This file contains a portion of the documentation for the new version of Matrix maker, a Macintosh application designed for the easy creation and formatting of twelve-tone matrices (12 x 12 arrays) used in the composition and/or analysis of twelve-tone music. It will also allow the creation and formatting of 7 x 7, 6 x 6, and 5 x 5 matrices. This application is designed for use with Microsoft Word for the Macintosh. The preferred MSW version is v 6.0.1, and this package contains one AppleScript application for the automatic formatting with MSW 6.x of the data produced by the Matrix maker application, the Matrix maker 2.7 script, which automates the entire process by opening the Matrix maker 2.7 (fat) application and then successively performing the formatting steps without the necessity for any user intervention other than entering the matrix specifications unless the user requests to be prompted each time a matrix has been completely formatted (this is an optional feature). The package also includes stationery files that can be used with Microsoft Word 5.1 in the event that MSW 6.x is not available; in this case, the formatting must be done manually, but the process is quite simple. The principal difference between v 2.7 and earlier versions is that v 2.7 allows the user to create any number of matrices without exiting and re-initializing the application; this is particularly advantageous if the program is being used in a networked environment.
The package consists of the following eight items:
1) the Matrix maker 2.7 (fat) application, a "fat" binary application containing
both Macintosh 68K and PowerPC native code
2) a folder labeled "for MSW 6 users"
3) a folder labeled "for MSW 5.1 users"
4) the Matrix maker 2.7 script AppleScript application mentioned above
5) a sample output file labeled 'sample "matrix.txt"'
6) a sample output file labeled 'sample "header.txt"'
7) this ReadMe file
8) a sample of the “finished product”, labeled 'sample "matrix output"'.
Each of the two MSW folders contains the files necessary to use Matrix maker 2.7 (fat) with the appropriate word-processing application. Documentation in each folder, created in that Word application, describes in detail the proper procedure in each case.
Please note that the automatic formatting scripts are designed to handle only 12 x 12, 7 x 7, 6 x 6, and 5 x 5 arrays. Matrices of any other size must be formatted manually. Note also that in order to use the AppleScript "Matrix maker 2.7 script" application, your computer must have System 7.5 or later (preferably the 7.5.2 update, a.k.a. 7.5.3) installed and the "Finder scripting extension" must be in the active "Extensions" folder within your System Folder. The script application automatically checks for both of these necessary items when it is launched. The Matrix maker 2.7 (fat) application itself will, however, run on systems earlier than System 7.5.
If you have neither Word 5.1 nor Word 6.x, you may still be able to use the Matrix maker 2.7 (fat) application, as long as your word-processing application allows text-to-table conversions. Check your word-processor's manual to determine whether or not this will be possible.
This application is freeware, with no strings attached except that the application and related files may not be sold or otherwise commercially exploited (though it may, of course, be used by composers and/or analysts—after all, that's why it was written!). For information, comments, etc., send me an e-mail message at "j-melby@uiuc.edu" or "jbmelby@net66.com".
