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 two AppleScript applications for the automatic formatting with MSW 6.x of the data produced by the Matrix maker application: 1) Matrix formatter, which formats output that has been produced by the user's manual activation of the Matrix maker 2.5 (fat) application, and 2) Matrix maker script, which automates the entire process by opening the Matrix maker 2.5 (fat) application and then successively performing the formatting steps without the necessity for any user intervention other than entering the matrix specifications. 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 package consists of the following eight items:
1) the Matrix maker 2.5 (fat) application, a "fat" binary application containing
both Macintosh 68K and PowerPC native code
2) a folder labeled "for MSW 6 users" (contains the Matrix formatter AppleScript application)
3) a folder labeled "for MSW 5.1 users"
4) the Matrix maker 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 2.5 (fat) with the appropriate word-processing application. Documentation in each folder, created in the appropriate 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 formatter" or "Matrix maker script" application, your computer must have System 7.5 or later 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 2.5 (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 2.5 (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@aol.com".
