Formatting Mixed Measure Staves on the Fly

• Sep 23, 2012 - 19:18

Is there a way to create mixed number of bars in staves of a score on the fly? Preferably without deselecting the global fixed number of bars per staff?

For instance, in the lead sheets I work with, my usual format is 4 bars per staff. Within this format I at times add a pickup bar so the first staff contains 5 bars. I also may place 5 or 6 bars later on for first and second ending in one staff.

I’ve done this by deselecting the global setting for bars per line and used the line break feature/icon to set the page up but difficult to do on the fly.

panos


Comments

First, yes, you are correct in not using the global Style setting for bars per line.

Instead, use the plugin Break Every X Measures. This plugin can operate on the whole score or just a selected range. So if you want 5 bars on the first system, add your manual break there (click bar line, hit Enter). Then select a region you want to have 4 bars per line and run the plugin.

Not sure what you mean by "on fly". If you mean, while still in note entry mode, no you can do that, but you're better off waiting until you are done anyhow.

Also, see my lead sheet tutorials if you haven't already.

As suggested, use the Break Every X Measures Plugin (the default is 4).
When you need to make 5 or 6 bars in a stave, select a measure and then press the Insert key prior to entering the notes..

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