Layer 2 alignment

[tonytony]

Hi

When I enter notes in layers 1 and 2 which are a 2nd apart (eg. f and g) Finale quite rightly places the layer 2 note to the right of the other so that they are positioned correctly. Which is great. However, if I then change my mind later and make the notes a 3rd (or any other interval) apart (eg. e and g) the software does not move the layer 2 note back so that it sits vertically in line with layer 1.

I'm sure there's a tool or plugin which handles this but I can't remember where or what it is - and on a large score it's tedious to find each instance of this and cage it manually.

Any ideas?

[miker]

You're right, it's a pain in the butt. It would be nice if Finale recognized that move, and corrected it automatically.

I use the note mover tool, in special tools.

[Peter Thomsen]

You have “Automatic Music Spacing” toggled on (in Preferences - Edit), right?
You can apply Music Spacing “manually” on any selected region, at any time, via the shortcut Command-4.

It is the Music Spacing that moves the Layer 2 note to the right, to avoid collision with the Layer 1 note.

This adjustment of the Layer 2 note is by Finale considered a “Manual Positioning” = no different from any other manual adjustment you might do.


Take a look at
Document Options - Music Spacing

The pop up menu for “Manual Positioning” is set to “Ignore”, right?
Set it to “Clear” instead, and all the incorrectly positioned Layer 2 notes will be moved back to their correct position when Music Spacing is applied to the region.

[tonytony]

Thanks. That's helpful. Still a fair bit of searching to do but quicker than changing it manually.

[Peter Thomsen]

…Still a fair bit of searching to do but quicker than changing it manually.

No need to search.
You can select the entire document, and apply Music Spacing.
In that way you can “at one fell swoop” fix every instance of incorrectly positioned Layer 2 notes.
Try it!

[tonytony]

I did try it but it seemed to place the notes which do need to be spaced side by side incorrectly. Maybe I did it wrong - I'll try again!

[tonytony]

Ah - it worked this time. Is that because I selected all rather than just a section?

Anyway - brilliant!

Thank you. My Tuesday will now be used more profitably than faffing about in Layer 2!