NAME

       abc2abc - a simple abc checker/re-formatter/transposer

SYNOPSIS

       abc2abc  file [ -s ] [ -n ] [ -b ] [ -r ] [ -e ] [ -t semitones ] [ -nda ] [ -u ] [ -d ] [
       -v ] [ -v] [-nokeys] [ -nokeyf] [ -usekey(sharps/flats)] [ -OCC ]

DESCRIPTION

       abc2abc is a simple abc checker/re-formatter/transposer.  It will check whether  the  file
       given on the command line obeys basic abc syntax.

       If  you  want  to  check  an abc tune, it is recommended that you use abc2midi with the -c
       option.  This performs extra checks that abc2abc does not do.

       The output of abc2abc goes to standard output.  Use redirection to save it to a file.

OPTIONS

       -s     Rework spacing in the file (which affects how notes are beamed  together  when  the
              music is printed out). This option does not appear to be working correctly.

       -n X   Reformats the abc file with line breaks every X bars.

       -b     Don't do bar checking.

       -r     Don't do repeat checking.

       -e     Don't report errors.

       -t n   Transpose  tune by n semitones. This function will also work with K: none or one of
              -nokeys or -nokeyf.  If a voice is assigned to channel 10 (drum  channel)  using  a
              %%MIDI channel 10 command, then this voice is never transposed.

       -nda   Convert  double  accidentals  in  guitar chord to another chord though strictly not
              correct.

       -u     Update notation; the older notation + + for chords is replaced by [] and  s  s  for
              slurs is replaced by ().

       -OCC   Accept  the old notation for chord. Normally this is turned off, since it conflicts
              with abc draft standard version 2.0 for decorations (eg. +crescendo(+).

       -d     Re-notate the tune with all note lengths doubled. The unit length specified by  the
              L: field command is halved (e.g. L:1/8 to L:1/16).

       -v     Re-notate  the  tune with all note lengths halved. The unit length specified by the
              L: field command is doubled (e.g. L:1/8 to L:1/4).

       -ver   Prints version number and exits.

       -V X   For multivoiced abc files (i.e. contains  V:  field  commands),  only  voice  X  is
              copied.

       -X n   For  a  file  containing  many  tunes,  the  X:  reference  numbers  are renumbered
              sequentially starting from number n.

       -nokeys
              No key signature will be assumed. Instead,  sharps  and  naturals  will  be  placed
              wherever they are needed.

       -nokeyf
              No  key  signature  will  be  assumed.  Instead,  flats and naturals will be placed
              wherever they are needed.

       -usekey  sf
              This will force abc2abc to output the notes in the key signature keys[sf] where  sf
              specifies  the  number  of  flats  (-negative)  or  sharps  (+positive)  in the key
              signature. It is a number between -5 and +5 inclusive.

       * Normally abc2abc will convert the deprecated notation for decorations (eg. !ppp!) to the
       abc version 2.0 draft standard (eg. +ppp+).  If you do not wish to change to this standard
       include the -OCC flag.

SEE ALSO

       abcmtex(1), abc2midi(1), midi2abc(1), mftext(1)

AUTHOR

       This manual page was written by  Anselm  Lingnau  <lingnau@tm.informatik.uni-frankfurt.de>
       and is now supported by Seymour Shlien <seymour.shlien@crc.ca> for the GNU/Linux system.

VERSION

       This man page describes abc2abc version 1.44 from August 13 2005.

                                          14 August 2005                               ABC2ABC(1)