Printing out lyrics in columns

Subject: RE: Printing out lyrics in columns
From: DaveRo
Date: 30 Nov 22 - 04:20 AM

When I was distributing lyrics to a singing group, some of whom printed them and some of whom sung from an iPad - and I from my Android tablet - there was one format that worked for everybody - PDF. In fact I experimented and found that a pdf inside a zip file could be displayed - without unpacking it - and resized to fit the screen, on both Android and iPad.

As for text files, this 10" Samsung Android tablet does not actually recognise a plain text file. If I create or download one it won't open it in anything. Unless I add .txt on the end - which is an ancient Microsoft decoration which even Windows doesn't need any more - then it recognizes it as a text file, but offers no built-in app to read it.

Same seems to be true on an iPad. If I email a plain text file to my wife's iPad, it won't open it. If she had a Word Processor installed that would probably open it - but it wouldn't be a text file any more.

Subject: RE: Printing out lyrics in columns
From: GUEST,.gargoyle
Date: 29 Nov 22 - 09:30 PM

ALWAYS - save to TEXT format.
It is the basic ... universal ... hexadec ... binary code.

ANY System can read it, and display it. It will survive and thrive.

Many "systems" do not "Play Well Together.

If your issue is only, "Printing Out" ... cut and paste into any word processor, or even 1990's note-pad.

If you want to *display" on-line! It depands upon your "system and software" and hosting service, it is a long learning curve.

Sincerely,
Gargoyle

Let it go to public domain - and release to mudcat org

Subject: RE: Printing out lyrics in columns
From: MaJoC the Filk
Date: 29 Nov 22 - 07:11 AM

Side issue: I can see why books begin each chapter on the right-hand page, but it might be better for performance-ready copy to start each discrete item (poem, song etc) on the left. That way, the first page break doesn't require a physical page to be turned.

Subject: RE: Printing out lyrics in columns
From: Joe Offer
Date: 28 Nov 22 - 09:14 PM

In these days of Zoom singing sessions, I print out lyrics to songs quite frequently. I use Google Chrome as my browser. I highlight the lyrics I want to print, and then enlarge or shrink them to fit my page - and then I print.

If I want to print lyrics in columns, I use Word. I have set up most Mudcat lyrics so they can easily be copied and pasted into Word or any word processor. Highlight all the lyrics, and then select 2 columns - in either portrait or landscape orientation.

It's pretty easy for me - but then, I'm a geek. If you need help from a certified geek, email [e-mail]

Subject: RE: Printing out lyrics in columns
From: RTim
Date: 21 Oct 21 - 09:24 PM

For Gigs - I print 3 columns on an A4 Landscape page....I only list Song titles and first lines of verses.....I am using Word on a Mac, and 3 columns are easy to configure and when necessary I also print front and back.
This then can easily be folded in three to slip into a inside jacket pocket....and judishly use as reminders of songs and even verse starts...

Tim Radford

Subject: RE: Printing out lyrics in columns
From: Joe_F
Date: 21 Oct 21 - 09:16 PM

I could tell you how I did it in LaTeX, but I suspect I'd better return to my own planet.

Subject: RE: Printing out lyrics in columns
From: Helen
Date: 21 Oct 21 - 03:31 PM

I haven't used MsPublisher for many years but about 20 years ago in one of my working roles I coordinated a Christmas carols event and had to create a document with a large number of carols, nicely laid out in columns, with font big enough to read - in candlelight!! - and a few pretty images scattered around and decorative headings.

I had a little bit of amateur experience with MsPublisher but OMG what a drama! Every time I thought it was doing what it was supposed to do, a new curly variation would creep in. It took a lot of mucking around and muttered curses and then, finally when I had it all ready to print out, and I had checked and double checked that it would print as it showed on screen, I printed it and the end lines had migrated to the next column on some of the lyrics. I had already sent it to be printed and time was getting away from me so I just had to present it to the project owners and to the event crowd with these glaring mistakes.

