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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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This is a problem that was addressed in some details back in February 2012 when I was able to solve the problem from the advice given. Some time ago the problem reoccurred and I am no longer able to open files from Windows Explorer (or Internet Explorer but that function is not one I use often).

I use a TOSHIBA notebook.
My Operating System is Windows 7 Professional 64-bit
I use Band-in-a-Box 2013 Audiophile Edition with all updates.
I run BB from the external hard drive supplied by PG Music.
My BB song files are on the hard drive of my computer - not the external hard drive.
My BB song files are filed in Explorer as follows: Libraries, Music, My Music, BAND-IN-A-BOX FILES, Sub headings (75 of them) such as "A-Jazz_MODERN_AZ", and then the song file name which is the full name of the tune, such as "Afternoon In Paris.Mgu". It works for me! I can find any tune in any style for any specific band use in a few seconds. I was just wondering if this file tree had anything to do with my problem.

When I click on a tune in Windows Explorer, BB opens up but not with the song selected. It opens depending on how I have the setting "At program bootup....".

Things I have tried but which did not solve the problem:

* File, File Utilities, "Remove File Associations (songs, styles) with Windows" for the purpose of making sure old BB associations were not in place.
* File, File Utilities, "Associate File Types (songs, styles) with Windows" the process of removing and re-establishing was recommended in the previous solution.
* I tried all the settings for "At program bootup...". Previously it was suggested that it was necessary to have "Do not open song or style". That was the one that fixed it for me last time, but not now.
* "Return to Factory Settings". I know Mac will suggest that one but I only used the "MOST" one because it just takes far too long to re-establish all the settings that I have set up for my program.

I am not alone in having this problem. All my close Aussie band mates running BB are unable to open from Windows Explorer. Also there are several forums I frequent where people are experiencing the same problem - one current in the Band-in-a-Box Group in Yahoo. Maybe all my mates, associates and me are a particularly 'thick' mob. I don't know, but I wish one of us was able to fix the problem. Maybe I missed a further solution after Notes Norton raised it last year?


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Sorry that I can't be much help on Explorer file trees but will just share my approach.

I just store my songs within BIAB as:

BB/JimSongs

Then each song is saved by title alphabetically not by genre. (What genre is Route 66)? (-:

Then, my titles are standard "call out" titles like "Dock of the Bay" not "Sittin' on...."

And "San Francisco" not "I Left My Heart...."

That way by using the scroll bar, I can navigate to any song in a matter of seconds.

Just my approach.

Best,
Jim

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Graham, I am intrigued by your problem.

I wish I still had Windows 7 on my Toshiba laptop to test whether your problem also occurs on my setup, but alas, the hard drive died, so I put in a SSD running Windows 8.

As far as I know, the folder structure - the place you keep your BIAB songs - has no bearing on your problem.

I would have done the same troubleshooting steps that you tried.

The one piece of information missing is, did you install BIAB? You said you run it from the supplied PG Music hard drive (which is fine) and keep your songs on the internal drive (also fine). But did you do the install choice to put the program on the laptop's boot drive? I realize you don't need to, to just run the program, but I'm wondering if it makes the Windows file association work by doing so?


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Originally Posted By: Graham Martin
When I click on a tune in Windows Explorer, BB opens up but not with the song selected. It opens depending on how I have the setting "At program bootup....".

Hi Graham,
If biab is already running, do you have the same problem ? With my Biab explorer, I have to wait that biab is loaded to load the songs. Just an idea...

Quote:
I was just wondering if this file tree had anything to do with my problem.
You could copy one of your song at another place with a short name (c:\test.mgu) and see if it works ?


Free tools for Biab:
Biab Scales and BIArpeggio to practice scales/arpeggio
Biab Explorer: the other song picker
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Exactly the same problem here.


Latest BIAB version, latest build.
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Graham,

Have tried setting the association in Windows Explorer itself?

I don't have Windows 7. In Vista the process is as follows ...

Navigate to an .SGU or MGU file and right-click on the file (#1), select "Open With" (#2) and then select "Choose default program" (#3). These numbers are marked on the image below.



On the window that pops up, select "Browse ...



... and then navigate to the \bb folder and select BBW.EXE. "Ok" your way out of all the windows.

Now double-click on the filetype you've just set and see if it opens. Note, .SGU and .MGU need to be set separately.

