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I have started to look at the new user style feature to sort out my hundreds of Norton and other user styles since the "old" Stylepicker was replaced.
The new category creation feature is welcome but I am looking to simplify what appears to be a daunting task. I have a few questions.

1) I started by simply listing my user styles in the Stylepicker by filtering but why do some PG styles appear as user styles when I filter for "user styles only"

2) Do I have to right click every style listed as user, create a category if necessary and decide in which new user category to list it? Is there any way to make use of the old ls3 files which are text files and already have the style organized by category?

I'm sure others have already tackled this project?

Thanks
Tony

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Well, it looks like you can simply create a category text file in the Stylepicker and then copy/paste style data from an ls3 file into the bb/usercategory text file. It also seems that you don't need to edit the copy/paste data because Stylepicker seems to ignore extraneous information.

Tony

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I recommend to you to read and read again the 2017 Upgrade manual to get all the details for creating User Catgories.
I have created my own user categories in the Stylepicker and it works fine.
As far I know, you still need to have your *.ls3 files as before for the new stylepicker. These information are used to determine the genre and the group in the new stylepicker.

Last edited by John-Luke; 12/26/16 12:04 AM.

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we made text lists for User Categories for Bob Norton styles.
We did this in collaboration with Bob.

This isn't an official installer so you need to follow the instructions below.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/fp6r333ssqk7ca0/Norton_UnzipTo_BB_Data_StylePicker_UserCategoriesFolder.zip?dl=0

Instructions:
- unzip the zip file (see link above) to your c:\bb\data\StylePicker\User Categories folder. (note: if they already exist there, great, no need to paste them again)
- bootup bbw.exe as usual.
- from the StylePicker, choose menu "Category" and then "Choose and Show User Category"
- you will then see a list of all user categories, many of them ours like Xtra styles etc.
- type a filter like Norton, and you'll see Bob's Categories.
- Pick one, and you'll then see a list of Bob's styles
- everywhere in the stylepicker, it will put a * beside the name of the Norton style, (assming that's the most recent list youve chosen)

We hope that this exceeds the support with the old stylepicker for these user categories. Because it doesn't just make the lists available as separate lists, it allows the styles to display and be used alongside all of the other styles.

For example, if you type a song title, one of Bob's styles might come up to match the tempo/feel you're looking for, and a * beside the name reminds you that it is Bob's style. In the old stylepicker, they were in 'different worlds', and you'd never see a list with Norton styles mixed with ours (or yours) for example, It's all one big happy family now smile


As you may have seen already, these categories are simple text files, so anyone can make/edit them.


Have Fun!
Peter Gannon
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Thanks Peter

Do Bob's category lists include ALL his published styles? What happens if someone has purchased only some of his styles. Does Stylepicker show N/A?

Thanks
Tony

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Originally Posted By: Tony Wright
Thanks Peter

Do Bob's category lists include ALL his published styles? What happens if someone has purchased only some of his styles. Does Stylepicker show N/A?

Thanks
Tony


I can answer my own question because I just tried temporarily removing all my Norton #****** from the bb folder and, as I suspected, the Norton category lists were the same but BIAB of course couldn't load the style.

Does this mean that to create an accurate User Category List you have to manually create the text files based on the actual user styles you have in the bb folder or is there a quicker way?

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))) Does this mean that to create an accurate User Category List you have to manually create the text files based on the actual user styles you have in the bb folder or is there a quicker way?


No, a single one size fits all file is all you need. In your example, where the styles still showed, you likely forgot to rebuild the list (pressing the slow rebuild button)


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Peter Gannon
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Originally Posted By: PeterGannon
))) Does this mean that to create an accurate User Category List you have to manually create the text files based on the actual user styles you have in the bb folder or is there a quicker way?


No, a single one size fits all file is all you need. In your example, where the styles still showed, you likely forgot to rebuild the list (pressing the slow rebuild button)


Thanks Peter

You are right, I forgot to rebuild the list.

I had assumed the category list had to match the actual styles in the bb folder but it looks like the Stylepicker user list simply ignores any styles that are not installed.

One final question because I have several non-Norton ls3 files. Some were downloaded with the styles and some I created.
It seem that I need to change the .ls3 to .txt and add the files to the bb/stylepicker/user categories folder and then do a rebuild. Stylepicker then behaves just like it does with the new Norton lists and ignores any styles that are not installed. I tried leaving the files as .ls3 and it didn't work.

Thanks
Tony

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Tony: >> It seem that I need to change the .ls3 to .txt and add the files to the bb/stylepicker/user categories folder and then do a rebuild. Stylepicker then behaves just like it does with the new Norton lists and ignores any styles that are not installed. I tried leaving the files as .ls3 and it didn't work.

Glad you got it working. Yes, copy the ls3 to the bb/stylepicker/user categories folder and rename the ls3 as txt. (preserve the ls3 in the BB folder)


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Peter Gannon
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Band-in-a-Box 2026 Video: AI Stems & Notes - split polyphonic audio into instruments and transcribe

This video demonstrates how to use the new AI-Notes feature together with the AI-Stems splitter, allowing you to select an audio file and have it separated into individual stems while transcribing each one to its own MIDI track. AI-Notes converts polyphonic audio—either full mixes or individual instruments—into MIDI that you can view in notation or play back instantly.

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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!

All the XPro Styles PAKs 1 - 10 are on sale for only $29 ea (Reg. $49 ea), or get them all in the XPro Styles PAK Bundle for only $149 (reg. $299)! Order now!

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.

Introducing Xtra Styles PAK 21 – Now Available for Mac Band-in-a-Box 2025 and Higher!

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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