Reducing system margins

legitum · Post by **legitum** » Sat Jun 05, 2010 6:30 pm

I'm having serious problems adjusting the layout of a piano score i've prepared, particularly relating to the system margins. At about 100%, each system seems to have 2 inches space in the margin. I try to adjust using the top left handle, which is coloured out black. I move it down though and nothing happens. Nor do I seem able to control it using the page layout>systems>edit margins option, since all of the values for the system are set to zero already.

Any assistance would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

legitum · Post by **legitum** » Sat Jun 05, 2010 8:28 pm

Here is an example

miker · Post by **miker** » Sat Jun 05, 2010 9:15 pm

Could you post the file, rather than a picture?

legitum · Post by **legitum** » Sat Jun 05, 2010 11:04 pm

i'm trying to but its saying file extension.mus can't be uploaded. Any ideas?

miker · Post by **miker** » Sat Jun 05, 2010 11:24 pm

Zip the file. Then it will upload.

legitum · Post by **legitum** » Sat Jun 05, 2010 11:36 pm

My zip file is too big at over 100kb

miker · Post by **miker** » Sun Jun 06, 2010 2:12 am

Just send one or two pages.

legitum · Post by **legitum** » Sun Jun 06, 2010 7:43 am

Ok. Here goes. I'm trying to have 4 equally spaced systems on the front sheet to allow for a heading and 5 equally spaced staves thereafter. I want to leave enough room for chord symbols as well.

Would appreciate any tips you can offer, since I think the problem is inherent in my standard finale template.

Thanks again.

michelp · Post by **michelp** » Sun Jun 06, 2010 10:37 am

At first sight, your system margins are not well defined, too much in the top margin, maybe too little in the bottom one.
You can adjust these margins globally in Document->Page Format->Score. Try to modify the values for the top and bottom margins (and the values for page 1, too) and go to the Layout tool, menu->Redefine pages->All pages (otherwise your modifications will not apply).
Manually, you can make some adjustments like this :
- select all top/left handles (drag a rectangle over them)
- use the down arrow key to reduce the height of the systems
- one by one, click on the middle of each system and drag each system to the position you like.

legitum · Post by **legitum** » Sun Jun 06, 2010 11:33 am

Thanks very much for the advice, but i'm afraid none of those tips appear to be working in this instance:
- I've followed your steps globally by going into the score section of the document>page format menu and attach the settings i've put in. The top system margin remains the same however. I've then gone into the page layout and redefined all pages but there hasn't been any change - the systems have moved slightly but I still have a massive top system margin.
- i've tried manually selecting the top left system handle and using the arrow keys to move it. Whilst it will go up no problem, it won't go down and the smallest I can make it is what you see on the example i've posted.

Thanks for taking the time to respond. Any more ideas would be appreciated.

michelp · Post by **michelp** » Sun Jun 06, 2010 12:57 pm

Try this : go to scroll view. Move all staves upwards (Staff tool). That additional top margin comes from there.

legitum · Post by **legitum** » Sun Jun 06, 2010 7:15 pm

sorry for being thick but how do i move the staff upwards in scroll view with staff tool?

michelp · Post by **michelp** » Sun Jun 06, 2010 7:49 pm

Use their handles. A good way is to drag a rectangle over all the handles, then use the up arrow key or simply drag one of the selected handles.
Don't drag them all the way to the top, leave a reasonable amount of space above the first staff.

legitum · Post by **legitum** » Sun Jun 06, 2010 8:29 pm

That's great - that seems to have done it.

Thanks ever so much for all your help!

Kind regards,

Andy

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Reducing system margins

Reducing system margins