Hope this helps,
Noel

Last edited by Noel96; 05/14/13 03:27 AM.

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Hi Graham,

Quote:
My BB song files are filed in Explorer as follows: Libraries, Music, My Music, BAND-IN-A-BOX FILES, Sub headings (75 of them) such as "A-Jazz_MODERN_AZ", and then the song file name which is the full name of the tune, such as "Afternoon In Paris.Mgu". It works for me! I can find any tune in any style for any specific band use in a few seconds. I was just wondering if this file tree had anything to do with my problem.


I tested that exact path and file name on Windows 7 64, and it worked for me, so the path is probably not the issue.

Here is a test you can do:

First, choose a song in your main bb folder. Let's say your BB hard drive is drive G: - choose a song in the bb folder on that drive, say G:\bb\bolero1.mgu. Choose a song with no spaces in it's file name. Try double-clicking on that song to verify that you have the same problem with it, as you do with the songs on your C drive. Assuming you do have the same problem, then...

  1. Open a command prompt window. To do this, go to the Start menu and type cmd.
  2. Navigate to the bb folder. To do this, first type "G:" (without the quotes) to go to your G drive. Then, type "cd bb" to go into the bb folder.
  3. Type the following to launch Band-in-a-Box and open your chosen song: bbw.exe /Open G:\bb\bolero1.mgu
    Of course you will replace G with whatever your drive letter is, and boler1 with whatever your chosen song is. There are spaces before and after the /Open.


This is the command that should be stored in the registry for "Band-in-a-Box song", so if it works when you do it manually, then maybe there is something wrong with the registry keys (or they aren't there at all). One thing that would cause them not to be there at all would be if UAC was enabled when you used the "associate" menu item in BB. Though in this case, BB would give you a message informing you of that. There could be some other security software running on your computer that is preventing it from happening.

Running a Band-in-a-Box installer would be more likely to succeed at setting the values, since it would be probably be running with more privileges than bbw.exe - so that is something to try (e.g. run the Setup.exe file on your latest hard drive, and choose the minimal install).


Last edited by Andrew - PG Music; 05/14/13 10:27 AM. Reason: Added more info

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Here’s just a small sampling of what you can look forward to in XPro Styles PAK 10: Soft indie folk worship songs, bumpin’ country boogies, gospel praise breaks, hard rockin’ pop, funky disco grooves, smooth Latin jazz pop, bossa nova fusion, western swing, alternative hip-hop, cool country funk, and much more!

Special offers until December 31st, 2025!

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Learn more and listen to demos of XPro Styles PAKs.

Video: XPro Styles PAK 10 Overview & Styles Demos: Watch now!

XPro Styles PAKs require Band-in-a-Box® 2025 or higher and are compatible with ANY package, including the Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, and Audiophile Edition.

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Xtra Styles PAK 21 for Mac & Windows Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) is here with 200 brand new RealStyles!

We're excited to bring you our latest Xtra Styles PAK installment—the all new Xtra Styles PAK 21 for Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher)!

Rejoice, one and all, for Xtra Styles PAK 21 for Band-in-a-Box® is here! We’re serving up 200 brand spankin’ new styles to delight your musical taste buds! The first three courses are the classics you’ve come to know and love, including offerings from the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres, but, not to be outdone, this year’s fourth course is bro country! A wide ranging genre, you can find everything from hip-hop, uptempo outlaw country, hard hitting rock, funk, and even electronica, all with that familiar bro country flair. The dinner bell has been rung, pickup up Xtra Styles PAK 21 today!

In this PAK you’ll discover: Energetic folk rock, raucous train beats, fast country boogies, acid jazz grooves, laid-back funky jams, a bevy of breezy jazz waltzes, calm electro funk, indie synth pop, industrial synth metal, and more bro country than could possibly fit in the back of a pickup truck!

Special offers until December 31st, 2025!

All the Xtra Styles PAKs 1 - 21 are on special for only $29 each (reg $49), or get all 21 PAKs for $199 (reg $399)! Order now!

Learn more and listen to demos of the Xtra Styles PAK 21.

Video: Xtra Styles PAK 21 Overview & Styles Demos: Watch now!

Note: The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 21 requires the 2025 or higher UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition. They will not work with the Pro or MegaPAK version because they need the RealTracks from the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition.

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