  When the option is on , there will be a check beside the menu item.  When the option is off there is no check.

     --  Startup Screen

     This option allows you to turn on/off the SC55 drawing that is shown when the program starts.  Option off:  the startup drawing will not be displayed each time the program is started.

     --  Send sysex to SC55

     This option will send the graphics or text sysex message directly to the SC55 in addition to the clipboard.  Option off:  sysex message is only sent to the clipboard.

     In some cases, depending on the sequencer/hardware configuration of your PC, error messages may appear indicating that the midimapper port is being used by another application.  Should this be annoying to you - turn off this option from the menu.