MusIco Help
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Index
Contact
MusIco Help
index
(Please note: this help is still under construction)
Foreword
Logging on and off
Main Window
Menus
File Menu
Search Menu
Options Menu
Language Menu
Tables Menu
MusIco Lists
Help Menu
ToolBar Buttons:
Catalogue
Image Thumbnail
Image Button
Search Button
Browse Button
MusIco Records
"Full" record view
Page Outline in "Full" view
"Quick" record view
Record Templates
Copying Records
Renaming Records
Preview
Record Information
Editing Records
Rich Text: Bold and Italics
New Record
Open Record
Delete Record
Search
Search
Saving Searches
Search Results
Lists and Tables
Artists Table
Books and Manuscripts
Hornborstel Sachs
Cataloger's Institution
Geographical Places
Provinces and Regions
Iconclass Table
Libraries and Museums
List of People
Musical Objects
Catalogers and Photographers
Publishers and Printers
MusIco Lists
Editing
Insert Symbols Button
Change Font Button
Deleting List or Table Items
Rich Text: Bold and Italics
Users and Databases
Program Options
Database Files
Add Musico Users
Musico Groups
Merging Databases
Editing or Adding Languages
MusIco Online Help
Reporting Bugs
Foreword
The idea for this software first occurred in 1997, when we realized that many institutions were developing catalogues of musical iconography independently of one another, following differing scientific criteria and methodology, and many of these were still in paper form. These catalogues also tended to be internal systems within the particular institution that produced them, generally unavailable to others and in formats that make the data difficult to share.
At that time two cataloging systems were especially worthy of notice, both for their rigorous methods and for the number of records already compiled with them: HIDA, a good, but rather old software mainly used in German-speaking countries, and CIdIcM, a paper catalogue created at the University of Pavia, Italy. Other attempts were made to develop computer software for very simplified cataloguing (such as the one in use for RIdIM), while some scholars used programs intended for generic cataloguing of art works, adapting them to the needs of musical iconography.
Our goal was to develop a complete musical iconography database in a unified, multi-language format that would make the sharing of data possible in an international context. We would eventually like to extend our work to the internet, with an international database based on MusIco that can be used as a tool for reference and research in the field of musical iconography.
MusIco was developed by Mariagrazia Carlone and by Paul Beier, with the help of several scholars who generously dedicated time and energy testing former versions of the software and made suggestions which we have followed where possible. We wish to thank especially Prof. Tilman Seebass and Dr. Bjorn Tammen.
Main Window
follow the links by clicking on the image
Browse Button
To use browse, first open a record (double click on the catalogue), press the browse button, and start scrolling the catalogue. As the catalogue is scrolled, the opened record will change to display the one currently selected in the catalogue. This way, you don't have to open each record individually to display it.
Image Button
click on this button to open the image in a window
Image Thumbnail
What is it?
The thumbnail is a small display of a record's image. To view the image in a separate window, click on the image button
Locations:
- on top of the Catalogue
NOTE : from here it may be temporarily closed or re sized:
to close: put the mouse on the bottom edge of the thumbnail frame so that the cursor changes to "resize", press the left mouse button, move the mouse upward (move downward to open again)
to resize: click the resize button move the mouse while holding down the mouse button.
Details Button
Press the "Details Button" beneath the catalogue to view the catalogue items in greater detail. The Record code, Title and Artist are listed. When pressed a second time, the catalogue returns to a simple display, with only the record codes listed.
Note: if there are multiple artists or titles in a record, then multiple catalogue entries are shown for that record. In this case, the different entries do not indicate more than one record with the same code; they all point to the same record. It is only in order to display the complete information.
File Menu
New Record
Open Record
Delete Record
Close
Close All
Exit
follow the links by clicking on the image
New Record
To create a new record:
1 -
- Select "new record" on the "File" menu
- press the "New" button on the main window toolbar
- right click the mouse over the catalogue and select "New"
2 - Type the new record's code
NOTE: The program suggests a code for the new record. You may accept it or type a new one. (You can turn off this feature by un-checking "automatic compilation")
3 - Press "OK" . If "automatic compilation" is on, the "Cataloging" section of the new record will be automatically compiled with the following data: cataloger, type of intervention and current date.
Open Record
To open a record in the catalogue you can:
- select a record code from the catalog list and double-click it
- select a record code from the catalog list, then open the "File" menu and select "open"
- press the right mouse button over the code, and select "open"
Delete Record
1 - select the record in the catalogue
2 - Delete :
- press the "Delete" button on the main window tool bar
- select "delete record" on the "File" menu
- press the right mouse button over the catalogue for a pop-up menu and select "delete record".
3 - answer "yes" twice.
NOTE: Deleting records is only allowed for the user who created the record, and the web administrator.
Close Record
To close a single record you can:
- select "close"in the "File" menu
NOTE: the record you want to close must be open and currently displayed.
To simultaneously close all records, select "Close All" in the "File" menu.
- press the record's "close" button
Close All Records
To simultaneously close all the opened records: select "Close All" in the "File" menu
Exit Program
There are many ways to exit the program. You can press the "close" button on the toolbar, select "Exit" on the file menu, press the "x" system button on the title bar, or press simultaneously "ALT" and "F4" from anywhere in the program.
Search Menu
View Catalogue
Search
Saving Searches
follow the links by clicking on the image
Catalogue
Image Thumbnail
Image Button
Search Button
Browse Button
Details Button
follow the links by clicking on the image
What is it?
The catalogue is a list of all the records in the database. If the Details Button is pressed down, the catalogue lists the title and artist, as well as the record code.
Location:
In the left section of the screen.
Navigation:
The catalogue may be hidden or made to reappear by:
- Selecting "View Catalogue" in the "Search menu"
- Pressing the "Catalogue" button on the Main window toolbar
When you scroll the catalog, the thumbnail changes. When a record has more than one images, all of them may be seen in the thumbnail by pressing the little black arrows underneath.
Search
1 - To start a search:
- press the "search" button on the Main window toolbar
- select "search" on the "Search" menu
- press the "search" button over the catalogue to display the results box, and from there press the "search" button.
2 - choose between general , single or double criteria search (follow the link for instructions)
3 - search results appear in a special box. They may be saved for future consultation.
Saved Searches
What is it?
When you perform a search in MusIco and there is a result of one or more records, the result is automatically stored in the Saved Searches box under the heading "Last Search". The "Last Search" result is replaced whenever a new search is made. You can also save specific search results and name them. When a search result is selected in the Saved Searches box, the records appear in the Search Results box.
Location
- The "Saved Searches" button on the toolbar.
