@c -*- coding: utf-8; mode: texinfo; -*-

@ignore
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@c \version "2.12.0"

@node Converting from other formats
@chapter Converting from other formats

Music can be entered also by importing it from other formats.  This
chapter documents the tools included in the distribution to do so.
There are other tools that produce LilyPond input, for example GUI
sequencers and XML converters.  Refer to the
@uref{http://@/lilypond@/.org,website} for more details.

These are separate programs from @command{lilypond} itself, and are
run on the command line; see @ref{Command-line usage} for more
information.  If you have MacOS 10.3 or 10.4 and you have trouble
running some of these scripts, e.g. @code{convert-ly}, see
@rgeneral{MacOS X}.


@knownissues
We unfortunately do not have the resources to maintain these
programs; please consider them @qq{as-is}.  Patches are appreciated, but
bug reports will almost certainly not be resolved.

@menu
* Invoking midi2ly::            Importing MIDI.
* Invoking musicxml2ly::        Importing MusicXML.
* Invoking abc2ly::             Importing ABC.
* Invoking etf2ly::             Importing Finale.
* Other formats::
@end menu



@node Invoking midi2ly
@section Invoking @command{midi2ly}

@cindex MIDI

@command{midi2ly} translates a Type@tie{}1 MIDI file to a LilyPond source
file.

MIDI (Music Instrument Digital Interface) is a standard for digital
instruments: it specifies cabling, a serial protocol and a file
format.  The MIDI file format is a de facto standard format for
exporting music from other programs, so this capability may come in
useful when importing files from a program that has a converter for a
direct format.

@command{midi2ly} converts tracks into @rinternals{Staff} and
channels into @rinternals{Voice} contexts.  Relative mode is used
for pitches, durations are only written when necessary.

It is possible to record a MIDI file using a digital keyboard, and
then convert it to @file{.ly}.  However, human players are not
rhythmically exact enough to make a MIDI to LY conversion trivial.
When invoked with quantizing (@code{-s} and @code{-d} options)
@command{midi2ly} tries to compensate for these timing errors, but is not
very good at this.  It is therefore not recommended to use @command{midi2ly}
for human-generated midi files.


It is invoked from the command-line as follows,
@example
midi2ly [@var{option}]@dots{} @var{midi-file}
@end example

Note that by @q{command-line}, we mean the command line of the
operating system.  See @ref{Converting from other formats}, for
more information about this.

The following options are supported by @command{midi2ly}.

@table @code
@item -a, --absolute-pitches
Print absolute pitches.

@item -d, --duration-quant=@var{DUR}
Quantize note durations on @var{DUR}.

@item -e, --explicit-durations
Print explicit durations.

@item -h,--help
Show summary of usage.

@item -k, --key=@var{acc}[:@var{minor}]
Set default key.  @math{@var{acc} > 0} sets number of sharps;
@math{@var{acc} < 0} sets number of flats.  A minor key is indicated by
@code{:1}.

@item -o, --output=@var{file}
Write output to @var{file}.

@item -s, --start-quant=@var{DUR}
Quantize note starts on @var{DUR}.

@item -t, --allow-tuplet=@var{DUR}*@var{NUM}/@var{DEN}
Allow tuplet durations @var{DUR}*@var{NUM}/@var{DEN}.

@item -v, --verbose
Be verbose.

@item -V, --version
Print version number.

@item -w, --warranty
Show warranty and copyright.

@item -x, --text-lyrics
Treat every text as a lyric.
@end table


@knownissues

Overlapping notes in an arpeggio will not be correctly rendered.  The
first note will be read and the others will be ignored.  Set them all
to a single duration and add phrase markings or pedal indicators.


@node Invoking musicxml2ly
@section Invoking @code{musicxml2ly}

@cindex MusicXML

@uref{http://@/www.@/musicxml@/.org/,MusicXML} is an XML dialect
for representing music notation.

@command{musicxml2ly} extracts the notes, articulations, score structure,
lyrics, etc. from part-wise MusicXML files, and writes them to a .ly
file.  It is invoked from the command-line.


