StrataSynch's behaviour can be changed with environment variables. This allows a more seamless interaction between StrataSynch and other applications such as midi players, ABC converters, etc. What follows is an introduction to the environment variables that StrataSynch uses, tags that are used in defining those variables, and finally an example of a command file.
| Environment Variable | Function |
|---|---|
| STRATASYNCH_VIEW_COMMAND | This is a string that StrataSynch uses to convert an ABC tune into Postscript and then possibly display it using a Postscript viewer program. |
| STRATASYNCH_PLAY_COMMAND | StrataSynch uses this string to convert ABC to midi and then play it. |
| STRATASYNCH | StrataSynch uses this string to convert ABC to midi and then play it. |
| STRATASYNCH_HELP | Path to main StrataSynch helpfile. This is set upon installation |
The following tags are embedded in the environment variable definitions
| Tag | Function |
|---|---|
| :0: | This is expanded to a temporary filename containing the ABC text |
| :1: upto :9: | These tags are similar to :0: except they are available to facilitate transferring data from one command to another via temporary files. These temporary files are created in your system's temporary directory(I presume the system deletes them on login,logout, or shutdown to prevent them from accumulating) |
| :abcxref: | An ABC file can contain more than 1 song. StrataSynch generates upto 2. This tag expands to the correct 'xref' field which is how ABC designates a single song within a file. Some tools(e.g. ABC to midi converter) require this field. |
The StrataSynch installer actually writes a small command file(stratasynch.cmd) in its install directory. Variables STRATASYNCH and STRATASYNCH_HELP are assigned initial values. The other variables should be defined in this file.
rem 'rem' precedes comments and are ignored by Windows rem These are initially set by the installer program. set STRATASYNCH=generators set STRATASYNCH_HELP=helpfiles\stratasynch.html rem rem SET VIEWER COMMAND rem rem rem 1. abcm2ps takes ABC output from StrataSynch(:0: tag) and outputs it to :1: rem 2. :1:(Postscript file) is input to ghostview. The & separates the 2 commands. rem set STRATASYNCH_VIEW_COMMAND=abcm2ps -B 4 -j0 -e :abcxref: -O:1: :0: & ghostview :1: rem rem rem SET PLAYER COMMAND rem rem 1. Convert ABC output to MIDI rem 2. Play the MIDI using Timidity player. rem set STRATASYNCH_PLAY_COMMAND=abc2midi.exe :0: :abcxref: -o :1: & timidity :1: rem rem rem ACTUAL INVOCATION OF STRATASYNCH-DO NOT REMOVE stratasynch_entry.exe |