- The "Open Saved Search" item on the Search menu
- The "Open" button on the Search Results box.
Navigation
- Select a search result from the list and press "Confirm"
- Delete items from the list with "Delete"
- If "Add to list" is checked, the result will be added to the list of records in the Search Results box, otherwise it will replace the list of records in the Search Results box.
General/Single/Double criteria search
General Search: Type the word or phrase to search in the text box and press the "search" button.
NOTE: The general search is good if you need to search the many free text fields in each record. The disadvantage is that it does not cross-check the English key-words to search fields in different languages.
Single and Double Criteria Search: look for data in a particular field of the MusIco record.
NOTE: Not all fields or sections are searchable using the single or double criteria search.
How to insert a criteria (underlined actions are obligatory):
1 - select the page (i.e. the MusIco record section) in the first list box.
2 - select from among the available field names that appear in the second list box
3 - select from the list or type a word to search in the third list box
4 - Single Criteria Search: check the "exclusion" check-box in order to search all instances that do not correspond to the selected criteria.
Double Criteria Search: decide how the two criteria are combined or compared to each other. The options are:
- "And" - records containing both criteria are added to the result list
- "Or" - records containing one or the other of the criteria are added
- "And Not" - records containing the first, but not the second criteria are added
5 - check "Entire database" or "Selected records" This option is available only when there are records already listed in the results box: these are the "selected records" to be searched, as opposed to searching the entire catalogue. With this option, you can do repeated searches on sub-sets of MusIco records, and progressively refine the results.
6 -when all of the obligatory fields are compiled, the "search" button will be enabled.
Options Menu
Logging on and off
Tool Bar
Program Options
Merging Databases
Search results box
What is it?
When you perform a search in MusIco and there is a result of one or more records, the result is displayed as a list of records in the Search Results box.
Location
- The "Search" button above the catalogue.
- Search Results box is opened automatically after you:
1- Perform a search
2- Open a Saved Search
Navigation
Records in the Search Results box are displayed in six columns:
- Thumbnail: double click on the thumbnail area to open and close the thumbnail image.
- Check: if checked, the record entry is persistent. This means that when you clear the list, add records with further searches or open saved searches, the checked records are not cleared from the list.
- Record Code: Click on the code to open the record in MusIco.
- Artist, Title, Date: information about the record.
Click on the column headers to sort the list.
In addition, there are several buttons at the top of the Search Results box:
- Open: open a a Saved Search
- Save: Save the list of records in the Search Results box:
- Sort: an alternative to clicking column headers to sort the list.
- Clear List: Clear the records from the list. (This does not eliminate records, it just erases them from the list). Checked records will not be cleared with this button.
- Search: Opens the Search box.
Language Menu
Select your language.
A note about the languages: A few of the languages offered in MusIco have not been completely translated or tested. We welcome any help we can get in this area, as we (the authors) don't speak all of the languages on offer. To edit a language, chose the item "Other Languages" on this menu. This launches a program in which you can add a language, and you can also edit any of the languages currently available.
Tables Menu
Artists Table
Books and Manuscripts
Hornborstel Sachs
Cataloger's Institution
Geographical Places
Provinces
Regions/States
Iconclass Table
Libraries and Museums
List of People
Musical Objects
Catalogers and Photographers
Publishers and Printers
See: General information about Tables
Tables: general information
What is it?
Tables are databases containing fixed lists of items corresponding to specific topics. The simplest tables have just one field, not differing basically from Lists. Usually, however, tables are more complex and have several fields (sometimes distributed on two or three pages), some of which are linked to further tables. Usually, when an item from a table is inserted in a MusIco record, only the main field is visible in the record: in order to see all fields, the table must be opened. (e.g., when a "geographical location" is inserted in the "Locations" section of the MusIco record, only the "City, town or place name" is displayed, but when opening the "Geographical Places" table also the "Province", "Region" and "Nation" become visible). There are a few exceptions, however: for instance, in the "Artist" section of a MusIco record the field "Artist" is a link to the "Artist" table; when an artist's name is selected from the table, it appears in the "artist" field of the record, but under the field the artist's milieu and biographical data are also displayed.
Location
- "Tables" menu on main window.
- Link button inside a MusIco record:
in the "full" template these link buttons are rather big and contain the name of the table,
in the "quick" template they are small and all have a white book logo.
NOTE: When a table is accessed from inside a MusIco record, it has a button called "Accept" on top. By clicking it, the selected item in the table is inserted in the corresponding field of the record.
Navigation
All tables have some common features, and to compile them similar procedures are requested:
To scroll a table: scroll the side bar, or click directly on the list.
To add a new item in the table: press the "Add" button, compile the requested fields, press confirm (see also detailed instructions for each table).
To erase an item from the table: select the item, press the "Delete" button and then press "Yes" . However, if the selected item is in use (in the database) it will not be deleted. See Deleting List and Table Items.
Deleting List and Table Items
To erase an item from a list or table: select the item, press the "Delete" button and then press "Yes".
However, if the selected item is being used somewhere in the database, a "database error" will arise, and you will not be allowed to delete it. To overcome this problem, follow this procedure:
- Perform a search for the item you would like to delete. Do a "Single criteria" search for the specific item in question wherever it may be used in the database. (Do not do a "General search") If, for example, the item is the name of an artist, search the "Artists" page.
- Once you have found the record(s) in which the item in question has been inserted, change or eliminate it from the appropriate field.
- Once all references to that item have been eliminated, you can go back to the table or list and successfully delete it.
- If you still can not delete it, this means that you have not found every instance in which it was used in the database. Repeat the search.
MusIco Lists
What is it?
MusIco uses a number of word lists that represent categories of objects, actions or definitions. For example, a performer's "actions" (sings, plays an instrument, dances...) are contained in a list. Most MusIco lists can be viewed, edited and enlarged in the "List Box" This box is divided vertically into two sections (left and right). The left section lists the list categories; by selecting an item in the left section, the corresponding list is displayed on the right side.
Location
- On the "Lists" menu on main window.
- Inside a MusIco record:
1 - by pressing the small down-arrow to the side of the field, a drop-down list is displayed.
2 - (only for editable lists): by pressing a button with the name of the list.
Navigation
To scroll one list: scroll the side bar, or click directly on the list
To add a new item in the list:
1 - select the list you want to edit.
2 - click the "Add" button.
3 - Compile the field "Edit" with the new item in your language.
4 - If you are using a language different from English, you have another field for the English equivalent: you must compile it, otherwise the new item will not be accepted.
5 - Press "Confirm".
To delete an item from the list: select the item you want to erase, press the "Delete" button and then "yes". However, if the selected item is in use in some record it will not be deleted. See Deleting List and Table Items.
