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Is there any alternative to font "PGChords.ttf" for jazz chords, which is more readable? When trying to choose a different font in the preferences, the message appears that the font is reset to the "PGChords". I am seeking a font that is not a handwriting font, but use small capitals instead of jazz symbols similar to something like this: 
Biab/RB latest build, German Language Pak, Win 10/64 Pro, 1 TB SSD, 32 GB RAM. Notation SW Finale, StaffPad, SmartsScore – Playing Double Bass, Guitar, Piano
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You should be able to choose any font that is installed on your system. I often use Arial.
Just checking, is this for a Windows PC?
The method of changing fonts and other display settings changed with version 2016 of BIAB. Can you first tell us which version of BIAB you have? If it is version 2016, there are a few places to look at. Right-click on the main chord display and choose Display Options. There are about 8 boxes in the middle that can alter the appearance of chords. Experiment.
If nothing "holds" as you say, then that's a different problem; likely a permissions thing and we'll deal with that. Write back and let us know your progress.
If you have an older version than BIAB 2016, tell us and someone else can give you the steps (I've forgotten).
BIAB 2025 Win Audiophile. Software: Studio One 7 Pro, Swam horns, Acoustica-7, Notion 6, Song Master Pro, Win 11 Home. Hardware: Intel i9, 32 Gb; Presonus 192 & Faderport 8, Royer 121, Slate VSX, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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I have a German BIAB 2016 (Windows 10) and I do not succeed. In fact, font changes always reset with the message(translated from german): "Note: In order to allow the presentation of Jazz chord symbols like C-7 and Co7 that chord font is set to PGChords" ... if simultaneously "Jazz Symbols" is ticked (as i would like to keep some jazz symbols like Ø). My BiaB is installed (with administrator rights) on D:\bb and the system fonts are somewhere on C:. I have looked through all the possible options you mentioned but did not find a combination of settings to represent something similar to my example. I would like this especially for the printed fake sheets. What I would love is as an example F MI7 instead of F- 7 but keep F Ø7 and Fo 7, F b 7 (with all "7"s and "b"s superscripted). And all this in a not handwritten font, but a condensed serif font like in the appended example. At least, it is an combination of jazz symbols and letter abbreviations like small caps "MI" for "-" and "MA" for the major triangel. May be it should be an alternative symbol font to "pgchords" with the same character set but other glyphs (and not handwritten ones) at the corresponding locations. 
Last edited by Brille; 09/06/16 09:34 PM.
Biab/RB latest build, German Language Pak, Win 10/64 Pro, 1 TB SSD, 32 GB RAM. Notation SW Finale, StaffPad, SmartsScore – Playing Double Bass, Guitar, Piano
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It is my understanding that would require designing a new font. There is no way to pick and choose individual symbol choices; you get everything as it appears in that one font.
I was a beta tester of a music notation program for many years where there were seemingly endless tweaks to a single new font's appearance, and very little agreement among users on what they wanted.
However, I suggest you make a post in the BIAB Wishlist Forum. Perhaps PG Music can figure a way to have display options for your suggestions.
BIAB 2025 Win Audiophile. Software: Studio One 7 Pro, Swam horns, Acoustica-7, Notion 6, Song Master Pro, Win 11 Home. Hardware: Intel i9, 32 Gb; Presonus 192 & Faderport 8, Royer 121, Slate VSX, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors.
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I'm in agreement that I prefer non-handwritten fonts for chords. I find them much more readable when sight reading.
Although any Times or Roman font would get rid on the handwritten style, it doesn't help with the sizes.
I have an old copy of Encore that does that automatically, and I use it for my charts, so I don't know if BiaB does it or not.
I don't however recommend Encore, as the company was purchased twice and I haven't seen updates in about 10 years. But it works for the limited uses I need it for.
Any good notation program should be able to do this if you export from BiaB though.
Notes
Bob "Notes" Norton  Norton Music
https://www.nortonmusic.com
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I had the hope that maybe other BIAB users have already developed alternative symbol fonts. Maybe I do that now, if I do find a little time for it. It might be helpful for other users,too.
Biab/RB latest build, German Language Pak, Win 10/64 Pro, 1 TB SSD, 32 GB RAM. Notation SW Finale, StaffPad, SmartsScore – Playing Double Bass, Guitar, Piano
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If you know how to do that, get in touch with PG Music and work with them.
BIAB 2025 Win Audiophile. Software: Studio One 7 Pro, Swam horns, Acoustica-7, Notion 6, Song Master Pro, Win 11 Home. Hardware: Intel i9, 32 Gb; Presonus 192 & Faderport 8, Royer 121, Slate VSX, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors.
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I created a new font pgchords.com inspired by the fonts and layout in the 557 JAZZ STANDARDS real book series. Everything looks and works fine, but one thing I can not solve: Where in the options can I choose the font for the subtitles (for instance the green marked composers name)? 
