|
Log in to post
|
Print Thread |
|
|
|
|
|
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
|
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 2
Newbie
|
OP
Newbie
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 2 |
I've been a BiaB user since the DOS days and have always loved it except for one annoying feature or problem depending on how you look at it. When I leave the program and have forgotten to Save after previously having made changes and Saved As in the same format (.sgu), a dialog comes up and asks if I want to save, if I hit yes, (now the problem), BiaB brings up a Save As box where you have to save and then overwrite your old file etc. 99% of the Windows programs in the world will just save it and let you exit. Same if you try to open a file without saving first, the Save As box appears and you have to overwrite your current file.
Is this intentional? Can it be changed to follow the Windows standard? I don't know any other Windows programs that work like this but it has been like this as long as I have been a user.
Aside from this minor annoyance, I use this program continually in giving guitar, bass and ukulele lessons to print out charts and make play along CD's for my students. I would hate to teach without it!
Thanks,
Michael
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
|
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 27,513
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 27,513 |
Welcome to the forum. You sound like an experienced and thoughtful user. There is one case that surprised me the first times it happened that is a bit different from other programs: BIAB treats songs without melody .SGU and songs with melody .MGU differently. When you have been working without a melody and then add one, it becomes a new file. Could this be what you are experiencing?
BIAB 2026 Win Audiophile. Software: Fender Studio One 8, Swam horns, Acoustica-7, Notion 6, Song Master Pro, Win 11 Home. Hardware: Intel i9, 32 Gb; Presonus Quantom HD8 & Faderport 8, Royer 121, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
|
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,869
Expert
|
|
Expert
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,869 |
I think I understand what you have said. I get it when I quit BIAB without saving the song first. Your right, these boxes are unnecessary, BIAB should present one screen "do you wish to save?" that's all.
Also, If my system crashes, or Biab crashes, the RGB numbers in the display get set to Zero, leaving a black chord screen. I have to go into display and load the display template again
Z
Last edited by ZeroZero; 06/02/15 08:43 PM.
Win 11 64, Asus Rog Strix z390 mobo, 64 gig RAM, 8700k
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
|
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 3,891
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 3,891 |
I've been a BiaB user since the DOS days and have always loved it except for one annoying feature or problem depending on how you look at it. When I leave the program and have forgotten to Save after previously having made changes and Saved As in the same format (.sgu), a dialog comes up and asks if I want to save, if I hit yes, (now the problem), BiaB brings up a Save As box where you have to save and then overwrite your old file etc. 99% of the Windows programs in the world will just save it and let you exit. Same if you try to open a file without saving first, the Save As box appears and you have to overwrite your current file.
Is this intentional? Can it be changed to follow the Windows standard? I don't know any other Windows programs that work like this but it has been like this as long as I have been a user.
Aside from this minor annoyance, I use this program continually in giving guitar, bass and ukulele lessons to print out charts and make play along CD's for my students. I would hate to teach without it!
Thanks,
Michael Yep, the Save/SaveAs functionality is not right! I have been using BIAB only about 2-3 years and every version has had this problem. It has been discussed here but dunno if they will ever fix it.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
|
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 3,891
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 3,891 |
And as far as I can tell it has nothing to do with .SGU vs .MGU. Here is a simple test I just did,
1) open BIAB
2) keep the styles that are loaded (prolly from your last use)
3) leave the C in the first bar
4) Save As YourFilename
5) add one more chord anywhere on the screen
6) quit BIAB
7) as you would expect, it prompts to see if you wish to save
8) say Yes
at this point, any standard Windows program will save the file using the name you used previously in your SaveAs in step #4 above and exit the program.
BUT BIAB instead pops up the SaveAs dialog and if you attempt the save with the same name it then warns you about overwriting, which is, of course, what Save should do and exactly what you wanted it to do!
Last edited by JohnJohnJohn; 06/02/15 09:56 PM.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
|
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 207
Apprentice
|
|
Apprentice
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 207 |
I often want to do a new arrangement of a song, but keep the original arrangement.
In that case, I use the "save as" function, and change the name of the song.
If there was only one save function, I would not be able to do this.
So for me, having the two save functions (save and save as) makes perfect sense.