To edit (modify) an item in the list: select the item you want to edit, type the changes in the field "Edit", then press "Confirm".
Help Menu
About...
MusIco Online Help
Reporting Bugs
Register MusIco
About...
What is it?
Information about the program, acknowledgements and credits.
Location
Help menu on main window.
Navigation
Stop and start the scrolling text by clicking on it with the mouse.
MusIco Online Help
When working in MusIco, the Online Help can be summoned by pressing the "F1" key.
This Help is still "Under Construction". Updated versions of it will be made available at www.musico.it.
Our apologies if you still can not find the help you need.
Any help or suggestions regarding the contents of this Online Help are appreciated - press the Bug Report button on the tool bar to send us an email. Also, translations are welcome. If you would like to help us with a translation, we can send you the help script to translate as an ordinary Word document.
Reporting Bugs
Comments, suggestions, tips, donations, advice and reports of problems of any kind are welcome.
- Click "Bug Report" on the tool bar or on the "Help" menu to generate an automatic email, if your computer supports this.
- Send an email to beier@musico.it
- Write to Paul Beier, vicolo ai Ronchi 12/B I-23022 Chiavenna, Italy
- Send a fax to +39 0343 36279
Tool Bar
Exit Program
Log on and off database
Add new MusIco record
Delete MusIco record
View or hide catalogue
Search the database
Open a saved search
Record information
Program Options
Merge database files
Report bugs or make comments to MusIco's authors
Editing in RTF fields:
Bold
Italics
Font
Symbols dialogue for use in database text fields
Change Font
What is it?
Change the font used in the software and in the data fields. There are several options:
- Load font on program startup: with this checked, the chosen font is loaded when the program starts.
- Convert RTF fields. RTF fields are data fields that permit formatting, such as Bold, Italics and font selection. The record description on the first page of a MusIco record is an example of such a field. With this selected, RTF fields are automatically converted to use the font chosen here.
Location
On the first tab of the program options box
Navigation
- click the "Program settings" button on the toolbar
- select "Program settings" on the Options menu
- Click the "MusIco user" panel on the status bar
Insert Symbol
What is it?
This dialogue is available when editing database text fields. In normal text fields, the standard ASCII symbols are shown. In RTF fields, all of the fonts on your computer are available in the Fonts list box.Code pages for Unicode fonts, showing different language scripts, can be selected in the list box to the right (see illustration).
Location
- The Symbols dialogue appears when pressing "Ctrl" plus "S" from within a text field.
- You can also press this button
, which is found on the toolbar and on any dialogue box where there are text fields.
Navigation
- If working from an RTF field, select the Font and Code Page in the list boxes at top.
- select a character or symbol in the grid of symbols
- Click "Add" to add the selected symbol to the text field.
Logging on and off
MusIco communicates with its database files through a set of computer files and drivers called a "Database Server." This is the open-source "Firebird" server, which needs to be installed and running on the same computer on which MusIco is installed.
When MusIco is started and you "log-on", the program tells the server to connect it to the MusIco database files so that you can view and edit data. This need only be done once at the beginning of a MusIco session.
There are two ways to log on in MusIco:
- Manually. At program startup, or when your press the "log-on" button on the toolbar, you can chose your name and type your password in the log-on box.
- Automatically. If you select "Automatic log-on" in the Program Options box you will not be prompted for your password at the start of the program. Only Administrators have access to this feature. (See Adding Musico Users.)
You can add different sets of MusIco files, and log on and off of them, in the Program Options box.
Program Options
What is it?
Presents various options for running MusIco and managing users and databases. Some of the options here are available only to Administrators.
Location
- in the "Options" menu.
- on the Toolbar
- by clicking on the "MusIco User" panel on the status bar.
Navigation
The Program Settings box is divided into four tabbed pages: Click on the tabs to move between pages.
Tab1: General Settings
- Current user and "Edit Current User" button. The button runs the "Edit User" dialog. Some fields in this box are available only to Administrators.
- Current database and "Automatic Log-on" check mark. This shows the computer path of the database files in use. The check for automatic log-on is available to Administrators and can be checked when the program is used by a single user. When checked, the user login is skipped at program startup, and the database is opened automatically.
- Image Browse Path and "Select Image Browse Path" button. To set the "Image Browse Path", click the "Browse" button, navagate to a folder on your computer that contains images, and select it. When an image is loaded into a record in MusIco, an "Open Image" file dialog box is presented, opened your "Image Browse Path".
- Program Font and font options. See Fonts.
Tab2: Record Templates
- See Record Templates.
Tab3: Musico Users
- This shows the list of people who have passwords to use MusIco. Only administrators can edit, delete or create new users. There is also a "Groups" button for the creation of new MusIco groups.
Tab4: Musico Databases
This shows a list of MusIco databases. Normally there is only one set of MusIco database files, but in larger projects using more than one computer, the administrator may have to manage more than one set. If you double-click an item on the list, it becomes the active database and is loaded into the program. Use the buttons to add, delete and backup databases.
When you add a database, you are presented with an Add Database Wizard. Press the "Next" button to scroll through the wizard.
- First you have to give a name (called and "alias") to the database. This can be any name of your choosing. It should identify the database in question.
- Next, select the database files to be added. Use the folder buttons to naviage to the files on your computer if you wish.
- Next, type the database user name and password (not the users name and password). This is usually the one that is automatically written by clicking the "Default" button on this page.
- Finally, when you press "Next", the computer checks to see if the files and passwords selected are legitimate, and, if they are, it adds the database to the list. To log on to the new database, double click its "alias" name in the list.
Artists Table
What is it?
A list of specific individuals who are the authors (or co-authors) of the objects catalogued in the database. Each one must have an identifier, called Regular Name, different from any other, and written in the first field of the table; other fields can be compiled with the available information about the artist: Name, Surname, Pseudonym-conventional name, Biographical information, Milieu. In the additional field "Notes" more information can be written.
Location
- "Tables" menu on main window
- "Artist List" button in the "Artist" section of the MusIco record
Navigation
To search the table: insert one or more letters in the field "search" located on top
To scroll the table: use the black arrows on top, or scroll the side bar, or click directly on the list of the Artists's Names
To add a new artist: see detailed instructions
To delete an Artist: select the artist you want to delete in the list, press the button "Delete" and then "Yes" to confirm. However, if the selected Artist is in use in some record of the database it will not be deleted. See Deleting List and Table Items.
