Running External Tools Automatically

[lallis]

We have a check box to instruct an External Tool to run "on startup". Experiment shows this means the initial startup of Cantabile.

Does anybody know of a way to run an External Tool automatically when a new media file opens? If there is no way now, can such a provision be added?


I leave one VST piano session loaded for a long time, opening new MIDI and audio backing tracks to play with. Ideally, each new media file would trigger the display of its corresponding sheet music on an LCD screen at the keyboard. This already works fine through an External Tool, slinging it into a picture viewer. I want to automate the process.


I'd be grateful for any advice from fellow users, or thoughts from Brad Robinson on the possibility of programming this sort of thing.

[lallis]

Removed confusing idiot post

[TiUser]

Just for curiosity... what program are you using as picture viewer for your sheet music?

How do you flip pages there? Can you overlay annotations (non destructive)?

[lallis]

Faststone Maxview seems best for me. Irfanview is OK. Many such free viewers would do (especially if they have a full-screen mode).

I simply avoid page-turning, by putting leadsheets onto one page. For larger scores, viewer programs move forward and back in a directory using keys or clicks. A programmable foot switch could send suitable signals -- or make a floor switch from a discard keyboard, one of those cheap roll-up boards, or a broken joystick.

I haven't even considered overlay annotations. I'm just showing tiny PNG files, about 20K each. Display is instantaneous, and a very long directory is still tiny on a pen drive.


I remember you mentioning a small display you use. What's your method?

[TiUser]

I've written an own sheet viewer that can do some basic non destructive overlay annotations... but I have several issues with this and do not use it seriously right now.

The small monitor thing (i.e. with touch capability) is not directly a need for the viewer, that's the telnet thing for loading sessions/setlists and selecting subsessions or song entries in Cantabile.

At the moment this software project is a bit a mess...

[lallis]

At the moment this software project is a bit a mess...

You know, many things are in that same condition. One can only, as a Hong Kong merchant wrote to me the other day, "keep good smooth."

I was hoping somebody would inform me the "triggers" available in Cantabile Performer could somehow start external tools. It would be an excuse to upgrade, if Performer has helpful provisions. But apparently starting tools is not the sort of thing the triggers will trigger. Am I correct? Is there anything else in Performer that could assist?

[TiUser]

...to avoid confusion here... I was about my "TouchControl" software project, not Cantabile...

...well in Performer you can start external programs by triggers, but I've not used this so far. But as with midi routings I guess that's a feature that can make you dizzy...

[lallis]

...in Performer you can start external programs by triggers...

I will get that demo, then. But I become dizzy very easily, so I don't know how far I will get.

Thanks, TI.

[TiUser]

Try it and please report how good it works for you...

[lallis]

For TIuser and anyone interested:

I remembered these silicone keypads that are cheap and durable -- and not terribly sensitive. I think they would be suitable for navigating on a display monitor from the musical keyboard. They could be placed on the keyboard or probably adapted to use on the floor as foot-switches. Smaller ones with 18 keys also are sold, but are not cheaper.

http://cgi.ebay.com/33-Key-USB-Flexible ... 4149fed9a8

[TiUser]

Interesting - never have seen this type of layout - numpad plus arrows.

But how does it help navigating? Can it replace a mouse?

[lallis]

But how does it help navigating? Can it replace a mouse?

Once you get into a directory with an image open, you can navigate viewers forward and back with arrows, or zoom the size of your sheet music using + and - keys. "Delete" will erase an unwanted page from the disk. "Return" toggles viewers between full-screen and window. So a keypad like that is not as versatile as a mouse, but you could turn pages and do some useful things for little money and only small space used.

Silicone boards and pads are durable, but ugly to type on, requiring high pressure and precise finger placement; that's not important for one or two key presses. Could be an advantage in preventing accidental page changes.

[bradr]

I was hoping somebody would inform me the "triggers" available in Cantabile Performer could somehow start external tools.

Actually, this is possible in Performer:

1. Create a trigger.
2. Set the trigger's Action to "Execute External Program or Script" and enter the path to the program to execute.

You then have a couple of options for when the trigger is invoked using the Event setting:

* You could set the event to run it on Session or SubSession Load
* You could set a custom action and bind a MIDI controller assignment to it

I hope this helps. I suggest trying the Performer Demo to check it does what you want.

Brad