Import ASCII
{File}{Import ASCII} allows the import of ordinary ASCII tab files (such as those often found on the Internet). TablEdit recognizes the lines containing tablature information and processes them regardless of the number of measures they contain. No special preparation of the text should be necessary.
By the way, TablEdit recognizes the line of letter codes indicating the duration which is present in some advanced TAB files and use the codes to compute the right position of the notes to be imported. For example, the following line will be perfectly recognized being assumed that the right time signature (3/4) has been formerly set.
Q E E E. S E E E E E E Q E E E E
D||-------------0-----|-----------0--------|-------------0h--2--|
B||----------3-----3--|--------3-----3-----|----------3---------|
G||-------2-----------|-----2-----------2--|-------0------------|
D||--0----------------|--3-----------------|--2-----------------|
A||-------------------|--------------------|--------------------|
D||-------------------|--------------------|--------------------|
TablEdit can also import tablatures in the format invented by Wayne Cripps for transcribing pieces written for Medieval and Renaissance Lute. Many tablatures in this format are available from: cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/ or lutemusic.org.
To open this type of tablature, you need to call the Import ASCII command and, in the dialog box, check the "Wayne Cripps lute tab" option.
TablEdit adjusts the rhythmic signature as necessary to respect the duration indications contained in the file to be imported. If the bar size is too small, for example 3/8, you can double it in Time Signature by selecting 6/8 and checking the "Reorganize" check box.
If the file to be imported does not contain a "-tuning" field, you'll have to set up the blank tablature into which the file is to be imported in advance as concerns tuning. Generally the "Lute renaissance" tuning is appropriate and allows to import correctly the bass notes played on the strings higher than the 6th string.
Note: This dialog box can be resized.