Add a new Artist
To Add a new Artist in the Artists Table (only underlined actions are obligatory):
1 - press the "Add" button
2 - insert the Regular Name see: How to compose a Regular Name
3 - insert all available data (Name, Surname, Pseudonym, Biographical information)
4 - insert a Milieu:
a - if it is already comprised in the list, choose it clicking on it;
b - if it is not in the list, open the "Milieu" list and add it.
5 - in the "Notes" field add any other useful information regarding the artist, such as his/her relationship to other artists or his/her musical skills.
Regular Name
The Regular Name in the Artists Table is an identifier which must be different from any other in the Table.
Here we give a few suggestions in order to compile it correctly:
- it should be written in its original language, that is the artist's language: local translations of proper names should be avoided. Otherwise, since this table might collect items from catalogers working in different nations, the Artists table could come with several entries (in different languages) for the same person, and this would complicate the search procedures: when making a search in the database, the artist's name should be entered in all languages and this would be a waste of time. (Therefore, instead of items such as "le Titien" - in French - or "Matisse, Enrico" - in Italian - type "Vecellio, Tiziano" and "Matisse, Henri"). The same should also possibly be done for pseudonyms (not "Master of the lively Child" but "Maestro del Bambino vispo", since this artist is Italian).
- If possible, the "Artist's name" should be composed of Surname, Name: e.g. "Arbaudi, Costanzo".
- Pseudonyms, if they exist, should be part of the Regular Name:
- without articles in the first place, followed by "(Surname, Name)", if the artist is better known for his pseudonym , e.g. "Palma il Vecchio (Negretti, Jacopo)"
- without articles and in the second place, in parenthesis, after Surname, Name, in the opposite case: e.g. "Rizzo, Domenico (Brusasorzi)". It is advisable to avoid additions such as "called", "dit le", etc., because the contents of Artists table are not translated into different languages and they should be understandable for anybody.
- anonymous artists: although they are commonly named "anonymous" (that is, literally, "without name") or in some similar way, we would like to suggest a few alternatives to the foreseeable plethora of "Anonimo", "Anonyme", "Anonymus", "Anónimo", "Ignoto", "Unknown", "Enconnu", "Maestro", "Master", "Maitre", "Mestre", "Artista anonimo", "Painter from...", "Anonyme peintre", "Peintre anonyme", Sconosciuto", "Artiste" ... etc. etc., which would inevitably be created when the Artists table collects items compiled in several languages. Unless the anonymous artist does have a pseudonym (see above), he may simply not be included in the Artists table, and one (or more) of the following solutions may be adopted instead:
- if the anonymous is one of the circle of a known artist (pupil, assistant, etc.), when compiling the "Artist" section in the MusIco record, instead of creating a special item in the Artists table (e.g. "Anonymous pupil/assistant... of...") insert the master's name adding "circle of" in the "referral" field.
- if you only know the artist's geographical milieu, do not create any generic entries such as "artist from ..." and don't compile the "Artist" section in the MusIco record: instead, use the "Locations" section of the MusIco record and select "artist's geographical milieu" in the "location type" field.
- if you only can guess the artist's period of activity inferring it from the date of the object, do not create an entry such as "artist of the 16th Century" (or anything like that), and do not compile the "Artist" section in the MusIco record: instead, compile the "chronology" section of the MusIco record (which you should compile anyway).
- if you only can tell what is the artist's profession (such as "painter", "engraver", etc.) do not create an entry such as "painter", or "anonymous painter", and do not compile the "Artist" section in the MusIco record: instead, compile the "technique" field in the "technical data" section (which you should compile anyway).
Books and Manuscripts Table
What is it?
This table is mainly intended as a list of books, but it can also be used to catalogue documents of any other kind.
Books included in this table may be defined as:
- primary sources: texts including an original miniature or illustration which is the object of a MusIco record;
- secondary sources: texts regarding that illustration (maybe also with a photographic reproduction of it) or any other related topic.
e.g., the book by Filippo Bonanni, Gabinetto Armonico (Roma 1722), containing several original engravings of musical instruments, is a primary source. The article by Tilman Seebass, "Musical iconography in non-Western cultures and the RIdIM card", in RIdIM-Newsletter IV No 2 (1979), 11-16, regarding Bonanni's illustrations, is a secondary source. Both Bonanni's book and Seebass's article are listed in the "Books and manuscripts" table.
It is possible to see only the "primary sources" or the "secondary" sources included in the table, or both, by clicking the checks at the bottom of the books list.
Location
- "Tables" menu on main window
- "Primary source" button in the "Printed Text or Manuscript" section of the MusIco record
- "Reference" button in the "Bibliography" section of the MusIco record
Navigation
To search the table: insert one or more letters in the field "search" located on top
To scroll the table: use the black arrows on top, or scroll the side bar, or click directly on the list of the Bibliographical Code
To add a new item: see detailed instructions
To delete an item: select it in the list, press the button "Delete" and then "Yes" to confirm. However, if the selected book is in use in some record it will not be deleted. See Deleting List and Table Items.
Add a new Book
Only underlined actions are obligatory:
1 - press the "Add" button
2 - insert a bibliographical code (it must be different from any other in the table)
NOTE: a code is usually formed of the author's SURNAME plus the publication's date with a dot followed by "a, b..." if there are several books of the same author published in the same year (eg. BONANNI 1722, COLEMAN 1984.a, COLEMAN 1984.b, etc.). Miscellaneous works, such as exhibitions catalogues, are listed by shortened title plus the publication's date (eg. Colori della Musica 2000). Manuscripts should be listed by the library's code plus the manuscript's number (eg. Paris BN Mus.Rés.Vmd.Ms.30).
3 - insert the bibliographical information , that is, a full quotation of the book, complete with all available data including the publication's place and date, as you might wish it to appear in a published bibliography.
4 - select a kind of text from the given list (choose between "printed text", "manuscript", "typewritten" [eg. a doctoral thesis], "digital")
5 - click the appropriate check: primary/secondary source
6 - click the musical notation check if the book does contain music
7 - compile the second page: editors-printers, inserting:
- date (to be compiled according the special instructions for the "date" field).
- place of edition-production (this can also be used for manuscripts) (connection to the "geographical places" table)
- publisher - printer (connection to the "publishers-printers" table).
8 - compile the third page: contents and characteristics, if needed, adding any useful information about the book, its history, contents, etc.
9 - Press Confirm.
Hornborstel-Sachs Table
What is it?
An updated* (although not definitive) version of the historical musical instruments classification created by Erich M. Hornbostel and Curt Sachs ("Systematik der Musikinstrumente" in Zeitschrift für Ethnologie XIV, 1914, pp. 553-590). This classification gives each family of musical instruments a code and a definition.
