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Five Line SkinkFive Line Skink is a desktop application which is used to create music staff notation using the abc standard described at http://abc.sourceforge.net/Skink is available for the Macintosh, Windows and Linux platforms (early versions were also tested on Solaris), but requires that Java be installed - at least Java 1.4 for Skink version 1.x and Java 5 for Skink version 2.x. If you are running on a Macintosh, Java is installed for you.Wil Macaulaywil_dot_macaulay_at_gmail_dot_comhttp://celticmusic.ca Skink version 2.0j0 (public beta) 16 June 2009This version is still under construction - please send any feedback (positive or negative!) to wil_dot_macaulay_at_gmail_dot_com . If you really like it, feel free to donate through PayPal below.For Mac OS 10.7:http://celticmusic.ca/skinkbeta/skinkmacuniversal.zipFor Mac OS 10.4.x to 10.6.x:http://celticmusic.ca/skinkbeta/Skink2.0AlphaMacOSX.dmgfor Windows with Java 5 or better:http://celticmusic.ca/skinkbeta/Skink2_0AlphaLinuxWin.zipfor Linux with Sun Java 5 or better:http://celticmusic.ca/skinkbeta/Skink2_0AlphaLinuxWin.zip- Linux and Windows version also available as a tar file if you have no file unzipper:http://celticmusic.ca/skinkbeta/Skink2alpha.tarThis is a prerelease version of Five Line Skink. Major differences between Skink 2.0 and Skink 1.x include: Skink 2.0 supports multi-voice abc, as well as related features such as alto, tenor and bass clefs Skink 2.0 can invoke abcm2ps directly. Support for multiple open files in separate windows window menu support for abcm2ps format files preferences menu can be used to update abcm2ps path and format file sample format file (skink.fmt) to produce abcm2ps output similar to Skink output tested on Mac OSX 10.5.7 with Java 5, Windows XP with Java 6 and Ubuntu 9.04 with Sun Java 6Some other enhancements include: improvements to layout more consistent handling of the interaction between continuous layout mode and playback - in continuous mode, Skink will now only display the tune in which data is being entered, and will play that tune when play is invoked from the menu the abc file directory is now 'sticky' - Skink will remember the last directory from which abc files were opened after restart.Note that in this version there are a number of restrictions, some of which are documented here: Skink 2.0 requires Java 1.5 or better, and thus must run on Mac OS X 10.4.x or better In order for Skink to invoke abcm2ps, it must be installed separately, and must appear in the path. The pre-built abcm2ps that is available at http://abcplus.sourceforge.net/#abcm2ps installs in /usr/bin/ which satisfies these requirements. Future versions of Skink will support configuration of the location and options of abcm2ps. In the current version, this is controlled by the environment variable "ca.celticmusic.skink.abctool",which defaults to the string "abcm2ps". This can also be changed from the preferences menu. Merging voices on a single staff is not yet supported. Playback of multi-voice music is not fully supported. Specifically, in cases where one voice has tuplets (for example triplets) while another does not, roundoff error can cause the voices to become unsynchronized. The interaction between parts (P:xxx) and voices (V:xxx) is not fully resolved. Selecting 'New' from the file menu when you have changed a file will prompt you to save the file It is possible to open the same file multiple times. If you change the file in different buffers, the last one saved will win. When canceling out of quit, the Window menu can be momentarily corrupted. Multiple windows can cover each other.Skink version 1.2a3 20 September 2004Skink is a java application which supports the abc 1.6 standard with some extensions. It can open, edit, save, play and display abc files. My goal was to have a lightweight abc editor that can be used as a portable tunebook on a laptop to display tunes so that I can practice when I travel, as well as a basic abc display program that I can run under Solaris or Windows NT to look at abc files that arrive in my mailbox. As a result, I focused on creating a legible staff display that is small enough to be usable on a laptop with an 800 by 600 screen. Playback is (at least for now) focused on 'proof-hearing'; that is, playing back the bare bones of the tune so I can tell if it sounds right.Skink is freeware. If you would like to make a donation for it, you can do so through the PayPal button below (use the address above). I may make it open-source, depending on whether I get it to the point of wanting to show the world my mistakes... I still have lots to do before that time, however, so don't ask!This version of Skink has been developed and tested mostly under Mac OS X 10.3.5. This or previous versions have been run successfully by myself or others under Mac OS X 10.1.5, 10.2.6 and 10.3 with Java 1.3.2, and Java 1.4.2,Ê Windows NT workstation version 4 with Java 1.3.1, and 1.4.1, Windows 2000 with Java 1.4.1, Windows XP with Java 1.4.2, Solaris 2.7 under Java 1.2.2, Solaris 2.8 with Java 1.3.1 and 1.4.0, and Linux under Java 1.3.1. .I strongly suggest Java 1.3.1 or Java 1.4.2 as the Java platform.