That's why I always double check the print view before I finally print it out. Once bitten, twice shy. I also don't bother with MsPublisher any more although it may have improved since then.

I agree about WordPerfect, saulgoldie. Bring back the good old days. Unfortunately Microsoft invaded most of the workplaces and none of them used WordPerfect any more.

Just to add a musical reference, the line which always comes into my head when technology outwits humans is from the last verse of Shel Silverstein's Ever Lovin' Machine

"Oh she always did what she was supposed ter right up to this evening but then
"She had an affair with the toaster and they ran off and left me again"

Subject: RE: Printing out lyrics in columns
From: saulgoldie
Date: 21 Oct 21 - 06:08 AM

As Guest suggested, Word is not the best, most intuitive word processing program. It became dominant because of the effective marketing of u-no-hoo. I'd take WordPerfect back ina heartbeat. Yeah, in my dreams.

Having said that, here is my list of ways to get more text on one page.

By adjusting:
Font size
Character spacing
Line spacing
Page Margins
Column width
Space between columns

Of course, font size, character spacing, and line spacing affect readability, especially important to some of us who are a bit older. And some of the lyrics that I have transcribed just will not fit on one page. Just as in life, not everything is neat and perfect.

Saul

Subject: RE: Printing out lyrics in columns
From: DaveRo
Date: 21 Oct 21 - 05:49 AM

Word (and LibreOffice) is easily able to do what the OP wants. As the answers illustrate, there are several different ways of doing it. The problem is knowing that something - like a column-break, a non-breaking space, or a negative hanging indent - exists.

A lot depends on whether it's a one-off or occasional task, or something you'll do again and want to produce a consistent appearance. Do you just want to get it done, or learn different ways to do it? If the latter, avoid youtube IMO.

Also whether it's for your own use, or you want to share it with people and want them to see exactly what you see. Don't send people Word documents if they're only for printing: use pdf.

Subject: RE: Printing out lyrics in columns
From: GUEST
Date: 21 Oct 21 - 04:53 AM

The problem is Word itself. It's word processing software and not designed for this kind of application although, obviously, you can get by.

Desk-top publishing software would be better, such as Microsoft Publisher in the Office suite.

Subject: RE: Printing out lyrics in columns
From: Manitas_at_home
Date: 21 Oct 21 - 01:44 AM

Hi.

Subject: RE: Printing out lyrics in columns
From: Joe Offer
Date: 21 Oct 21 - 01:30 AM

Manitas_at_home (a delightful person I met only once, 20 years ago), has a very good idea that I forgot. If the song overflows to two pages, use [CTRL-ENTER] to put a page break where the song is more-or-less equally divided into two pages. If you print on Microsoft Word, go to the "print" function menu, and select 2 pages per sheet. The two pages will be scaled down so they will fit nicely on one sheet of paper, side-by-side.
Hi, Manitas!!

-Joe-

Subject: RE: Printing out lyrics in columns
From: The Man from UNCOOL
Date: 20 Oct 21 - 10:06 PM

If the overspill is only slight, adjust character width / spacing [Font menu].
I don't use Word, but on clones of it, and older versions, it's possible to set negative indents. That means, if your lines are separated by carriage returns [typically, via the key] rather than line-breaks [typically, via +], you can make individual lines longer than the column width [and at both ends, if you have an "After Paragraph" option to set, as well].
If, as many song transcribers do, you have different spacing at the end of a verse than between each line of it – an effect made easier by using line-breaks – adjust the Paragraph options of any line you make longer than the column-width [esp. the "Above / Below Paragraph" setting].
DaveRo's method may work, but I reckon line-break, tab is easier; Hanging Indents also effect the same thing [set them document-wide, but they'd apply only to 'overspilling' lines].
Or one right-aligned tab, which you can do within a column. I can’t replicate that 'look' in a Mudcat post, the way DaveRo has with his non-breaking spaces.