MusIco provides three different ways to consult it:
- NHS outline (showing the hierarchical structure of the H-S classification).
- by code
- by subject (sorted alphabetically by definition).
Location
- "Tables" menu on main window
- "NHS" button in the "Musical Objects" table
Navigation
NHS outline:
Click on each "node" to open or compress it
Click checks " + " or " - " to open or compress the whole structure.
by code or by subject:
To search the table: insert one or more letters or numbers in the field "search" located on top
To scroll the table: scroll the side bar, or click directly on the list of codes or subjects
Add new items or delete: At this moment this table can not be edited.
* The most recent update, one of the goals of the Images of Music project (see MusIco About) was operated by a committee guided by Prof. Elena Ferrari Barassi and including Professors Tilman Seebass, Febo Guizzi, Nico Staiti, with the collaboration of other scholars.
Cataloger's Institution
What is it?
A list of any public or private institution (including Universities, Libraries etc.) . A code, different from any other in the table, and a full name are required. Further information about the Institution (e.g. its address) may be added in the "Notes" field.
Location
- "Tables" menu on main window
- "Institution" button in the "Cataloguing" section of the MusIco record
- "Institution" button in the "Images" section of the MusIco record
Navigation
To search the table: insert one or more letters in the field "search" located on top.
To scroll the table: use the black arrows, or scroll the side bar, or click directly on the list.
To add a new Institution: click the "Add" button, type the new code and full name of the Institution, then press "Confirm".
To delete an Institution: select the item you want to delete in the list, press the button "Delete" and then "Yes" to confirm. However, if the selected item is in use in some record it will not be deleted. See Deleting List and Table Items.
Geographical Places
What is it?
A list of cities, towns, villages, or whatever geographical location related to any of the objects catalogued in the database. Each entry must be unique, and it should be possibly written in its original language in order to avoid duplicates (e.g. London instead of Londra/Londre etc., Roma instead of Rome, etc.).
Location
- "Tables" menu on main window
- "Places" button in the "Locations" section of the MusIco record
Navigation
To search the table: insert one or more letters in the field "search" located on top
To scroll the table: use the black arrows on bottom, or scroll the side bar, or click directly on the list of Places
To add a new Place: see detailed instructions
To delete a Place: select the Place you want to delete in the list, press the button "Delete" and then "Yes" to confirm. However, if the selected item is in use in some record it will not be deleted. See Deleting List and Table Items.
Add a new Place
To Add a new Place in the Geographic Places Table (only underlined actions are obligatory):
1 - press the "Add" button
2 - type the new "city, town or place name"
NOTE: this name might be a historical one (e.g., "Magna Grecia", "Etruria") or, if a more specific geographical location can not be indicated ( as is often the case with archeological objects), that of a broader region or even of a nation (e.g. "Lombardia", "Italia") or of part of it (e.g. "Sicilia orientale"), although this last case should possibly be avoided in order to preserve the possibility to understand the given definition for an international public.
3 - choose the Province (if it is not yet comprised in the available list, open the provinces table and add it)
NOTE: indicating the Province, although not always necessary, may prove useful if the "city, town..." is a small or unknown village.
4 - choose the Region or State (if it is not yet comprised in the available list, open the region table and add it)
5 - choose the Nation selecting an item from the default list.
6 - press "confirm".
Provinces
What is it?
A list of cities in whose "province" (or "arrondissement", etc.) the specific location is situated.
Location
- "Tables" menu on main window
- "Province" button in the "Geographical Places" table
Navigation
To search the table: insert one or more letters in the field "search" located on top
To scroll the table: use the black arrows on bottom, or scroll the side bar, or click directly on the list of Provinces
To add a new Province: click the "Add" button, type the new name in the empty field where an "*" has appeared, then press "Confirm".
To delete a Province: select the item you want to delete in the list, press the button "Delete" and then "Yes" to confirm. However, if the selected item is in use in some record it will not be deleted. See Deleting List and Table Items.
Regions / States
What is it?
A list of regions (such as "Veneto" in Italy or "Bavaria" in Germany) and states which are part of greater nations (e.g., "California" or "Virginia" must be listed in this table, while the "U.S." are in the "Nations" table - a complete, non-editable list incorporated in MusIco). Each entry must be unique, and it should be possibly written in its original language in order to avoid duplicates.
Location
- "Tables" menu on main window
- "Region/State" button in the "Geographical Places" table
Navigation
To search the table: insert one or more letters in the field "search" located on top
To scroll the table: use the black arrows on bottom, or scroll the side bar, or click directly on the list of Regions/States
To add a new Region/State: click the "Add" button, type the new name in the empty field where an asterisk (*) has appeared, then press "Confirm".
To delete a Region/State: select the Region/State you want to delete in the list, press the button "Delete" and then "Yes" to confirm. However, if the selected item is in use in some record it will not be deleted. See Deleting List and Table Items.
Iconclass Table
What is it?
A selected list of subjects from the "Iconclass" system, where each entry has a code and a verbal definition ("Name").
Location
- "Tables" menu on main window
- "ICONCLASS" button in the "Themes" section of the MusIco record
- "ICONCLASS" button in the "Performers-Participants" section of the MusIco record
Navigation
To search the table: select which list (Codes or Names) you want to search, then insert one or more numbers and/or letters in the field "search" located on top
To scroll the table: select one list (Codes or Names) , then use the black arrows on top, or scroll the side bar, or click directly on the list
To add a new item: click the "Add" button, type the new Code, Name and (if you are using MusIco in a language other than English) the "English Equivalent", then press "Confirm".
To delete an item: select the item you want to delete in one list (Codes or Names), press the button "Delete" and then "Yes" to confirm. However, if the selected item is in use in some record it will not be deleted. See Deleting List and Table Items.
Libraries and Museums Table
What is it?
A list of libraries and Museums. Each of them must have a unique code (e.g. a RISM code for libraries) and a full name; in order to avoid duplicates, for each library or Museum the place (i.e. town) must be indicated. It is also possible to add other information such as the address, etc.
Location
- "Tables" menu on main window
- "Libraries/Museums" button in the "Locations" section of the MusIco record
Navigation
To order the table by code or by name: press the button "Order" on top and select a modality.
To search the table: select which list (Codes or Names) you want to search, then insert one or more numbers and/or letters in the field "search" located on top
To scroll the table: select one list (Codes or Names) , then use the black arrows on top, or scroll the side bar, or click directly on the list
To add a new item: click the "Add" button, type the new Code, Name and (if you are using MusIco in a language other than English) the "English Equivalent", then press "Confirm".
