mScore.js interactive manual

Welcome to the interactive online manual for the mScore.js musical typesetting package. These pages will teach you how to read and write musical scores for display with mScore.js.

This manual is intended for musicians and content-producers and requires no knowledge of web design (HTML, JavaScript), computer programming, or the XML file format which mScore.js uses to store score files. However, it assumes that you are familiar with musical terminology and the rules and traditions of musical typesetting. A course in musical theory or notation would be far beyond the scope of this manual! On the other hand as a musician you will likely find the way scores are written in mScore.js highly intuitive and straightforward.

If you are a developer or web designer seeking to integrate mScore.js in a project or website, or just want to have a look at mScore.js’s technical details, please refer to the section Resources for software developers on the main page.

This manual consists of the following pages:

1. The mScore.js XML file format: Although there are several ways to feed a musical score into mScore.js, XML files are the most important. This page shows you how to create such a file, which contains all information about a musical piece, including its actual musical contents (which will be explained on the following pages).
2. Basics of mScore.js musical content: Whether you are writing an mScore.js XML file or creating input in some other method, the language in which musical content is expressed is always the same. This page shows how to write basic musical pieces using the most common musical features and default visual styling.
3. Writing efficient mScore.js scores: This page shows you how to produce concise score files and save some typing effort by using predefined rhythm patterns and macros.
4. Styling and visual layout: — To be written —
5. Advanced musical features: — To be written —

The manual pertains to the current version of mScore.js, which is ??.