README for MusiQwik and MusiQwikB, version 4.

00:
***** Revision History:
This is version 4.00, released April 2003. Changes: slight internal coding chang
e. Most users will not notice the difference from version 3.41, but the version
4.00 font may work in some applications that did not properly process all of the
earlier versions.
There are two fonts in the MusiQwik family: MusiQwik, and MusiQwikB. The differe
nce is that MusiQwikB has 1/16 notes in places where MusiQwik has 1/8 notes. Ver
sion prior to 3.41 referred to MusiQwikB and "MusiQwik Bold" but this confused s
ome applications, as is it not a bold font.
Prior version 3.41 was released in November, 2002. There were some small dimensi
onal changes to characters from earlier versions. Version 3.41 fixed an obscure
code that might, under some circumstances, lead a program to classify it as an A
sian-language font.
If you have a version prior to 3.41, remove it and install the more recent versi
on.
***** License:
Free public license. May be freely redistributed. These fonts are offered AS-IS
with NO WARRANTY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED and no support. USER ACCEPTS ALL RISK OF USE
.
***** Application:
MusiQwik is a special-purpose music notation font that may be used in various ap
plications that accept True Type fonts. Be sure that you embed the font in your
documents or re-distribute the font to those who wish to see your music, or redu
ce the notation to a bitmap image. Also be sure to inspect your music carefully,
especially if you make use of ties or fermatas, since some applications will in
sert undesired white space.
MusicQwik is best used with a 16-column character map that places the space char
acter in the leftmost column. There are free utilities for this purpose, such as
"Typecase" for Windows, by Anthony Appleyard, available from sources such as ww
w.simtel.net. I am told that similar utilities are available for Macintosh.
The font includes clefs, time signatures, key signatures, and a number of other
staff symbols. It also includes elements for constructing notes from 1/1 to 1/8
duration, with or without accidental or dot, from pitch two ledger lines below t
he staff to one ledger line above it. This is sufficient for depicting the melod
ies of most popular songs and church hymns. The companion font, MusiQwikB, conta
ins 1/16 notes instead of 1/8 notes.
Notes are organized by column, according to pitch. If your note is modified by a
n accidental or dot, select the modifier from the same column.
Fermatas and ties are designed to overhang the following symbol or symbols. In v
ersions of this font prior to 3.41, these were "zero cursor width" symbols that
confused some applications. This version assigns a nonzero cursor width. You may
use the hyphen (-) key to insert a tiny segment of staff, if alignment of the n
otes is important. Regular sections of staff are inserted using the equal (=) ke
y.
Be sure that word wrapping is turned off, or your staffs will break in unexpecte

d locations.
This font looks best at 24 point size.
MusiQwik has been tested in MS Word 97 on Windows 98 and XP, MS Works 6, Notepad
(98 and XP), Adobe Photoshop 5LE (98 and XP), Irfan View (98 and XP), and Open
Office for Windows XP. Other applications and operating systems may accept Windo
ws True Type fonts; I am told that Mac OS-X will. The only way to find out is to
try it. Recipients of your files will not be able to see music unless the font
is installed in their system. Some applications allow font embedding.
In many applications, the font name will appear as musical notation rather than
"MusiQwik" in the list of available fonts. But it will still be located alphabet
ically under M (that is, after Lucida but before Palatino).
To use the font, it is best not to memorize keystrokes. Instead, use a suitable
character map utility, and select character by clicking them. That will transfer
characters to the clipboard (or, to a program buffer and then to the clipboard)
, from which they can be pasted into the target application.
If you are using Windows, there are at least two ways to create a bitmap image o
f your music, which can then be saved in a web-compatible file type such as GIF
or JPG. You may be able to use a simple program such as Notepad to write the mus
ic and save the file. Using "print screen," the image is transfered to the clipb
oard. From there, it can be pasted into a suitable imaging application, and crop
ped. Even the simple Windows Paint utility will work for that purpose. I prefer
the free "Irfan View."
Some older text editors will not show MusiQwik as notation. That's not the fault
of the font: Try another application.
***** Use on the Internet
Alas, in early 2003 it is still not the case that web page font embedding is gen
erally used. If you wish to use MusiQwik to place notation on a web page, you ha
ve three choices: (1) Re-distribute the font, and instruct users to install the
font before viewing your web page. The disadvantages are that it takes time to d
ownload and install the font, and the font cannot be used on every operating sys
tem. (2) Create a PDF file of your music, viewable by Adobe Acrobat Reader. The
disadvantages are that you need the technology to create PDF, and there is a del
ay while the Reader loads; the Reader may display the music larger or smaller th
an you intended; and the music cannot be placed in-line with something else. (3)
Create a bitmap image of your notation, and place the image in your web page as
GIF, JPG, or PNG. This is the best solution.
***** Special tips:
You will need to make liberal use of the blank staff segment (=) to space the no
tation. The ties and fermatas are designed to overhang one or more of the follow
ing characters.