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This Composer documentation is organized according to tasks that you can accomplish, and will want to learn about, in Composer. This organization is different from "reference" documentation, which is organized according to the structure of the software program-- menus, toolbars, dialog boxes, etc. The problem with documentation organized for reference is that it assumes you already know where to find the menu command that accomplishes a desired task. This Composer documentation is organized so that you can more readily find the menu command, for example, that accomplishes the desired task.
 To find the documentation that explains how to accomplish a certain task:
If you are viewing this documentation on the screen, then do one of the following:
 | You will see the Table of Contents on the left side of the help window. Navigate through the Table Contents until you find the category and sub-category of documentation that is relevant to your need |
-- OR --
| Click on the Search or Index tab in the left side of the help window. If you are interested, for example, in help topics that specifically focus on preparing piano scores or parts, then look up "piano" in the Index, or use "piano" as the keyword for Search. |
Although the Composer documentation is particularly well-organized to answer "how to" questions, it also provides quick reference information, if you already know, for example, what menu command or dialog box you should be using, but just need some help on how to use the command or dialog box.
To learn about the purpose and use of a particular menu item:
| While holding the mouse over the menu item, hit the F1 key. Composer will display this help window, presenting the topic that describes the situations in which you might want to use that menu command, and the overall procedures in which you would use that command. |
To learn about the purpose and use of a button or control in the main toolbar, or a button in one of the palettes:
| While holding the mouse over the button or control, hit the F1 key. |
To learn about the details of a dialog box:
| Click the Help button in the dialog box. |
To learn about keyboard shortcuts in Composer:
| See Appendix A: Keyboard Shortcuts. You might find it useful to print out that particular reference topic to speed up your learning of helpful keyboard shortcuts. |
| If you know the menu item or palette button for a given command, you can find out what the keyboard shortcut for that command is by placing the mouse over the menu item or palette button, then wait for a brief moment until Composer displays a tip describing the command and its keyboard shortcut. |
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