Measure handles and beat spacing

[gsford01]

I use version 25.5.0.290 on Windows 10.
On some of the music I have written, when I select the measure tool and click on a measure then handles appear on all measures. At the right hand side of the measures are 3 handles. If I select the second one down, handles for beat spacing appear, BUT some measures show handles just for the main beats (i.e. if in 3/4 time with 6 eight notes, only 3 handles appear against beat 1, 2, and 3). In other measures 6 handles appear, one for each note shown. If in these measures, I add more notes (still adding up to 3 beats) then all notes have handles. What do I need to set up to get handles for all notes in all measures? Thank you

[motet]

If the beat-chart handle is not appearing in all measures, go to the Measure tool. select all, click on one of the measures, then where it says Position Note, pick Beat Chart Spacing. I think applying music spacing will also turn the beat charts on. If the measure is empty in all staves, then there's really nothing to space.

[gsford01]

I cannot follow what you mean. When you say select all, do you mean select all measures, or am I looking an option called 'select all'
Under ‘ measure attributes' Using Beat Chart Spacing is selected for 'Position notes', but only handles for the main beats of the measure are shown even though there are a lot more notes in the measure.

[zuill]

Then select all the measures and Apply Music Spacing. This should now show all handles. If not, then post the file here for us to examine.

Zuill

[motet]

I think you just need to respace the measure. I recommend turning on automatic music spacing and automatic update layout and leaving them on.

[zuill]

These pictures show the difference before and after spacing.

Zuill

[gsford01]

This is for Zuilli.
Per your attachment, I seem to getting the top picture but would like to get the bottom picture. I have tried music spacing--all the options and I still cannot get the bottom picture, although in different pieces of music I seem to get some bars with the upper picture and some with the lower picture. Can you give me exact instructions pleases.

Thanks
GSF

[zuill]

To space the whole piece, with the Selection Tool, press ctrl-A. With the whole piece selected, choose Utilities/Music Spacing. There are 3 options: Note, Beat and Time Signature. The shortcut for Note says ctrl-4, but you can just press 4 for that. Beat says ctrl-5, but you can use just 5. Time Signature Spacing requires using the menu.

Now, Note Spacing gives all the note handles. Beat Spacing or Time Signature Spacing will give just the main beats, not the subdivisions.

Zuill

[zuill]

There's quite a lot of helpful information in the Documentation. Here's a quote that explains things:

"Beat Chart:

A set of handles (accessed through the Measure tool) used to adjust the horizontal position of notes. Handles appear either on the beat (Beat Spacing) or on each note of a measure (Note Spacing). Adjusting the handle for one note or beat will move the notes in all staves at once, keeping them rhythmically aligned."

You might want to do some exploring in the Documentation. You will learn even more on the subject we've been discussing.

Zuill

[motet]

Most published music would use something close to Finale's Note Spacing, no? What is Beat Spacing for?

[zuill]

Most published music would use something close to Finale's Note Spacing, no? What is Beat Spacing for?

I'm not sure. I guess I'd need to do some research.

Also, clarification on Ctrl-4 and Ctrl-5. Since I always use the number-pad for this, those don't work. Just 4 or 5. Ctrl-4 and Ctrl-5 are needed when using the QWERTY numbers and not in the Selection Tool. I guess I learned something. Unfortunately, the dropdown menu doesn't give any indication as to which number is being used. The documentation says to use 4 or 5 with the Selection Tool. That works for either number source. This is quite convoluted.

Zuill

[zuill]

Maybe someone can make sense of the presentation on this page of the documentation:

http://usermanuals.finalemusic.com/Fina ... %20spacing

Zuill

[motet]

I suspect parts of that are quite old, for example, telling you to update the layout after spacing music (in my opinion, they should get rid of being able to turn off automatically updating the layout, since it occasionally confuses people).

I understand from that page what beat and time signature spacing do, but don't understand why they would be useful. Maybe very occasionally useful for some unusual problem measure.

[Peter Thomsen]

… (in my opinion, they should get rid of being able to turn off automatically updating the layout, since it occasionally confuses people) …

If I Recall Correctly:
Unfortunately it is necessary to turn off {Automatic Update Update Layout} when you run the plug-in {Beam Over Barlines} across a page break.

[miker]

I use beat spacing quite often. The lyric spacing can be iffy in barbershop, particularly with echo lyrics. The beat spacing moves everything together: treble clef notes, lyrics, and bass clef notes, and lets me align things by eye.

[motet]

Do you mean you apply beat spacing and then move the beat chart handles manually? (I think vertical alignment is preserved no matter what spacing you do.)

[miker]

I move the beat spacing handles manually.

After initial entry of notes and lead lyrics with Auto-Spacing on, I turn it off and enter echo lyrics, tweaking layout on a system-by-system basis. I use beat spacing first (4) and then, if necessary, I use the handles for fine adjustment.

[motet]

Interesting. I've done very few choral pieces in Finale, but the spacing of the lyrics with note spacing has seemed OK.

What are lead and echo lyrics? Like, "There is a tavern in the town (in the town!), And there my dear love sits him down (sits him down!)"?

[miker]

Exactly. And rather than parentheses, these lyrics are assigned to the voice(s) that sing them. In this example, -line, sweet were too tight. I used the spacing chart to move sweet and Ad- a bit to the right.