Biab/RB latest build, German Language Pak, Win 10/64 Pro, 1 TB SSD, 32 GB RAM. Notation SW Finale, StaffPad, SmartsScore – Playing Double Bass, Guitar, Piano
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That's not bad! Can you either share the font, or tell us how to do that please?
BIAB 2025 Win Audiophile. Software: Studio One 7 Pro, Swam horns, Acoustica-7, Notion 6, Song Master Pro, Win 11 Home. Hardware: Intel i9, 32 Gb; Presonus 192 & Faderport 8, Royer 121, Slate VSX, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors.
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I will share the font in the next time, but there are some minor things (letter distances, hints) to correct first, also there are still some glyphs left to do.
Also I will ask PG-Music. It would be better to have this new font as an choice but not as an replacement. As far as I can see, BiaB choose jazz symbols just with a font named PCChords.ttf.
Does anyone has an idea, where I can select the font for the "subtitles"? I tried everything in the notation preferences but to no result.
Biab/RB latest build, German Language Pak, Win 10/64 Pro, 1 TB SSD, 32 GB RAM. Notation SW Finale, StaffPad, SmartsScore – Playing Double Bass, Guitar, Piano
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Brillie,
I have BIAB 2016 and I've looked everywhere to see how to change the text for Composer 1 and Composer 2. Initially it seemed as though "Title" text would do the job but when I loaded Windows Symbol font, it was clear that Title text did not do the job.
I think you need to contact PG Music Support about this.
Regards,
Noel
P.S. It's a great font you've created!
MY SONGS...Audiophile BIAB 2026
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In the SONAR forum, Cakewalk finally opened up to users what they call 'themes'. Just about any element on the screen can be changed. Some users have become very prolific designing and sharing themes.
Maybe 15 or so years ago, PG Music opened up BIAB for user-designed color schemes, and this was popular and fun for users. Allanah's scheme was particularly nice. Perhaps the next step is to allow users access to all text parameters.
BIAB 2025 Win Audiophile. Software: Studio One 7 Pro, Swam horns, Acoustica-7, Notion 6, Song Master Pro, Win 11 Home. Hardware: Intel i9, 32 Gb; Presonus 192 & Faderport 8, Royer 121, Slate VSX, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors.
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I wrote to PGs Customer support last week about some technical details on font handling, but did not get an answer yet. I also asked for the permission to share this new font. So lets see.
Biab/RB latest build, German Language Pak, Win 10/64 Pro, 1 TB SSD, 32 GB RAM. Notation SW Finale, StaffPad, SmartsScore – Playing Double Bass, Guitar, Piano
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My font is ready (besides some optimization in the kerning tables as one might see) and it works fine (I attached a sample lead sheet print from BiaB). I had to name the font the same as PGChords.ttf, to not get it rejected by BiaB when checking "Jazz Symbols" – which is not a perfect solution. It would be better, to have both fonts as a choice. Also I would love to have the font for the four subtitles (composer 1 and 2, tempo, style) free selectable – for now you can only choose it together with the titles font – and even this does not work: the subtitles will always be PGTextJ or in any other cases Arial. I am in contact to Peter Gannon about all this. Lets see, how we can solve it. 
Biab/RB latest build, German Language Pak, Win 10/64 Pro, 1 TB SSD, 32 GB RAM. Notation SW Finale, StaffPad, SmartsScore – Playing Double Bass, Guitar, Piano
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Looks very good. Thanks for all of your efforts.
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It's looking fantastic, Brille! You've done a great job so far.
MY SONGS...Audiophile BIAB 2026
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I'm really liking this!
I hope your statement about 'being in contact to Peter' means he is actively working with you.
The best part is showing the extensions vertically, like #5#9. Really nice.
BIAB 2025 Win Audiophile. Software: Studio One 7 Pro, Swam horns, Acoustica-7, Notion 6, Song Master Pro, Win 11 Home. Hardware: Intel i9, 32 Gb; Presonus 192 & Faderport 8, Royer 121, Slate VSX, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors.
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I'm really liking this!
I hope your statement about 'being in contact to Peter' means he is actively working with you.
The best part is showing the extensions vertically, like #5#9. Really nice. I agree with Matt. I hope Peter can implement this font.
I think my wife has started to show the first signs of dementia.
She said she can't remember what she ever saw in me!
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Concur - great work - ESPECIALLY the vertical extensions!
Larry
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I agree with the look part but as far as My Prince is concerned that chart is all wrong. It's in Bb, why is the melody note in bar 2 written as an A# and the chord is a D7#5#9? The 7 is a C, the #5 is a Bb and the #9 is an F. That chord is simply a Bb7 and I would just use a Bb pedal bass for those two bars. So it goes from BbMaj7 to a Bb7. Big deal. No need for all these extensions when all that's happening is a change of one note of the BbMaj7 chord.
It's charts like these that drive me crazy as a keyboard player. Off topic I know, but it seriously makes my teeth ache...
Bob
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