Mike Laatz
Cape Town
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
|
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 1,598
Expert
|
|
Expert
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 1,598 |
This is a known problem, has been noted here several times,but it was never solved
Latest BIAB version, latest build.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
|
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 2,610
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 2,610 |
Not a problem or bug as Mike and John have stated. Can't understand why you think otherwise.
Asus Q500A i7 Win 10 64 bit 8GB ram 750 HD 15.5" touch screen, BIAB 2017, Casio PX 5s, Xw P1, Center Point Stereo SS V3 and EWI 4000s.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
|
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 1,598
Expert
|
|
Expert
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 1,598 |
Not a problem or bug as Mike and John have stated. Can't understand why you think otherwise. Please, read JohnJohnJohn's post above. Other examples of this odd behavior have been reported in this forum over the last years, and, if I remember correctly (95% sure), Peter himself recognized the problem and said that he could fix it easily a couple of years ago.
Last edited by Cerio; 06/07/15 09:07 AM.
Latest BIAB version, latest build.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
|
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 3,891
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 3,891 |
I often want to do a new arrangement of a song, but keep the original arrangement.
In that case, I use the "save as" function, and change the name of the song.
If there was only one save function, I would not be able to do this.
So for me, having the two save functions (save and save as) makes perfect sense. Mike, we are not suggesting they remove either the Save or the Save As features...those are standard Windows features and should be kept! What we are suggesting is they make them work the way they are supposed to per the Windows guidelines!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
|
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 3,891
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 3,891 |
Not a problem or bug as Mike and John have stated. Can't understand why you think otherwise. Ray, you may have learned to work with these as they are programmed in BIAB but they are definitely not working correctly according to the Windows interface standards. And this means it makes the program a littler less user-friendly. If you want to understand this try the following simple test with the simplest Windows application there is, 1) open Notepad 2) type a word 3) use Save As to save your file 4) type another word (but don't save) 5) quit Notepad It asks if you wish to save and if you click the Save button it saves the file using the same name you assigned it and then exits. It does NOT pop up a Save As box! This is the correct behavior for a Windows program in this scenario and that is what needs to be fixed on BIAB. And if for some reason you like it working differently than the Windows interface standards, well, good for you! But most folks would prefer it work consistently with other Windows programs so according to standards, yes indeed, it is a bug!
Last edited by JohnJohnJohn; 06/07/15 09:13 AM.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
|
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 22,554
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 22,554 |
It's not really a 'bug' (I think it's intentional), but I agree; having it act like standard Windows programs would be nice.
I don't notice this in RB, but if it is this way in BiaB it should be changed IMO.
I do not work here, but the benefits are still awesome
Make your sound your own!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
|
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 3,891
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 3,891 |
It's not really a 'bug' (I think it's intentional), but I agree; having it act like standard Windows programs would be nice.
I don't notice this in RB, but if it is this way in BiaB it should be changed IMO. I'd disagree and say if you break a standard, even intentionally, it is a bug. 
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
|
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 22,554
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 22,554 |
I'll support your efforts as much as I can. I do (and did) agree it should conform to the standards .. I guess our interpretation of a bug (vs complaint) may differ I'm OK with that.
I do not work here, but the benefits are still awesome
Make your sound your own!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ask sales and support questions about Band-in-a-Box using natural language.
ChatPG's knowledge base includes the full Band-in-a-Box User Manual and sales information from the website.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Update to Build 10 of RealBand® 2026 for Windows®!
If you're already using RealBand 2026 for Windows, download build 10 to get all the latest additions and enhancements.
Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac® users: Build 904 now available!
If you're already using Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac®, make sure to grab the latest update! Build 904 is now available for download and includes the newest additions and enhancements from our team.
Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows® users: Build 1237 is now available!
Already a Band-in-a-Box 2026 for Windows user? Stay up to date and download the build 1237 to get all the latest additions and enhancements.
PowerTracks Pro 2026 for Windows is Here!
PowerTracks 2026 is here—bringing powerful new enhancements designed to make your production workflow faster, smoother, and more intuitive than ever.
