Measure number placement and frame

• Dec 13, 2013 - 01:03

Hello,
I'm trying to modify the measure number placement, by using the Stlye==>Edit Text style==>Measure number. I want the number to appear slightly higher than they are now and also to have a frame. However, the options available (changing the x and y distance, and ticking on "frame", etc.) do not seem to work. I have saved the score and reloaded and also restarted Musescore, all to no avail. thanks in advance for any suggestions.

Comments

• Dec 13, 2013 - 02:31

I've never tried using a frame on measure numbers, but X and Y definitely work in general. Posting the score you are having trouble with would help.

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• Dec 13, 2013 - 05:43

I tried it and X/Y work fine, but frames don't. Specifically:

1) style / edit text style / measure number
2) set Y: to whatever value you like (try, for example, -1.00)
3) OK
4) save
5) close
6) load

Measure numbers should be above the staff now. I tested this with 1.3 on Windows 7.

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• Apr 10, 2014 - 04:06

My experience with 1.3 is that the measure number offset APPEARS to have no effect whatever, even if the entire score is 'selected' (Ctl+A) before setting the parameters and clicking APPLY and OK. The numbers do not move on the score.

BUT...if I then SAVE the score and CLOSE it, when I re-open it the changes will show up.

Wondering if you can explain that, or is this a bug?

BTW, would you consider setting the default vertical offset for measure numbers a little higher so people who don't know how to do this when they start using Muse Score (took me six months to figure it out!) won't have the measure number colliding with the '8' above certain clefs? Just a suggestion....

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• Apr 10, 2014 - 04:44

The fact that numbers don't move until you reload is a bug, already fixed for 2.0 I believe.

As for the default position, I actually like it where it is. The clefs with the 8's above them are not used by most scores, since very few instruments use those clefs. But 2.0 will let you customize the defaults, so if you like your measure numbers higher on all scores, you can set that once and be done.

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• Apr 10, 2014 - 05:22

I appreciate the speedy reply. I just figured out--by accident, tonight--how to move those measure numbers. It's been a frustrating problem for me ever since I started using the program and I'm glad to learn I wasn't the only one.

I also appreciate knowing you're going to make savable default changes possible in 2.0, but I can't agree that the current default of 0.00 offset for measure numbers is a good thing. I think most of us accept the default behaviour of having a measure number at the start of each system--at least for the score, if not for the parts--and small as they are (default is 8pt), having them jammed right down on top of the staff and clef makes them pretty hard to see. This isn't ideal, especially considering that there are a lot of secondary school music educators using Muse Score to publish arrangements for their students.

Just for comparison, a number of the older Schott editions in my library have the measure numbers in frames, 3mm above the staff, set in 12-point type. Barenreiter--which publishes some of the most beautifully typeset and printed music in the world--also use 12 point type 3mm up, but do not use a frame.

BTW, would this be a good place to ask about Save/Load style, or would that be considered 'Thread drift'? ;o) I am wondering how to create a 'style' and whether I could define my own 'defaults' for some of the text elements in doing so.

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• Apr 10, 2014 - 05:42

Asking about save/load is definitely drift, especially since this thread was already resurrect from the dead as it is :-).

As for the default height, I had forgotten that 1.3 was as low as it is; it actually is higher for 2.0.

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