Rehearsal Mark enclosure sizes change when staff size changes

[natdame9]

Hi all—

I've had this problem for years and years and have never really figured out how to fix it. I use measure numbers as rehearsal marks, and I put a square enclosure around them. It's typical for me to have a cue staff included in the score (this is for a rehearsal piano score for musical theater) that is set at 75%. The problem is that when the cue staff is on top, the enclosure shape changes size with the top staff, but the rehearsal mark stays the same.

This happens because I have the rehearsal mark set on Fixed Size (which is how I want it), and I want the enclosure to stay the same size as the mark.

In the Enclosure Designer window (within the Rehearsal Mark > Edit window), there are options for "None", "Match Height and Width", or "Enforce Minimum Width", with a further option of "Fixed Enclosure Size". No matter what combination I use, it doesn't solve the issue for me. I've included a couple photos to demonstrate.

Please let me know if you have any ideas (besides just creating a new expression each time it happens, which has been my work-around for years). Thanks!

[motet]

How naughty of Finale to scale the box when there's a fixed text size! I guess my solution would be to not use a fixed point size, but rather have a separate rehearsal mark for the reduced staff whose point size is 33% bigger, which should result in the same point size for both staves. It will mean you'll have to selectively apply one mark or the other according to which staff is on top.

[natdame9]

Yeah - the hassle with creating a different expression is that if you add or cut measures, then the measure numbers change and you have to redo it. When you're doing a big, long, ongoing project with lots of daily changes, it's really inconvenient.

[motet]

Use the "measure number" expression and you won't have that problem.

My two-expression method will work if you apply them selectively according to which staff is on top.

[Anders Hedelin]

This is how I do it: In the score list for rehearsal marks choose the top piano staff, and when there's a staff above that, shift-drag the mark up to where it should be. Only one set of rehearsal marks and one font size needed.

I guess it depends on the context which method is the faster one.

[David Ward]

This is how I do it… … …

That's the method I use too.

[natdame9]

Thanks all! I think Anders' solution is the best for me.

Here's my new method, based on Anders' idea:

1. Expression Selection > Rehearsal Marks > Score List
From here, I tell it to attach to Top Staff AND Piano RH (I have separated my two piano staves for a specific reason, rather than just a "Grand Staff")

2. The Rehearsal Mark shows up on the Piano/Vocal Part on both the Top Staff (75% cue staff in this case) and the Piano RH.

3. Hide it on the top staff, and drag the other one up.

The reason I need to keep it on the Top Staff is because when I'm copying for lots of different instruments in the score, they need the Rehearsal Mark on THEIR Top Staff. It creates extra work for me on the Piano/Vocal Part, but I think it's worth it.

Thanks again!

[zuill]

I want to be sure of one thing: does it matter if the size is smaller, as long as the enclosure looks correct? Or, is it that the end result is that the mark be the same size for the reduced staff as it is for the 100% staff?

Zuill

[natdame9]

I would want both number and box to be the same size no matter which staff is on top. I wouldn't want them to shrink with the staff, which is why I have the number in a Fixed Size.

[Anders Hedelin]

You don't even have to use a fixed size. If attaching it to a non-diminished staff the size would stay the same wherever you place it.

[natdame9]

Good point!