Updating Random Chord Progression Generator

Tekker · #1 June 26th, 2009

Hi all,

I'm working on a new version of my random chord progression generator... For those who haven't seen the original here it is:
Random Chord Progression Generator

After this last term in my programming classes we got a little more info on GUI designing, so I wanted to redesign the whole thing (something I've wanted to do for a while, but lacked the know how).

Here's what I've got so far, most of the buttons don't do anything except light up, but many of the buttons will function the same as the original. The only real working features right now are the chord and roman numeral display and key selection from the drop down menu. And once most of the functionality is done, I'll change the ugly white/yellow buttons.

http://www.guitarforbeginners.com/te...ogression.html

Several people had problems getting the original to load, I used an older version of Java (v1.5 instead of v1.6) to create this one so I'm hoping that will solve the problem. If anyone still can't get it to load, please let me know.

Also, if anyone has any suggestions for features they'd like to see implemented, I'd love to hear them.

-tkr

jdpaz · #2 June 26th, 2009

I can't get it to load in my browser, Tekker.

rwjones3 · #3 June 26th, 2009

It loads up for me with version:
$ java -version
java version "1.6.0"
Java(TM) SE Runtime Environment (build 1.6.0-b105)

The extensions aren't being generated but will assume that is one of the features you don't have enabled yet.

The interface looks much nicer than the original and I like the output with the actual chord names instead of just the roman numerials.

Good job, keep us updated as you add the other features. I would really like to get those extensions added back in.

Robert

Tekker · #4 June 26th, 2009

jdpaz,

Do you have Java installed on your machine? If not, then go here to download it.
Download Free Java Software - Sun Microsystems

Quote:

Originally Posted by rwjones3

The extensions aren't being generated but will assume that is one of the features you don't have enabled yet.

Yes, the extensions aren't finished yet. But now that I have the chords and roman numerals both working, extensions are next on the to-do list.

-tkr

Tekker · #5 June 27th, 2009

jdpaz, can you try again and let me know if it works this time? I tried using a different setting when I compiled it.

Has anyone else not been able to get it to work?

-tkr

si16 · #6 June 27th, 2009

Works fine for me in both Firefox and IE8. All buttons toggle on and off and progressions generate fine. Some good new features in there Tekker, keep us updated.

starsailor · #7 June 28th, 2009

Works fine here Tekker all buttons light up Chords and numerals work fine all very user friendly like what you've done, I'm using Firefox and the latest Java.

Tekker · #8 June 29th, 2009

UPDATE: Extensions are working! The only one that isn't working yet is the "o7" (full diminished) button. Right now it is permanently "on" so you'll always get a full diminished even with it off.

I've changed the way the extensions work from the original to include stacking the extensions. In other words, with all of the extensions on, you could get really odd chords like the one I just got, G#m6b5add9. lol Since there are so many possibilities it would take a lot to try to get every possible scenario to make sense theoretically, like removing the "minor" from Cm6sus2 so that it's just C6sus2, since sus2 chords are neither major or minor. I've tried to account for some of the big ones, but keep in mind that you may find a few oddities on some of the more obscure chords.

http://www.guitarforbeginners.com/te...ogression.html

If anyone wants to beta test it and make sure the roman numerals match with the chords, that would be great also. I've been playing with it and fixed a few inconsistencies, but I'm sure there's more to be found. LOL If/when you find any tell me the roman numeral number and what the extensions are for the chord and the roman numeral (just on the single chord that has the problem, I don't need the whole progression).

Have fun!

-tkr

jdpaz · #9 June 29th, 2009

It's still not working for me. But judging from others' remarks, it seems like the problem is on my end not yours.

Tekker · #10 June 29th, 2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by jdpaz

It's still not working for me. But judging from others' remarks, it seems like the problem is on my end not yours.

What browser(s) are you using and do you have java installed on your machine?

-tkr

Tekker · #11 June 30th, 2009

UPDATE: All of the buttons are functioning now (with the diatonic setting) except for the "Completely Random" button. There are also a few bugs on the reset button that I'm still trying to get worked out.

http://www.guitarforbeginners.com/te...ogression.html

-tkr

Tekker · #12 June 30th, 2009

UPDATE: I think everything's working now on the diatonic side and I've fixed all of the bugs I've come across. So let me know if you find anything weird with it.

One thing I had to purposely break is I set a chord limit to 16 chords when the "End at Start" is enabled. This should keep it from generating to many chords and expanding outside of the screen... Even so, if you get long extensions it will still go slightly out of the screen every once in a while.

I think I'm going to hold off on the chromatic part and start working on designing a background and buttons....

Here's a cool image for the background.

http://www.woodbrass.com/images/wood...ROYAL+BLUE.JPG

-tkr

Tekker · #13 June 30th, 2009

Well, I may be skipping the background image.... I still can't figure out exactly how to get the image loaded. Man, such a simple task (or what should be anyways) is ridiculously complicated in Java. Why can't there be a simple "Set Background Image" option???

Anyways, I'm done messing with that. On to the chromatic section I guess. lol

-tkr

Tekker · #14 July 2nd, 2009

Yeah! After posting a few times on a java forum, I finally got the background image loaded. It looks much better now!

http://www.guitarforbeginners.com/te...ogression.html

-tkr

Tekker · #15 July 2nd, 2009

For those who are still having problems, I just learned a neat trick on the java foum.

If you get the empty box with the red x, right click on the box and open the java console. Then clear the cache (I think it was the "X" key).

I was getting that empty box after making some changes and after clearing the cache it worked fine again. Refreshing the browser (super refresh: Shift + refresh) was apparently not enough to fix the problem it had to be done from within the java console.

-tkr