Using Markers
The location of inserted elements such as custom chord diagrams, text, tempo changes, etc. is indicated by the use of a variety of "markers" or "anchor points" within the tablature grid. The term "marker(s)" is used in connection with otherwise invisible elements while "anchor point(s)" is used in connection with visible elements.
 | independent fingering indicators |
 | custom chord diagrams |
 | drum events (percussions) |
A drum event should be used instead of a dedicated Drum Tablature in cases where only a transient percussion effect is desired.
The anchor points, or markers, used for the different elements (text, chord diagrams, returns, Da signo symbols, etc.) are represented on the screen in different ways depending on the type of element in question. Triangles for text elements, circles for musical effects, squares for inserted objects and diamonds for beam breaks and line feeds. Anchor points can be moved or copied using the standard [Ctrl]+[X,C,V] keyboard shortcuts.
It's important to note that such markers occupy the space of a note in the tablature. They can be deleted, moved or copied like any note. With the exception of fingering indicators, placing any of these elements directly on a space already occupied by a note in the tablature will cause the note to be suppressed both on the screen and on printouts. With certain exceptions, such as special effects and fingering indicators, anchor points MUST be located on unoccupied spaces.
As concerns the placement of such elements in relation to printouts, the most desirable method is to place the anchor point exactly in line with the point at which you wish the element to appear. If no string space is available, e.g. due to the presence of a chord occupying all the available strings, place the marker a 1/64th interval (this will require you to change to 1/64th viewing scale) to the right of the desired position. On printout, TablEdit will automatically offset the actual element recursively to the position of the last note printed. Note that texts and chord diagrams placed in an even-numbered position are not offset and occupy the same amount of space as a 1/4 note.
The vertical position of a text, chord diagram or musical symbol can be adjusted by up to 127 pixels upwards or downwards. When a text marker has an adjustment value other than "0", it's no longer reckoned into the stack containing other, possible, objects at the same position. The vertical adjustment can easily be performed by using the [+] and [-] keys.
The horizontal position of most items can also be adjusted using [<] and [>] by up to 127 pixels to the left or to the right.
{Edit | Format} allows to set the display attributes of all objects referenced by a marker. The function can also be accessed by left-clicking on the fourth zone of the status bar at the bottom of the main window.
Double clicking on an anchor point or pressing [Return/Enter] while the cursor is located directly on one causes TablEdit to open the corresponding dialog so that you can edit or modify the element concerned.
Pressing [Q] when the cursor is located directly on an anchor point causes TablEdit to search the current module for the next occurrence of the same type of element. Pressing [
]+[Q] after the initial search has been conducted will extend the search to the next element of the same type as the initial marker without reference to the latest selection. The shortcut []+[R] allows you to search for the previous occurrence.
This search procedure is very useful for performing searches on notes (fret numbers). Let's say you want to search for all instances of the number "3" within a tablature. If you run into a "3" that happens to be a slide and then simply press [Q] again, the search criterion gets changed to slides, if the "3" is part of a grace note combination TablEdit will start looking for notes associated with grace notes, etc.
In order to make the palettes, the ruler and all markers temporarily invisible, press [F2].