carlwells2535 - Posted - 06/07/2026:  18:20:20

How do you get PDF to TEFview? Been so long since I've done it I've forgot. Think I had found songs already in TEFview and just had to dowload it. If it's not already in TEFview format tho how do you get it there.

Old Hickory - Posted - 06/07/2026:  19:35:12

There's an import function in one of the menus.

dbrooks - Posted - 06/08/2026:  08:16:01

There is no Import function in TefView.  It is in TablEdit.  TefView will open a variety of file types (.tef, .abc, .txt, etc), but no PDF.

David

Old Hickory - Posted - 06/08/2026:  20:18:51

I was misinformed by something I read on the Internet. Sorry to pass on bad information.

Old Hickory - Posted - 06/09/2026:  10:43:36

quote:

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Originally posted by dbrooks

There is no Import function in TefView.  It is in TablEdit.  TefView will open a variety of file types (.tef, .abc, .txt, etc), but no PDF.

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I assumed you were right and I was wrong. But I wasn't. PDF import has in fact been added to TEFview.

Read here.

Or here:

Import Image

Originally, this exclusive function was used to import tablature from an image or pdf file into TablEdit.

Now this function can be used to import tablature, musical staves or both together.

Importing a tablature

Depending on the number of lines per system, TEFview creates tablature for dulcimer, mandolin, banjo or guitar. The instrument's tuning is not recognized, so it must be adjusted before or after import.

TEFview automatically adapts to the tablature, whether the figures are crossed by the line or not, whether the figures straddle the line or are above it.

Importing a simple tablature image

If you wish to import an image containing a tablature without superimposed notation staves, select “Auto” from the first list, or tell TEFview explicitly whether the note stems in the tablature are located below ("Below Tab") or above ("Above Tab") the tablature. If note stems are in both directions, as in a musical staff, "Auto" should be selected.

Importing a tablature image with overlaid notation

In this case, you must select "Auto" so that TEFview recognizes the notes from the tablature, referring to the notation staff to calculate timing.

Alternatively, select "Below Tab" or "Above Tab" and the notation staff will be completely ignored.

Conversely, if you select "No Tab Stem", only the staff will be recognized, as shown below with the "Auto Key" option, but the fingerings may be altered.

Importing a musical staff without tablature

You need to tell TEFview the key so that the program knows it's a musical staff and not a banjo tablature. In the second list, select either the "Auto Key" option or the song key.

In the first case,TEFview will automatically recognize key and bar changes. In the second case, the program will stick to the indicated key and ask you to confirm before applying a bar change.

Of course, with TEFview you won't be able to predefine the instrument and tuning in which to perform the import. You'll have to choose an existing tef file with the targeted instrument.