Setting Anacrusis/Pick Up Bar in existing score

• Jul 14, 2023 - 01:29

Hi, I have a file I've imported from an xml that isn't recognising the first bar has only 1 beat and is counting it as a full bar. This means for me as a screen reader it is reading out the first full bar as being bar 2 which is really confusing. Where can I update this. I read something online about right clicking on the bar and selecting properties, but can't work out how to do the equivalent of a right click with keyboard in this context. I think I need to select the bar somehow first rather than a note but can't find how.


Comments

Click with the right mouse button in this measure. Then select "Measure properties" from the menu. There you can change the measure duration to a new current value, here select 1/4.
But beware: if there is already a note on beat 4, it will be deleted (MuS 3.6.2, maybe it is different in MuS 4).
So select beforehand in all staves the notes of beat 4 (with Shift - ArrowDown), cut them and put them on beat 1. Then shorten the measure. A small, grey minus sign shows that the measure is shorter than the time signatur says.
Normally, the anacrusis is not counted in the measure numbering. Therefore remove the checkmark from "Exclude from measure count".

If you still have a problem with this, attach your file.

In reply to by HildeK

Thanks, the measure is already the correct length. I just need to get to that exclude from counting button. The issue I am having is that as a screen reader I know I can use the application key for the equivalent of a right mouse click, but I can't work out how to get focus on the measure without it being on a specific element such as note or bar line and then it only gives me things in that context menu for those items.

It is weird how it counts an anacrusis as if it is a beat 1, when it speaks it out it says bar 1 beat 1 on that and then bar 2 beat 1 on the next bar. It should say beat 3 or 4 or whatever the last one of the time sig is. So not surprised it cuts from the wrong end of the bar.

In reply to by jeaniewillis

I don't quite understand what you mean. Do you mean the behavior when counting in? If so:

  • If I create a new score and specify anacrusis (1/4) there, then the count-in is 1-2-3-4, 1-2-3-start (with anacrusis note) and the "Exclude from measure count" is checked. If I uncheck it, then the count-in is 1-2-3-4-start.
  • If I later shorten the first measure from e.g. 4/4 to 1/4, the count-in is 1-2-3-start. If I then apply "Exclude from measure count" to measure 1, then it's again 1-2-3-4 , 1-2-3-start.

When you apply measure number display to the score, its numbering is changed if you use "Exclude from measure count". But not in the status line.

This is the behavior in 3.6.2. and yes, it is not completely logical.

In reply to by HildeK

Hi, I probably didn't explain well that I am blind and using a screen reader and what I was referring to was how Musescore reads out where I am. What you are saying though is making sense as I think it is reading out to me what is in the status bar as it says bar 1 beat 1 in the anacrusis and then bar 2 beat 1 in the first full bar even though I have now had someone update the file to select exclude measure from count. Turns out I can't do this right click from the keyboard and they are aware of it as an accessibility bug. But your explanation helped both me and my sighted friend assisting me understand what is going on.

Do you still have an unanswered question? Please log in first to post your question.