vertical movement of key signature

[dhatcher]

After creating a new clef (F5) with a key signature of 1 flat, the flat appears two octaves too high and without ledger lines, floating well above the stave. How can I move it back down to where it belongs (on the third line)?

Finale 2011 on Mac OS 10.8.4

[Peter Thomsen]

Welcome to the forum!

I am not sure what you mean by (F5)???
Do you perhaps mean that your new clef has F on the fifth line???

Anyway, here is the general method:


1) The first step is to find the clef's number in the document's technical "Finalespeak".
To do so you must look at a dialog box that shows the clefs.
One way to do so:
Clef Tool. Double-click a measure.
(You can also see the clefs via Document Options > Clefs > Clef Designer)

Finale uses the "technical" number 0 (zero) as the number of the first clef (usually the Treble Clef).
In Other Words: The Treble Clef is Clef 0.
Thus the next clef (usually the Alto Clef) is Clef 1.
And the next clef (usually the Tenor Clef) is Clef 2.
Thus you will usually find that the Bass Clef is Clef 3.
&c.

What can be confusing, is that the default clef metatools are 1 point higher:
The default clef metatool for Clef 0 is the number 1 key.
The default clef metatool for Clef 1 is the number 2 key.
&c.
(You can customize the document's clef metatools, and program your own clef metatools)

In this example let us say that you have created your new clef by editing Clef 0.
Thus the technical number of your new clef is 0.
(NB: Clefs are document specific, not program specific)


2) The {key signature accidental} octave placement in a clef is key signature specific.
Thus you must fix the octave placement via the Key Signature Tool.
In Other Words:
You must edit the key signature.

Key Signature Tool.
Double-click the first measure with the key signature.
In the pop up menu in the upper right, choose "Nonstandard…":

KeySignature.jpg (47.55 KiB) Viewed 1419 times

In the dialog box Nonstandard Key Signature, click the button "Next" twice, to get to Linear Key Format 2:

NonstandardKeySignature.jpg (40.81 KiB) Viewed 1419 times

(Linear Key Format 0 is "hardwired" with the major keys. It can not be edited.
Linear Key Format 1 is "hardwired" with the minor keys. It can not be edited.)

Click the button "Acc. Octaves".

In the dialog box Accidental Octave Placement, click the button "Prev" to go to Unit -1 (= the first flat).

AccidentalOctavePlacement.jpg (26.89 KiB) Viewed 1419 times

Type the desired octave number.