It is invoked from the command-line as follows,
@example
musicxml2ly [@var{option}]@dots{} @var{xml-file}
@end example

Note that by @q{command-line}, we mean the command line of the
operating system.  See @ref{Converting from other formats}, for
more information about this.

If the given filename is @file{-}, @command{musicxml2ly} reads input
from the command line.

The following options are supported by @command{musicxml2ly}:

@table @code
@item -a, --absolute
convert pitches in absolute mode.

@item -h,--help
print usage and option summary.

@item -l, --language=LANG
use a different language file 'LANG.ly' and corresponding pitch names,
e.g. 'deutsch' for deutsch.ly and German note names.

@item --lxml
use the lxml.etree Python package for XML-parsing; uses less memory and cpu time.

@item --nd --no-articulation-directions
do not convert directions (@code{^}, @code{_} or @code{-}) for
articulations, dynamics, etc.

@item --no-beaming
do not convert beaming information, use LilyPond's automatic
beaming instead.

@item -o,--output=@var{file}
set output filename to @var{file}.  If @var{file} is @file{-}, the output
will be printed on stdout.  If not given, @var{xml-file}@file{.ly} will
be used.

@item -r,--relative
convert pitches in relative mode (default).

@item -v,--verbose
be verbose.

@item --version
print version information.

@item -z,--compressed
input file is a zip-compressed MusicXML file.
@end table


@node Invoking abc2ly
@section Invoking @code{abc2ly}

@warning{This program is not supported, and may be remove from
future versions of LilyPond.}

@cindex ABC

ABC is a fairly simple ASCII based format.  It is described at the ABC site:

@quotation
@uref{http://@/www@/.walshaw@/.plus@/.com/@/abc/@/learn@/.html}.
@end quotation

@command{abc2ly} translates from ABC to LilyPond.  It is invoked as follows:

@example
abc2ly [@var{option}]@dots{} @var{abc-file}
@end example

The following options are supported by @command{abc2ly}:

@table @code
@item -b,--beams=None
preserve ABC's notion of beams
@item -h,--help
this help
@item -o,--output=@var{file}
set output filename to @var{file}.
@item -s,--strict
be strict about success
@item --version
print version information.
@end table

There is a rudimentary facility for adding LilyPond code to the ABC
source file.  If you say:

@example
%%LY voices \set autoBeaming = ##f
@end example

This will cause the text following the keyword @q{voices} to be inserted
into the current voice of the LilyPond output file.

Similarly,

@example
%%LY slyrics more words
@end example

will cause the text following the @q{slyrics} keyword to be inserted
into the current line of lyrics.


@knownissues

The ABC standard is not very @q{standard}.  For extended features
(e.g., polyphonic music) different conventions exist.

Multiple tunes in one file cannot be converted.

ABC synchronizes words and notes at the beginning of a line;
@command{abc2ly} does not.

@command{abc2ly} ignores the ABC beaming.


@node Invoking etf2ly
@section Invoking @command{etf2ly}

@warning{This program is not supported, and may be remove from
future versions of LilyPond.}

@cindex ETF
@cindex enigma
@cindex Finale
@cindex Coda Technology

ETF (Enigma Transport Format) is a format used by Coda Music
Technology's Finale product.  @command{etf2ly} will convert part of an ETF
file to a ready-to-use LilyPond file.

It is invoked from the command-line as follows.

@example
etf2ly [@var{option}]@dots{} @var{etf-file}
@end example

Note that by @q{command-line}, we mean the command line of the
operating system.  See @ref{Converting from other formats}, for
more information about this.

The following options are supported by @command{etf2ly}:

@table @code
@item -h,--help
this help
@item -o,--output=@var{FILE}
set output filename to @var{FILE}
@item --version
version information
@end table


@knownissues

The list of articulation scripts is incomplete.  Empty measures
confuse @command{etf2ly}.  Sequences of grace notes are ended improperly.


@node Other formats
@section Other formats

@cindex External programs, generating LilyPond files

LilyPond itself does not come with support for any other formats,
but some external tools can also generate LilyPond files.  These
are listed in @rgeneral{Alternate editors}.

