Kira,
Your computer will care. Some operating systems
"register" installed applications to open certain kinds of files
(or files with specific extensions; e.g., Adobe Acrobat is
registered to open files with .pdf extensions so that one can
double-click on the file in the File Explorer and the
application will run and open the file).
By default Lilypond opens files with the .ly
extension. When you install Frescobaldi there is usually a step
where the installer specifically asks if you want it to open .ly
files.
Having more than one version of a program
installed requires that *you* keep track of which versions are
registered and also where they are installed. For example, if
Version X of ProgramA is installed and you then install Version
Y, typically the installers are written to install files into
the same path/folder. Thus Version Y will overwrite Version X.
To prevent that, many installers give you the option to
explicitly say where to install the application. That's what
you'll have to do here.
It is possible to do this with both Lilypond and Frescobaldi. If I
may, choose installation folders that have names relevant to your
use for them. For example, since "work" requires LP 2.16.2, create
a folder in your Home directory ~/<home>/Work/Programs and
install LP 2.16.2 and an appropriate version of Frescobaldi (one
that "knows" about LP 2.16.2 rather than LP 2.20.*) there. Then
you can install the latest and greatest LP and Frescobaldi in
their default locations. Updates to Frescobaldi and LP go to their
defaults as they are released and the World folder remains
constant and unaffected by those changes.
Many years ago I was the support triage agent for my
IT group at a large mid-western public university. I had 3-4
different versions of MS Office, Corel Office, Adobe (everything)
on the same computer (because there was no IT standardization
across the university that that's what it took to support the many
possible versions). It worked with due diligence (but no one,
ever, was allowed to touch that computer LOL).
Hope I've helped a little.
Regards.
What I was told is that there are some features
on the back-end of the program that turns the Lilypond scores
into manipulatable scores for the company that doesn't play
well with some of the newer updates to Lilypond. So I can have
more than one Lilypond program downloaded, my computer won't
care?
On Sat, Oct 23, 2021 at 6:50
PM David Kastrup <
dak@gnu.org>
wrote:
Kira Garvie <kgarvie@gmail.com> writes:
> Hi all,
> I saw this referenced in the Frescobaldi manual, but is
it possible to have
> multiple versions of Lilypond installed on my computer
at once? Many of you
> know I have to use version 2.16.2 for my work (don't
ask me why, I honestly
> don't know),
That's more than 8 years old. Does _anybody_ actually know?
> but I would like to use a more recent version for some
other engraving
> jobs. And can I use an older version of Frescobaldi
with a newer
> version of Lilypond? Thank you! Best, Kira
As far as I understand, Frescobaldi supported using multiple
versions of
LilyPond for a long time now. Of course, an older version
of
Frescobaldi will not know about newer syntax features (like
pitchless
music for percussion entry and a number of other things).
--
David Kastrup