Typing Figures (WFC, 22/11/99)

The following method of typing figures is intended to be easy to remember, but also to be compatible with previous music documents, so it is not necessary to change any old figures. This is the reason why the rules are different for the figure 3. In what follows, N stands for any number (from 0 to 14), and # stands for any accidental (use # for sharp, ! for natural, @ for flat).

To get N, type N
To get #, type #3
To get #N, type #N (but, for #3 type #&3)
To get N#, type #%N (but, for 3# type #%&3)
To get N+, type +N (This give stylised figures for 2+, 4+, 5+, 6+).
To get N/, type /N (This give stylised figures for 5/, 6/, 7/).

A way to remember these is that the number is always typed last. The % sign means "reverse". The & sign means "also print the 3". The signs coming before the number may actually be typed in any order, so #%N is the same as %#N.

Notice that as you type, the typed character will appear. The desired figure will appear only after you have typed a valid figure code. The reason this happens is so you can see how many characters to erase if you make a typing mistake.

As previously, to get columns of figures, simply type the figures successively. Do not put a Return or Space between them. For example, to get a 64 chord, simply type 64, and the 6-above-4 column will appear. Similarly, to get a slash 73, simply type /73, and the stylised slash 7 figure will appear in a column above the 3.