To delete an item: select the item you want to delete in one list (Codes or Names), press the button "Delete" and then "Yes" to confirm. However, if the selected item is in use in some record it will not be deleted.
List of People
What is it?
A list of both individuals and groups of people (such as Academies, Confraternities, etc.) who may defined as: patrons; dedicatees; dedicators; authors of literary, theatrical and musical texts represented in the objects; other people involved in the theatrical or musical scenes represented in the objects, such as stage designers, directors, etc.; authors of the inscriptions found in the objects unless they are the same person of the artist; owners of coats of arms, emblems and marks represented in the objects.
Each item must have a Regular name (to be compiled according to the same rules given for Artist's regular name for individuals; for groups find the clearest definition possible, e.g. "Confraternita del Gonfalone" - for families, only Surname without the word "family"), and, when possible, it can include Name, Surname, Pseudonym and Biographical information.
Location
- "Tables" menu on main window
- "List of People" button in the "Commission-Dedication" section of the MusIco record
- "List of People" button in the "Author of the work represented" section of the MusIco record
- "List of People" button in the "Inscriptions and Emblems" section of the MusIco record
- "Composer" button in the "Music" section of the MusIco record
Navigation
To search the table: insert one or more letters in the field "search" located on top
To scroll the table: select one list (Codes or Names) , then use the black arrows on top, or scroll the side bar, or click directly on the list
To add a new item: click the "Add" button, type the Regular Name and any other possible field, then press "Confirm".
To delete an item: select the item you want to delete, press the button "Delete" and then "Yes" to confirm. However, if the selected item is in use in some record it will not be deleted. See Deleting List and Table Items.
Musical Objects
What is it?
A table of any kind of "object" related to music.
The expression "musical objects" refers to:
- musical instruments
- musical accessories (bows, mutes, etc.)
- complements (music stands, instruments cases, foot-stools, etc.)
- separate pieces of the above categories (strings, cello cerrules, strings holders, organ pipes, reeds, etc.) if they are detached from the object of which they are usually a component (e.g., a violin string detached from the violin and lying on a table, pieces of musical instruments not yet assembled and displayed in a maker's workshop, etc.)
- WARNING: mistaken or fantasy musical objects, often shown in iconographical sources, must not be included with a separate entry in the "musical object" table. When they are found in a picture, they must be defined with the closest name possible (even with a generic one, such as "string instrument"); comments about their mistaken or fantastic aspects are inserted in the "comments" field of the MusIco record related to the specific image.
Examples:
1 : the fantasy personage of a grotesque decoration plays a sort of undefinable wind instrument. Do not create a new entry in the Musical Objects Table. Instead, use the generic definition "wind instrument" when listing this object in the MusIco record and add a commentary about the fanciful details in the "Notes" field if needed.
2 : a painter has depicted a harp, but he mistakenly has not painted its strings. Do not add a "Harp without strings" item to the table of musical objects; instead, when compiling the MusIco record for this painting select "Harp" from the table, and add a comment about the artist's forgetfulness in the "Notes" field.
Location
- "Tables" menu on main window
- button in the "Musical Objects" section of the MusIco record
Navigation
To scroll the table: scroll the side bar, or click directly on the list of Musical Objects
To search the table: insert one or more letters in the field "search" located on top
To add a new Musical Object: see detailed instructions
To delete a Musical Object: select the Object you want to delete in the list, press the button "Delete" and then "Yes" to confirm. However, if the selected Object is in use in some record it will not be deleted. See Deleting List and Table Items.
Add a new musical object
To Add a new Musical Object in the Artists Table (only underlined actions are obligatory):
1 - press the "Add" button;
2 - type the name of the new "musical object";
3 - type an English translation of the name of the new "musical object" (this action is not requested if you are using the English version of MusIco);
4 - choose the Hornbostel-Sachs code (you may open the "NHS catalogue" table pressing the "NHS" button, choose the code and press the "Accept" button);
NOTE: This action is not obligatory, because the Hornbostel-Sachs classification lacks specific codes for accessories, complements and separate pieces, and has not yet been refined enough to assign individual codes to different instruments pertaining to the same broad categories (e.g., all bowed instruments - such as violins and cellos - share the same number, which in addition is also shared with non-bowed stringed instruments such as lutes, archlutes, theorboes, guitars etc.)
5 - type a short description of the new musical object in the field "description and notes".
WARNING : this description must refer to ALL the musical objects of that kind, not to an individual pictorial representation.
e.g.:
- Table of Musical Objects: object: "Double Harp"; description:"A harp with two rows of parallel strings. Used from the last quarter of the 16th Century through the 17th century".
- individual representations of double harps in different MusIco records and corresponding descriptions in the "Notes" field of each record:
e.g. "Strings have not been painted"
e.g. "Column decorated with cupids"
e.g. "The instrument is not fully visible"
e.g. "Particularly accurate representation"
e.g. "Mistakes in the disposition of strings"
e.g. "Fantasty representation", etc.
6 - press "Confirm".
Operators
What is it?
A list of:
catalogers: individuals who compile MusIco records
photographers: individuals or studios, who are the authors of the pictures included in the database
Location
- "Tables" menu on main window
- "Operators" button in the "Images" section of the MusIco record
- "Operators" button in the "Cataloging" section of the MusIco record
Navigation
To scroll the table: use the black arrows on top, or scroll the side bar, or click directly on the list
To search the table: insert one or more letters in the field "search" located on top
To add a new Operator : click the "Add" button, type the Name and Surname, then press "Confirm".
To delete an Operator: select the item you want to delete in the list, press the button "Delete" and then "Yes" to confirm. However, if the selected Operator is in use in some record it will not be deleted. See Deleting List and Table Items.
Publishers and Printers
What is it?
A list of publishers, printers, typographers etc.
Location
- "Tables" menu on main window
- "Publisher" button in the "Books and Manuscripts" table.
Navigation
To scroll the table: use the black arrows on top, or scroll the side bar, or click directly on the list
To search the table: insert one or more letters in the field "search" located on top
To add a new Publisher : click the "Add" button, type the Name , then press "Confirm".
To delete a Publisher: select the item you want to delete in the list, press the button "Delete" and then "Yes" to confirm. However, if the selected item is in use in some record it will not be deleted. See Deleting List and Table Items.
Editing Rich Text
What is it?
RTF stands for "Rich Text Format". In MusIco, a number of text fields in the database use RTF in order to allow the user to format the text with Bold and Italics, to change the font and mix fonts within the same text, and to use the full potential of the Insert Symbols function.
