Last system "big" by default?

[jpablodl]

Hi everyone! After many years of using Finale, I still never figured out if there is away to have the last system of a document have the size it would have with normal measures:

jpg.jpg (84.14 KiB) Viewed 4410 times

So far, my way to go has been manually dragging the system width. Any tips on setting it up to automatically have the size of normal measures?

Thanks,

[miker]

If you can't move it up into the previous system (which, in this case, you can't!), I would move measures from the preceding systems down, for a more balanced look.

[Peter Thomsen]

jpablodl,

I do not see any system locks in your screen shot.

You should probably examine the systems one by one, and decide, how many measures in each system.
Then, lock each system with the desired measures.

Try this (a fast trick):
Selection Tool.
Select a measure somewhere in the middle of a system.
Hit the UpArrow key ↑ - and note what happens (both systems get a system lock).
Or:
Hit the DownArrow key ↓ - and note what happens (both systems get a system lock).

Another useful command:
Utilities menu > Fit Measures…

[Anders Hedelin]

Any tips on setting it up to automatically have the size of normal measures?

I don't know if there are any automatic ways, like plugins, that really fix this in a satisfactory way. What I regularly do at the layout stage, is to lean back from the screen, slowly scrolling through the pages, trying to spot spaces which are to crowded or to thin, and then tackle it from there, by moving measures up and down between the systems, like miker suggested. If you have an idea of there being too much, or too little space in the end you can manipulate your changes to suit the need.

[jpablodl]

Try this (a fast trick):
Selection Tool.
Select a measure somewhere in the middle of a system.
Hit the UpArrow key ↑ - and note what happens (both systems get a system lock).
Or:
Hit the DownArrow key ↓ - and note what happens (both systems get a system lock).

OMG, amazing tip! Thanks a lot Peter

In the same line of questions,
Whenever i automatically space systems, the result looks something like these for pages that do not have as many systems as specified:

mal.jpg (141.56 KiB) Viewed 4346 times

Is it possible to automatically get something like this (i always correct it manually):

good.jpg (107.26 KiB) Viewed 4346 times

[Peter Thomsen]

I do not know of an automatic solution.

But for me it does not take long to “correct manually”:

First, take a look at
Document menu > Page Format > Score…
and make sure that the system margins are as needed.

Then:
Page Layout Tool.
Page Layout menu > Redefine Pages > …
Run the command {Redefine Pages} on the page with fewer systems.

[Anders Hedelin]

First, take a look at
Document menu > Page Format > Score…
and make sure that the system margins are as needed.

You refer to "Distance between staff systems", right? Or are there other ways which are more effective?

[jpablodl]

Thanks again Peter! Excellent tips

[Peter Thomsen]

First, take a look at
Document menu > Page Format > Score…
and make sure that the system margins are as needed.

You refer to "Distance between staff systems", right? Or are there other ways which are more effective?

Yes, the crucial value is the Distance Between Systems.

However, it is a good idea to check all the Page Format settings before you run a Redefine Pages command.

Back to the original poster’s problem:
With well chosen Page Format settings you may seldom need to Space Systems Evenly.

[Perotinus]

I don't think anyone has mentioned this yet, but there is also a JW "Fit Music" plug-in, that does some calculations to try to balance system content.

JW-FitMusic.JPG (41.87 KiB) Viewed 4255 times

Select the systems you want to fit and call it forth.