How to get dotted line (smart shape tool) in all the score ?

[Bacbé]

Hi,

I need dotted lines with my expressions "rit.". So I have put dotted lines with Smart shape tool, but they don't appear in all the score. I haven't found the best way to make that.

Thanks you for your help,

[Peter Thomsen]

1) If I understand you correctly, you have used the Smart Shape Tool to enter dotted lines in the score, right?
But in certain regions of the score you enter the dotted line, and the line immediately disappears, and the line refuses to appear in the layout, right?

Unfortunately I have no idea what the culprit could be (file corruption?).
I suggest that you attach a (small) Finale sample document here, for the gurus to examine.


2) Instead of a dotted line (like this: . . . . . . . ), have you considered using a dashed line (like this: - - - - - )?
A dashed line might be easier on the eye.


3) Another idea:
Instead of entering rit. as an expression you could enter the rit. as a smart shape line (use the sub-tool Custom Line Tool), with rit. as text at the beginning of the line.

[motet]

My guess is that the O.P. wants the dotted line to automatically appear in all parts, the way rit. itself does via a score list. Unfortunately, Finale doesn't have that feature, so one is forced to copy to all staves, and hide it in the score.

[Callasmaniac]

...unless you enter the "rit. - - - -" as Tempo or Tempo alteration. Then it will be in all parts. Con side is that you may need to edit the length for every part.

[Peter Thomsen]

...unless you enter the "rit. - - - -" as Tempo or Tempo alteration. Then it will be in all parts. Con side is that you may need to edit the length for every part.

Also consider system breaks in the linked part.

A custom Smart Shape line automatically adjusts itself to the layout - incl. system breaks.