Location
Four RTF fields are found in the MusIco Record:
- the "Description" field on the Title-Description page
- the "Title" field on the Title-Description page
- the "Title" field on the Historical Scene or Context page
- the "Description-Transcription" field on the Inscriptions and Emblems page
In addition, there are two RTF fields in the Books and Manuscripts table:
- the "Bibliographical Information" field
- the "Contents and characteristics" field
Navigation
When editing an RTF field, use the following buttons and shortcuts:
- (Ctrl-B) Write in Boldface script
- (Ctrl-I) Write in Italics script
- (Ctrl-F) Change font
-
(Ctrl-S) Display the Symbols box
Record Information
What is it?
Gives User, Group and Language information about a record. If you open a record and find that you are not allowed to edit it, the Record Information box tells you why.
Why would a record not be editable?
- The program is not registered and the trial time period has expired
- The current MusIco User is not an administrator but is trying to edit a record created by someone else
- The current MusIco User is an administrator but is trying to edit a record created by someone from a different Group
Location
- the "Record Information" button on the toolbar is available when there is an opened record.
Copying Records
What is it?
Duplicate a MusIco record. In the Copy Record box you can chose which of the MusIco pages to copy. This function does not allow you to copy the images page or the images themselves.
Location
- Click the "Duplicate" button on the button bar of the opened record.
Navigation
- Type a new record code, select the pages to copy, and press "Confirm".
Renaming Records
What is it?
Rename the Record Code of a MusIco record.
Location
- Click the "Rename record" button on the button bar of the opened record.
Navigation
- When you click the "Rename record" button, a text box appears in which to type the new name.
- Press "OK" to finish.
MusIco Record Preview
What is it?
View all of the data from a single MusIco record in text form. The text can be printed or saved as a file in your computer. Records display the fields in the order in which they appear on the Page Outline. Images are shown on an Image bar above the text, but the images will not appear in the printout or in the saved file.
Location
- Click the "Musico Preview" button on the button bar of the opened record.
Navigation
- Scroll the text with the scroll bar on the right.
Editing Records
The MusIco Records help pages are still under construction. Sorry! Check www.musico.it for updates of this help file. As soon as we have the time, we will complete this help file.
In any case, editing MusIco records should be fairly easy and intuitive. See also the instructions for editing tables.
Add or Edit Language
What is it?
In the Change Language program, you can change or fine-tune the language implementation in MusIco. This applies to the buttons, headers, labels and messages of various kinds in the software.
Please share your work! If you feel that you have improved the implementation of your language in MusIco, send the saved file to us, so that we can include it in new releases and updates.
Location
- Select "Other Languages" in the Language menu
Navigation
When a language is selected, a table will appear with the following columns:
- Left column: Items in the language selected. Press "enter" or "space" over an item to edit it.
- Middle column: Items in English, for reference. These are the words or phrases that have to be translated.
- Right column: Kind of item. Button labels should be kept short, to about 12 characters.
Click on a column header to sort it alphabetically. You can also change a column's width by clicking between two columns and dragging to a new width.
When through editing, save your work with the "Save" button. The file can be saved anywhere on your computer, and it will also automatically be saved in the MusIco language folder so that you can see your results immediately. After editing, it is a good idea to return to MusIco and check to see if the results are as you intended.
Merging Database Files
What is it?
Merge two sets of MusIco database files together with the Merge Wizard. This function is only available for registered users.
Location
- "Options" menu on main window.
- "Merge" button in the toolbar.
Navigation
The Merge Wizard leads you through the following of steps:
- Instructions. Read these and follow them!
- Backup. Never merge without first backing up your default database.
- Selection of database files to merge. Type the full address of the database files or click on the folder icons to surf to them. Make sure both text and images MusIco database files are inserted. Type the database user name and password (not the users name and password). This is usually the one that is automatically written by clicking the "Default" button on this page.
- When you click "Next", the program tries to connect with the selected database. If it is unsuccessful, close the dialogue and try again. If it succeeds, you will see the "merge options" page.
- Finally, when options have been set, the next button will start the merge. You will see a log file of the merge's progress. When finished, a detailed log will be created showing the results of the merge.
- If you decide to accept the results, click "Confirm". If you do not want to accept them, you can now click "Roll-back" and the database will return to its former state.
Merge Options
Scope: chose one of the following:
- Merge entire database: merges the lists and tables first, then all of the MusIco records.
- Merge lists and tables only: all lists and tables are merged, but no records.
- Merge records only: all records are merged; list or table items are copied as needed.
- Merge selected records: when selected, a list of the child's MusIco records is shown. Select and double click (or press Enter) to add a record to the list on the right. List or table items are copied as needed.
Overwrite: chose one of the following:
- Child never overwrites Parent: Wherever data exists in both databases, the existing parent data kept intact, and is never overwritten by the child data.
- Child always overwrites Parent: Wherever data exists in both databases, the parent data is always overwritten by the child data.
Updates:
The Countries and Hornborstel-Sachs tables are not editable in MusIco. On the infrequent occasion that they are updated, for example when a new language is added, a database containing the new versions of these tables can be merged if these check-boxes are checked.
Merge Relationships
- Parent-child database relationships: When you first merge two MusIco databases, a relationship is set up. It is here called "parent-child" to indicate the target database (parent) and the source database (child). On successive merges, data that was previously merged will be copied only if it has been modified since the last time it was merged. This means that first merge can be quite slow, as all of the data is copied, but successive merges are much faster.
- If you have copied database files from another computer to your hard drive for merging, you should copy them back to the original computer afterwards, so as to maintain the parent-child relationship.
Merge Precautions
- back up your database. Very Important! If you do not like the result of the merge, you can return to your old files only if you have backed them up.
- prepare the Child database carefully: Before merging, log-on to the Child database and make sure it is fully prepared. Watch for the following items:
- English Key Words: Merge works by comparing English key words, in the tables that have them. If English key words are missing, then the data associated with them may be lost, or duplicate items may be created. Make sure EKWs are always present and correct in the Lists and Musical Objects table.
- Code Keys: In some tables, various kinds of codes are used as common keys, instead of English key words. These are, in particular, the Iconclass, Libraries and Museums, and Bibliography. In these tables, make sure every item has its unique code properly inserted. Again, if these codes are incomplete, duplicates may be created, or data may be lost.
- be patient. Merging can be time consuming. Allow the process to finish. If you press the "Stop" button, and decide to accept the changes, wait for the database transaction to complete. This can also take a while. If the merge wizard goes blank, don't cancel it, wait for it to re-appear.
Database Files
MusIco works by reading and writing images and data to "database files". (These files are not to be confused with the MusIco software itself, which is located in a file called "MusIco.exe".)
There are two MusIco database files, one for images and one for text:
- MUSICO20.GDB contains non visual data and text.
