how does one make aleatoric repeat brackets?

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Michel R E
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Post by Michel R E » Tue Feb 21, 2017 4:32 pm

I need free-standing (ie, not at barlines) repeat brackets with curled ends.
Is there a simpler way than by trial-and-erroring my way through creating a shape expression?
I have been able to make a (wrong size) bracket expression, but then to add the two repeat dots starts to get annoying.
User of Finale since version 3.0 on Windows.
Now using a mix of Finale 2012, Finale 25, and 26.1
GPO, Garritan Solo Stradivari violin, Gofriller Solo Cello.
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michelp
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Post by michelp » Tue Feb 21, 2017 4:51 pm

The Shape designer is the first thing that comes to mind, but even after grouping the repeat brackets with dots, the shape is really unpredictable when placed/stretched in the score. The tool is really archaic.
Another way would be to create (in a totally empty staff, just repeat bars displayed) the repeat bar (curved via Document options), capture it in .png format and make it a translucid .png image (alpha layer). Then import it and place it Finale when the Page Layout is finalized.

Here is an example (1 staff, left repeat). Try to import it as a test. They are resizable via the handles, and offer reasonable control.
repeat.png
repeat.png (2.96 KiB) Viewed 4267 times
Last edited by michelp on Tue Feb 21, 2017 5:06 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Michel
MacOsX 12.7.4, Finale 27.4.1 & 26.3.1, Mac Mini Intel Dual Core i7 3Ghz, 16 Go Ram. Azerty kb. MOTU Midi Express XT USB, Roland Sound Canvas SC-88vl, MOTU Audio Express. 2 monitors (27"' pivot, 24'"), JW Lua, RGP Lua

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zuill
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Post by zuill » Tue Feb 21, 2017 4:59 pm

I have had good success with shapes. When creating them I show the Staff template to make it easier. I then group the items. I create the dots as text with Maestro 24 pt. The wings available are different than the wings available in the regular repeat tool, so there is a different look.

Zuill
Windows 10, Finale 2011-v26.3.1
"When all is said and done, more is said than done."

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Michel R E
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Post by Michel R E » Tue Feb 21, 2017 5:53 pm

wait wait!
there's a way of showing the staff when creating a shape expression????
that would solve all my problems!
User of Finale since version 3.0 on Windows.
Now using a mix of Finale 2012, Finale 25, and 26.1
GPO, Garritan Solo Stradivari violin, Gofriller Solo Cello.
XSamples Chamber Ensemble.
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zuill
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Post by zuill » Tue Feb 21, 2017 6:02 pm

Yes. Here's a picture of a Shape repeat next to a regular repeat.

Zuill
Attachments
Repeat Brackets as Shapes 2.jpg
Repeat Brackets as Shapes 2.jpg (2.5 KiB) Viewed 4255 times
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michelp
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Post by michelp » Tue Feb 21, 2017 7:09 pm

Just in case : Shape Designer menu -> Show -> Staff Template.
Michel
MacOsX 12.7.4, Finale 27.4.1 & 26.3.1, Mac Mini Intel Dual Core i7 3Ghz, 16 Go Ram. Azerty kb. MOTU Midi Express XT USB, Roland Sound Canvas SC-88vl, MOTU Audio Express. 2 monitors (27"' pivot, 24'"), JW Lua, RGP Lua

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Michel R E
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Post by Michel R E » Tue Feb 21, 2017 7:16 pm

michelp wrote:Just in case : Shape Designer menu -> Show -> Staff Template.
Yes, thank-you.
I had found it as soon as Zuill mentioned it.
But thank-you for the confirmation :)
User of Finale since version 3.0 on Windows.
Now using a mix of Finale 2012, Finale 25, and 26.1
GPO, Garritan Solo Stradivari violin, Gofriller Solo Cello.
XSamples Chamber Ensemble.
Absolute convert to NotePerformer3.

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Peter Thomsen
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Post by Peter Thomsen » Tue Feb 21, 2017 8:04 pm

michelp wrote:The Shape designer is the first thing that comes to mind, but even after grouping the repeat brackets with dots, the shape is really unpredictable when placed/stretched in the score …
I could be wrong here, but I suspect that the culprit is not the Shape Designer, but rather the Expression Tool.

When you create a shape expression, Finale by default selects the option “Allow Horizontal Stretching” - a fact overlooked by many users.
De-select “Allow Horizontal Stretching” - and the shape will behave like a font character (= no horizontal stretching).

Also, when you create a shape, it is useful to use small Measurement Units, like Points or EVPUs.
In that way you get simple coordinates in the Shape Designer.
An example - using Points as Measurement Units:
The height of a staff is 24 Points.
Hence the distance between the staff-lines is 6 Points - and the height of a scale step is 3 Points.
Mac OS X 12.6.9 (Monterey), Finale user since 1996

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michelp
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Post by michelp » Wed Feb 22, 2017 11:34 am

Thanks Peter, for the reminder.
Michel
MacOsX 12.7.4, Finale 27.4.1 & 26.3.1, Mac Mini Intel Dual Core i7 3Ghz, 16 Go Ram. Azerty kb. MOTU Midi Express XT USB, Roland Sound Canvas SC-88vl, MOTU Audio Express. 2 monitors (27"' pivot, 24'"), JW Lua, RGP Lua

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