The enhanced Mixer now shows Track Type and Instrument icons for instant track recognition, while a new grid option simplifies editing views. Non-floating windows adopt a modern title bar style, replacing the legacy blue bar.
The Master Volume is now applied at the end of the audio chain for consistent levels and full-signal master effects.
Tablature now includes a “Save bends when saving XML” option for improved compatibility with PG Music tools. Plus, you can instantly match all track heights with a simple Ctrl-release after resizing, and Add2 chords from MGU/SGU files are now fully supported... and more!
Get started today—first-time packages start at just $49.
Already using PowerTracks Pro Audio? Upgrade for as little as $29 and enjoy the latest improvements!
Order now!
Band-in-a-Box 2026 for Windows Special Offers End Tomorrow (January 15th, 2026) at 11:59 PM PST!
Time really is running out! Save up to 50% on Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows® upgrades and receive a FREE Bonus PAK—only when you order by 11:59 PM PST on Thursday, January 15, 2026!
We've added many major new features and new content in a redesigned Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®!
Version 2026 introduces a modernized GUI redesign across the program, with updated toolbars, refreshed windows, smoother workflows, and a new Dark Mode option. There’s also a new side toolbar for quicker access to commonly used windows, and the new Multi-View feature lets you arrange multiple windows as layered panels without overlap, making it easier to customize your workspace.
Another exciting new addition is the new AI-Notes feature, which can transcribe polyphonic audio into MIDI. You can view the results in notation or play them back as MIDI, and choose whether to process an entire track or focus on specific parts like drums, bass, guitars/piano, or vocals. There's over 100 new features in Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®.
There's an amazing collection of new content too, including 202 RealTracks, new RealStyles, MIDI SuperTracks, Instrumental Studies, “Songs with Vocals” Artist Performance Sets, Playable RealTracks Set 5, two RealDrums Stems sets, XPro Styles PAK 10, Xtra Styles PAK 21, and much more!
Upgrade your Band-in-a-Box for Windows to save up to 50% on most Band-in-a-Box® 2026 upgrade packages!
Plus, when you order your Band-in-a-Box® 2026 upgrade during our special, you'll receive a Free Bonus PAK of exciting new add-ons.
If you need any help deciding which package is the best option for you, just let us know. We are here to help!
Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows® Special Offers Extended Until January 15, 2026!
Good news! You still have time to upgrade to the latest version of Band-in-a-Box® for Windows® and save. Our Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows® special now runs through January 15, 2025!
We've packed Band-in-a-Box® 2026 with major new features, enhancements, and an incredible lineup of new content! The program now sports a sleek, modern GUI redesign across the entire interface, including updated toolbars, refreshed windows, smoother workflows, a new dark mode option, and more. The brand-new side toolbar provides quicker access to key windows, while the new Multi-View feature lets you arrange multiple windows as layered panels without overlap, creating a flexible, clutter-free workspace. We have an amazing new “AI-Notes” feature. This transcribes polyphonic audio into MIDI so you can view it in notation or play it back as MIDI. You can process an entire track (all pitched instruments and drums) or focus on individual parts like drums, bass, guitars/piano, or vocals. There's an amazing collection of new content too, including 202 RealTracks, new RealStyles, MIDI SuperTracks, Instrumental Studies, “Songs with Vocals” Artist Performance Sets, Playable RealTracks Set 5, two RealDrums Stems sets, XPro Styles PAK 10, Xtra Styles PAK 21, and much more!
There are over 100 new features in Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®.
When you order purchase Band-in-a-Box® 2026 before 11:59 PM PST on January 15th, you'll also receive a Free Bonus PAK packed with exciting new add-ons.
Upgrade to Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows® today! Check out the Band-in-a-Box® packages page for all the purchase options available.
Happy New Year!
Thank you for being part of the Band-in-a-Box® community.
Wishing you and yours a very happy 2026—Happy New Year from all of us at PG Music!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Forums57
Topics86,086
Posts799,995
Members40,031
| |
Most Online44,367
Mar 4th, 2026
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dansk
Deutsch - Windows
Español
Français - Windows
Italiano - Windows
Nederlands
Polski
Português
Svenskt
русский
Japanese
Simplified Chinese
Traditional Chinese
Korean