I don't know whether it's Mudcat or me, but I cannot see who the authors are above, but I have a few elaborations:

- Being a PC person I'm not familiar with the Mac version of the DT database, but I'd be surprised if it is fundamentally diffreent in structure to the PC beast. So YES if you have the ability to read and edit the databse in its raw format - at least for LYRICS.

- Adding the TUNE plus LYRICS is also possible, as long as you were prepared to use the old DOS version of SongWright. There are no Windows, Mac or Linux versions! This is a robust but very tedious and demanding process and would need to be notated note by note for EVERY additional song in your collection. The format looks like this:-

N-ABDUL ABULBUL AMEER
C-Percy French
A-
T-Moderato
S-140
K-D
B-3/4
F-
H-                  D      A7                G          D                      Em          D
M-9W-2 R-2 F-4 F-4 E-4 D#4 E-4 F-4 G-4 b-4 a-4 G#4 a-2 a-8_a-8 d-4 c-4 d-4 e-4 d-4 b-4 a-3 R-2 a-8 a-8
L-                The sons of the Pro-phet are heart-y and bold, and quite un-ac-cust-tomed to fear,             But the
H-       A7                      Bm          D            A7                      D
M-8W-2 a-4 E-4 E-4 E-4 F-4 G-4 b-4 a-4 F-4 d-2 F-8_F-8 a-4 a-4 a-4 G-4 F-4 E-4 D-3_D-4 R-2 S-6
L-
L-    bra-vest of all in their ranks I've been told, was Ab-dul A- bul- bul A-   meer.

In the unlikely event that you want to proceed then please send me a PM and I'll give you some further details and/or other people to contact.

The notation example is in proprietary SongWright version and at first glance appears somewhat like the newer (and much more adaptable) notation system known as ABC. And yes, I have been working on an ABC version of the DT for those songs for which tunes exist in the DT. I had hoped to have this online for download by now, but I've been travelling somewhat more than I expected. This ABC database is simplicity itself in that it is entirely text based and with a Mac tool such as Barfly you can search, play, transpose, print the music etc with great ease. Adding YOUR tunes to this database is as easy as copying text to the end of a file - or at the appropriate plces within a file.

I have in the past written an ABC Guide for Mudcat. Someone else might be kind enough to provide a link for you (OK, John, click) - or visit the ABC Homepage; it'll contain the keyword WALSHAW.

I've been loathe to make public pronouncements about timing for this but if I get a clear run I would hope to have this done before Melbourne Cup Day.

Regards, John