Page 1 of 1

How to display distance between staffs

Posted: Tue Jun 16, 2020 11:12 pm
by Djard
In one document, I managed to enable the Staff Tool so that clicking on a staff handle and holding down the mouse button displays the distance between staves (in inches). But I don't recall how I managed to do it. I think I have looked everywhere in the settings, except where the control is. Anybody know how to enable this feature?

Re: How to display distance between staffs

Posted: Tue Jun 16, 2020 11:37 pm
by miker
Dragging a staff will display the distance. I don’t know if there is a way to keep it displayed. It would be convenient, though.

You might want to consider using a smaller measurement unit. EVPUs are great for fine tuning.

Re: How to display distance between staffs

Posted: Wed Jun 17, 2020 6:14 pm
by Djard
As far as I can tell, Finale displays the distance between staves only if they are grouped. The distance is shown not only while dragging a staff but also when clicking on a staff handle and holding down the mouse button. If the distance appeared also for non-grouped staffs, spacing sections in a score would be simplified. So methinks.

Re: How to display distance between staffs

Posted: Wed Jun 17, 2020 6:17 pm
by zuill
Holding down the left mouse button shows the distance regardless of whether staves are grouped or not. That's the behavior in Windows. I can't say for Mac.

Zuill

Re: How to display distance between staffs

Posted: Wed Jun 17, 2020 6:22 pm
by David Ward
On my Macs, clicking and holding on the Staff handle with the trackpad shows the distance.

Re: How to display distance between staffs

Posted: Thu Jun 18, 2020 3:56 am
by Djard
On my system, the distance between staves in a group appears in gray text between the staves, but not between ones that are non-grouped.

If I add an instrument in Score Manager, it is automatically grouped. Does the distance between staffs appear elsewhere?

Re: How to display distance between staffs

Posted: Thu Jun 18, 2020 4:03 am
by zuill
You should probably report this to MakeMusic, as the proper behavior doesn't require grouping. They may have an answer for you.

Zuill

Re: How to display distance between staffs

Posted: Thu Jun 18, 2020 4:33 am
by zuill
How about posting a misbehaving file here for our examination?

Zuill

P.S.: Also, when Finale doesn't do what it should, back up your preferences and recreate them. That often cures things. Of course, before that, a reboot can do wonders.

Re: How to display distance between staffs

Posted: Fri Jun 19, 2020 3:54 pm
by Djard
Attached is an example of what I describe. On my computers, the distance between staffs appears only between those that are grouped. The matter may be related to how a document is set up: I usually use the Wizard but sometimes add instruments in Score Manager that seem to be automatically grouped. I'm hoping there is a setting that can be changed.

Re: How to display distance between staffs

Posted: Fri Jun 19, 2020 7:46 pm
by zuill
I removed the group and still get the inches showing (.88). I am using v26.2, so maybe this is a v26.3 bug.

Zuill

Re: How to display distance between staffs

Posted: Sat Jun 20, 2020 3:08 am
by Djard
Thanks for the feedback. I will contact MakeMusic.