Songbooks

[dbeglaryan]

Could you please tell me how I can create a songbook ? We have all our songs in powerpoint format, what do we need to do to use it with soft projector? Thank you and God Bless

[stefslon]

Songbooks in an older SPS format are probably the easiest to generate by hand (or script) and then import into SoftProjector via Edit > Manage Database > Songbooks > Import... The format is fairly simple, just look into "Песнь Возрождения 3300" on SoftProjector's download website for an example.

The format in a nutshell is as follows:

• First line is ##1
• Second line is the name of the songbook, starts with ##
• Third line is general songbook information (copyright, etc.), also starts with ##
• From here on every line is a complete song, fields associated with a song are separated by #$#
  • Song number
  • Song title
  • Song category number (not sure where these numbers are stored or looked up)
  • Song tune/key
  • Words author
  • Music author
  • Song words. Multiple lines are all concatenated with @%, each new verse and/or refrain start with words "verse" plus a number or "refrain"

Here is a basic working example with just two songs:

##1
##Songbook Name
##Copyright and other songbook relevant information, new lines are specified by @% at and percent symbols
1#$#Example Song 1#$#1#$#Key#$#Words By#$#Music By#$#Verse 1.@%Amazing grace! How sweet the sound @%That saved a wretch like me! @%I once was lost, but now am found; @%Was blind, but now I see. @$Verse 2.@%'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear, @%And grace my fears relieved; @%How precious did that grace appear @%The hour I first believed. 
2#$#Example Song 2#$#0#$#Db-major#$#Horatio Spafford#$##$#Verse 1.@%When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,@%When sorrows like sea billows roll;@%Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say,@%"It is well, it is well, with my soul."@$Refrain:@%It is well, with my soul,@%It is well, with my soul,@%It is well, it is well, with my soul.@$Verse 2.@%Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,@%Let this blest assurance control,@%That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,@%And hath shed His own blood for my soul.@$Verse 3.@%My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!@%My sin, not in part but the whole,@%Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,@%Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!