- MUSICOIMAGES20.GDB contains the images and thumbnails.
They both have the extension "gdb" and are usually stored in the "data" folder within the MusIco program folder (under "Program files").
Adding MusIco Users
What is it?
MusIco users are you, the folks who use MusIco for cataloging musical iconography. There are three kinds of users:
- Guests can open and read the MusIco records in the catalogue, but can not edit them.
- Catalogers can open records and edit only the files they themselves created.
- Administrators can read and edit all records by catalogers of the same group. Also, only administrators can add users and databases and perform merges.
Musico users can be added by the local Administrator by launching the Add Users box on the Options dialog box.
When you launch the Add Users box, you have to complete the following fields:
- Name and Surname of the new user
- User code and Beginning number: the user code is usually the initials of the User, or some short identifier. When the user creates a new record, MusIco suggests a new code for the record by adding a record number to the user code. The record number usually starts with 1, but you can ask the program to begin at any number by setting the "beginning number" here.
- Program access: defines the level of access of the new user. The options are "Guest", "Cataloger" and "Administrator" (described above).
- User Group: MusIco users can belong to a Musico Users Group
- Automatic Compilation: when checked, the "Catalogers" page will automatically be compiled with an entry for the user when a new record is created.
- Password: Every user must have his or her own password, which can be any combination of letters and numbers.
Location
- Click the "New User" button on the "Musico Users" tab of the Options box
Navigation
- After typing in the information, click "Confirm" to add the user to the users list.
- Click "Clear" to empty the fields.
- Click "Cancel" to exit without adding a user.
Musico Groups
What is it?
MusIco Users can belong to a users group. This is important if there are different catalogers working on the same MusIco database. Administrators can review and edit records created by all users of the same group, but Catalogers can only edit their own work.
Location
- In the Add Users box you can assign a new user to a group.
- Administrators can create new groups with the Groups Table found on the "MusIco Users" page of the Options box.
Page Outline
What is it?
The Page Outline lists the data pages available to the record. A red check mark beside the page name indicates that the page contains data. If the page represents more than one database table, and only one of them contains data, the check mark will be grey instead of red.
A number of items on the outline (the ones with a plus or minus sign in a square next to them) are headers for groups of pages. Click on the plus or minus sign to expand or collapse the group. A red check next to a group header indicates that all of the pages in that group contain data; a grey check means that only some of them do.
Location
The Page Outline appears on the "Full" record template of an open record.
Navigation
- Click on a page name to display the page.
- Click the "Config" button to show, hide or rearrange pages.
- Click the plus or minus signs to expand or collapse the outline.
Record Templates
What is it?
Musico records can be viewed in various formats, and templates, containing record formats, can be created for use when creating new records or when viewing records.
There are two "standard" formats:
- "Full": the data is arranged in sections or "pages" containing all available MusIco fields.
- "Quick": the data is arranged on a single scrolling page for quick input. Most fields are available in this format.
In addition you can create new templates to suite your particular needs (see below).
Location
Templates can be viewed, edited and created on the "Record Templates" tab of the Program Options box
Navigation
- First select a template in the list and then use the "New Template", "Edit Template" and "Delete Template" buttons to create, edit and delete templates. The standard MusIco templates full and quick can not be edited or deleted.
- Select a template from the list and press "Set Default" to make it the default template. This means that when new records are created, they are automatically shown in this format.
- The current default template is shown in the text box underneath the template list.
New Template
Personalized cataloging templates look very similar to the "full" template, but the pages may be rearranged or hidden from view.
- Press "new template"
- The a new template box opens. On the left side ("Items displayed") is the complete outline of the "full" template; the right side ("Hidden items") is empty.
- With the mouse select the page or the group of pages you want to move:
press "hide" (a hand pointing to the right) to put them away (they go into the "Hidden items" list)
press "move up" or "move down" (a hand pointing upward or downward) to change their position in the outline
- Press "cancel" if you want to undo your changes.
- To bring back an item from the "Hidden list", select it, then press "show" (a hand pointing to the left).
- Give a name to the new template
- Press Confirm
"Quick" Record Template
This template has fewer sections and fields than the "full" template; moreover, it sometimes does not allow repeated series of data.
Other differences are:
a) The data are arranged on a single, long page. The record must be scrolled with the right scroll bar or with the arrow buttons on top.
b) there is no outline.
c) it is not possible to change the order of the sections.
d) some areas are "virtual": before containing data, their fields are not shown. To show them you have to press the special buttons with a green arrow and the label "Add...". These same buttons must be used to insert a new series of data, where allowed.
e) the image is always visible on the right side of the record. If there are two or more images, they can be scrolled by pressing the arrows under the image. To open an image, press the image button.
After inserting new data you must always confirm by pressing "Update record". If you fail to do this, your data will be lost!!
If you want to erase the new data press the "refresh" button.
"Full" Record Template
The "full" cataloging template consists of about 20 pages, some of which are grouped together under section headers.
In addition, each record has:
- A record "code" on the upper border. When the user creates a new record, MusIco suggests a new code to identify the record by adding a record number to the user code.
- A button bar to the left of the record code. There are buttons for:
- showing and hiding the outline
- switching to a different record template
- making a duplicate copy of the record
- deleting the record
- showing the record preview
- closing the record
- scrolling arrows to the right of the record code
- An outline
- Five buttons at the bottom of the record:
- "Add" First click the list to which you would like to add an item. (This first step is important on those pages that represent more than one table, so that the computer knows where the item should be added.)
- "Delete" First select the item in the list that you would like to delete.
- "Confirm" This button is in the form of a check mark. The checkmark is red when changes are pending but have not yet been committed to the database, grey if there are no changes pending. The program is designed to commit edits, deletions and additions to the database automatically when the page is changed. However, if you would like to control the process more directly, you can use this button to force the database to commit any changes you may have made.
- "Refresh" If you have made changes to the data and they have not been committed to the database (the check mark is still red), you can "undo" the changes by performing a "refresh". The database will return to the state it was in after the last "confirm".
- "Open Image" Opens the image associated with this record in the image viewer.
Actually, no record would ever have data compiled in every field of the "full" template: the "full" template is a sum of all the possible items which may be needed to catalogue a wide variety of objects, ranging from prints and miniatures to paintings and statues, from decorated musical instruments to theater props, and much more.
Pages and fields are compiled according to the type of data you have and the type of musical iconography you are cataloging. You may end up with completely unused pages, which you may "hide" (you can reopen them if needed). You may even decide on a different order or grouping of the pages. To do this, press the "config." [configuration] button underneath the outline.