Subject: RE: Printing out lyrics in columns
From: DaveRo
Date: 20 Oct 21 - 02:45 AM

GUEST wrote: if you try to paste the whole text at once, you end up with only the last verse in the right hand column

Paste all the text at once, then insert a column-break where you want it to start on the right. Adjust the column margins, font size, line spacing, etc. until it fits.

I actually did what you're doing a while ago - I was sent a Word songsheet and made it 2-column to occupy fewer pages. As you said, the lines often wrap, so ...
I indented the overspill so make it clear that it's
    the same line, like this.
You can change where a line wraps by using non-breaking spaces instead of ordinary ones.

If you're doing a lot of this you should investigate paragraph styles.

Once I'd reformatted it I made a pdf so it stayed formatted for people I emailed it to. (I normally sing it from a tablet screen - any tablet will display pdfs.)

Subject: RE: Printing out lyrics in columns
From: Helen
Date: 19 Oct 21 - 04:07 PM

I like using Tables in MsWord. I would insert the table, choose 2 columns but only one row and paste the text in the first column - which will run on to the next page if there is too much text but then you can cut and paste that text into the right hand column and shuffle it around to make it appear as you want.

I also change the margins on the page to narrow or customised if I need some more space to get the whole line in.

You don't need to have the borders showing on the tables. You can choose to have some, all or no borders.

I always check how it will print by going to the print menu and seeing whether it all fits the way I want - although sometimes it throws a curveball when it actually prints.

I can give you more specific info if you want to know more about this method.

My other alternative is to paste the text into MsExcel and adjust it into two columns, adjust the width of the columns, change the margins to narrow etc. Check the print view and then the page ends appear on your main page and you can see where you need to move the text to the next column. Or adjust the size of the text slightly if it just won't fit any other way. Even if you adjust the font size only on the line which is too long.

If you really want to keep the file as an MsWord file you can copy the columns and paste them into a word document, adjust the margins etc.

Subject: RE: Printing out lyrics in columns
From: Manitas_at_home
Date: 19 Oct 21 - 03:11 PM

You can set the printer to print A5 with 2 A5 pages on an A4 sheet. I've used this method to produce small pamphlets and orders of service.

Subject: Printing out lyrics in columns
From: GUEST
Date: 19 Oct 21 - 02:52 PM

This is a technical question. I would like to print out lyrics of songs in 2 columns on a sheet of paper, both to save on paper (as I print out the lyrics of many songs) and also to hopefully get all the words of a song on one side of a page thus removing the necessity to turn the page over when people are singing. I have looked up videos about how to do this in Microsoft Word, and though the basics work OK (by Selecting Layout, then Columns, Number of Columns, More Columns, etc), there are some problems which have arisen, e.g. (a) In some cases when there are more words or letters in a particular line than in others, the last word of a line wraps over on to the next line - I have tried increasing the width of columns or decreasing the space between them, but this does not seem to work (b) You need to experiment with the proportion of the text you paste into the document after setting the columns - in the case of one I am attempting at the moment ("Soon May the Wellerman Come") if you try to paste the whole text at once, you end up with only the last verse in the right hand column, which means that most of the right hand side of the page is blank; however if you paste about half of the song at a time it is more or less satisfactory, although in some cases the beginning of a line on the left side of the page does not correspond with the beginning of a line on the right side of the page. I hope I have explained this problem properly although it would be easier if others were able to see it. Any advice would be welcome; I am sure I am not the first person to have attempted this. Just to make it clear, the verses in a song start with the opening verse at the top left, then verse 2 comes directly below verse 1 also on the left, and so on until the bottom of the (A4) page is reached (verse 3 in the case of Wellerman; though the chorus is also between the verses, I have only shown the full version once, after which I simply typed "CHORUS"). Verse 4 is at the top right of the A4 page, and so until Verse 6, followed by the chorus twice) is at the bottom right hand side of the page.