# Main Menu Bar

## File Menu

The file menu allows you to load, save, and export projects and import MIDI files and Hydrogen files.

<figure><img src="https://2675558978-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F-LRtsae7H2l0Wn3A4biK-1972196547%2Fuploads%2FQdSWeslb32erO9K7d0Ox%2Fimage.png?alt=media&#x26;token=348750aa-906f-47d3-b964-1fe9d528b45a" alt=""><figcaption><p>File Menu</p></figcaption></figure>

In this menu, several menu actions have underlined letters. When the menu is open, pressing the respective key triggers the menu action.

* **New** creates a new project (based on the default template).
* **New from template** creates a new project from any choice of template.
* **Open** opens a file explorer dialogue box to choose an existing project file to open.
* **Recently Opened Projects** opens up a sub-menu listing all the recently opened project files.

{% hint style="info" %}
In LMMS, you can save projects to two formats:

* \<myname.**mmp**> - creates an XML file that can be read in any text editor.&#x20;

* \<myname.**mmpz**> - creates a coded and compressed file (these cannot be read in any text editor).
  {% endhint %}

* **Save** saves the current project. For saving the file as a new project file, this functions as "**Save As**".

* **Save As** gives you a dialog to choose a location to name and save your project in. You can also save your project as a **template** by clicking on the file-type drop-down menu within the dialog.

* **Save as New Version** saves the current project to a new file by adding numbers to the end of the original project name, starting with 01.

* **Save as default template** replaces the default template that LMMS opens upon initialization.

* **Import** allows you to import MIDI and [Hydrogen](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydrogen_\(software\)) files as new instrument and B+B patterns.

* **Export** allows you to record your project to a file. (Currently, only .wav, .ogg, and .mp3 are supported for Audio exports.)

* **Export Tracks** allows you to export the stems of your project file to a selected folder. It exports each track individually as though it were solo'd in the project.

* **Export MIDI** allows you to export your project's midi data as a **.mid** file.

* **Quit** exits LMMS. You will be asked if you want to save your project if changes were made since opening the project.

{% hint style="warning" %}
LMMS cannot detect every change, so if you want to save your project, do not rely on quit to give you a save dialogue, please save the file yourself.
{% endhint %}

## Edit Menu

<figure><img src="https://2675558978-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F-LRtsae7H2l0Wn3A4biK-1972196547%2Fuploads%2F9UIF4PwzYdHzdGGnvBvw%2Fimage.png?alt=media&#x26;token=e449801c-2c62-44bc-8a1a-8ddee73e477c" alt=""><figcaption><p>The Edit Menu</p></figcaption></figure>

* **Undo/Redo** do exactly as their names imply, undoing and redoing the most recent change or undo. They can also be accessed via the keyboard shortcuts `Ctrl+Z` for undo and `Ctrl+Y` or `Ctrl+Shift+Z` for redo.

{% hint style="warning" %}
The Undo/Redo feature only works correctly for some forms of editing. \
In particular, in the Piano Roll Editor the bulk move, copy and paste facilities using the selection tool and/or clipboard do not get undone or redone correctly. The developers are aware of this problem.
{% endhint %}

* **Scales and keymaps** opens the **Microtuner Configuration**.
* Th e **Settings** option opens the [Settings](https://docs.lmms.io/user-manual/en/getting-started/settings) dialog.

## View Menu

<figure><img src="https://2675558978-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F-LRtsae7H2l0Wn3A4biK-1972196547%2Fuploads%2FHEB8KdwQsV7Bj2dM5sV1%2Fimage.png?alt=media&#x26;token=59f6ece1-c29b-4189-9af5-dae611c43c6c" alt=""><figcaption><p>The View Menu</p></figcaption></figure>

**Song Editor**, **Pattern Editor**, **Piano Roll**, **Automation Editor**, **FX Mixer**, **Project Notes**, and **Controller Rack** all focus/open their respective windows.

* **Smooth scroll** toggles between instantly snapping to the next part of the project as the playerhead moves out of view of the song editor when playing the project, and a smooth transition.
* **Enable note labels in piano roll** toggles labeling natural notes with their note name in the piano roll.

As of 1.3, the window toggles are:

* Song-Editor (Ctrl+1)
* Beat & Bassline Editor (Ctrl+2)
* Piano-Roll (Ctrl+3)
* Automation-Editor (Ctrl+4)
* Mixer (Ctrl+5)
* Project-Notes (Ctrl+7)
* Controller-Rack (Ctrl+6)

## Tools Menu

![Tools Menu](https://2675558978-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-legacy-files/o/assets%2F-LRtsae7H2l0Wn3A4biK%2F-MRVzbvquIJ1NDGMWIkm%2F-MRW9m-m6BpkaOTDUZJ5%2FScreenshot%20from%202021-01-20%2013-50-58.png?alt=media\&token=ac1e63b8-b910-40a8-b1ce-4f431cfe5336)

The only option currently in this menu is the **LADSPA Plugin Browser**. It can be used to view information about available LADSPA Plugins.

## Help Menu

![Help Menu](https://2675558978-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-legacy-files/o/assets%2F-LRtsae7H2l0Wn3A4biK%2F-MRVzbvquIJ1NDGMWIkm%2F-MRW9pUOyCWRrRADgLWz%2FScreenshot%20from%202021-01-20%2013-51-17.png?alt=media\&token=1519be8c-4d71-46cc-97f7-39fdfcba686d)

There are three items:

* **Online Help** opens the manual (you are here).
* **What's This?** changes your cursor into a help cursor that you can use to click on any part of a LMMS window to see its function/purpose.
* **About** gives you a dialog that lists the following: LMMS' version, its home page, its key developers, translation information if you are using LMMS in a language other than English, and the GNU GPL license that the software is released under.