shorten final bar?

[bj nick]

This is typical: I set "fit measures" to, say, 4 bars throughout....but last bar is all by itself occupying a whole page. How do I set that last bar to be a normal bar and leave the rest blank, rather than leaving a hugely elongated last bar? Or is there a better way to think of this? Thanks.

[motet]

Typically, it would be incorporated into the previous page. Most printed music varies the number of measures per system based on the content of the measures rather than a fixed number per system. If your have four per system and the total number of measures is not a multiple of four, though, you're going to have this problem.

[BuonTempi]

Typically, you would 'knock' that bar back, so that the last system has 5 bars; or find a better fit for a 5-bar system at some other place; or maybe have 3+3+3 bars per system for the last 3 systems, instead of 4+4+1.

Conventionally, systems don't 'finish early', unless there's some particular reason.

You can knock the bar back by selecting it and pressing the Up arrow.

[bj nick]

Knocking the bar back would be an obvious solution for sure, doesn't always work, when the last bar, or next to last or whatever, has a zillion notes in it. But that's probably the best way to think about it, look for a spot in the previous system where I can space the bars differently. Yes, of course, restricting bars to the setting can't always be strictly followed; I use the up and down arrows and readjust wherever necessary. Thanks for this, it's helpful.

[BuonTempi]

doesn't always work, when the last bar, or next to last or whatever, has a zillion notes in it.

If it's got a zillion notes, then try 2 or 3 bars in the last system, and try to 'balance' a few systems above it.

But the bottom line is: make the music fit the width; don't make the width fit the music.

[bj nick]

Excellent. Got it. The key message is: "Conventionally, systems don't 'finish early', unless there's some particular reason."

[motet]

If some bars have a zillion notes and others don't, all the more reason to not have a fixed number of bars per system. Unless you're writing a lead sheet in rhythmic notation or something like that, it will look amateurish. Unlock the systems and let Finale's spacing algorithm figure out where the line breaks should go.

[bj nick]

Honestly I never even considered that, as a default? On my templates when I start a new piece, I generally have some idea whether it's going to be a notety, busy kind of piece maybe for one instrument or a couple, just a general idea of whether systems will be three or four bars or whatever. What are you suggesting? I'm really interested in hearing it.

[motet]

I'm suggesting letting Finale do its thing. Music spacing will determine the number of measures per line. Enter all your music on unlocked staves with automatic music spacing on, and only when you're done with all that worry about moving a few measures around or adjusting notes.

[bj nick]

Sorry, didn't remember to respond, but I agree w/your suggestion. I think this mostly has to do with my routine of working in Page View, which I should avoid until it's time to get things finalized. Thanks for the suggestion.

[miker]

Right, Barry. Stay in scroll view, until pretty much everything is in. Then go to page view for the setup.

[John Ruggero]

It's not necessary to stay in scroll view to achieve a good layout. As Motet said, let Finale do its thing (and in whatever view you are most comfortable in), and then go through the result in page view and improve it. Rarely does Finale get it right on its own; the various factors are far too complex.