When Csound is launched, it automatically brings up the main file selection dialog. This dialog has fields for the required input orchestra and score files, the output sample file, and optionally a MIDI file and output listing file. Only the output file name may be explicitly typed in, the other fields must be filled by clicking on the corresponding Select button, which will bring up a standard Macintosh file selection dialog. Because the orchestra and score file names usually differ only in the filename extension (".orc" for orchestra files and ".sco" for score files), Csound only requires that you select one of the two; the other file name will be automatically formed by changing the extension appropriately. If an output file is selected (in the Options dialog), then the output file name is similarly created with the extension ".snd".
Users familiar with Csound will recall that Csound expects all sound files to live in a single directory called the SFDir (for sound file directory). On UNIX, this directory is specified via a UNIX shell environment variable. On the Macintosh, the user must select this directory. This can be done by clicking on the SFDir button next to the output file text item. This brings up the Sound File Directory selection dialog which shows the current sound file directory. When shipped, this will be blank. The sound file directory must be set up properly in order that output files may be created. Clicking on the Select button brings up a standard file selection dialog. Navigate to the directory you want to use for sound files, and then click on the Save button. Finally, click on the Save Settings button so that Csound will remember this directory when it is run in the future.
If an input MIDI file is desired, click on the MIDI file checkbox. This brings up a file selection dialog which can be used to select a MIDI file.
If a listing file is desired, click on the listing file checkbox. This bring up a file selection dialog which can be used to specify an output listing file. If a listing file is selected, Csound will route almost all output to the listing file. Certain messages will still appear in the console window.
The Smp Fmt and Options buttons bring up other dialogs for setting the Csound output sample format and options, respectively. These are described later in this document.
After all the files and options have been set up, click on the OK button to run Csound. If the files and options are incorrectly set up, Csound will report an error by printing an appropriate message to the console window. After the score file has been processed, Csound will display the message "*** PRESS MOUSE BUTTON TO EXIT ***". Pressing the mouse button will cause Csound to exit back to the Macintosh Finder. It is not possible to process multiple files without relaunching Csound.
Clicking on the Cancel button causes the file selection dialog to disappear. The dialog can be brought back by selecting the Choose Orchestra and Score menu item in the Csound menu. Note that cancelling the dialog does not cause Csound to forget the settings of the various options. This is particularly useful if you want to select extra options explicity by using the "Enter command line..." menu item.