Text basics

Add text

To add a text-based element to the score, use one of the following general methods:

• Keyboard shortcut: For example, press Ctrl+Tto enter Staff text , Ctrl+L to enter Lyrics, and so on.
• Menu command: Add→Text allows you to chose from a range of text-based elements.
• Workspace: Select a note and double-click an icon in one of the palettes; or, alternatively, drag a symbol from a palette onto the staff. e.g. Swing text, Tempo text etc.

Notes: (1) The exact method depends on the type of text you are adding (see Text). (2) For general-purpose text boxes attached to staves, see Staff and system text.

Format text

Every text-based element in the score has three levels of formatting:

• Text style: This is the highest level of formatting and applies to all text elements in the score of a particular type. For details, see Text style.
• Text properties: This applies to the style of one specific text object only. For details, see Text properties.
• Character formatting; The style applied to individual text characters during editing. For details, see Text editing.

Adjust position of text objects

To position a text object, use any of the following methods:

• Drag the object.
• Select the object and adjust the horizontal or vertical offset values in the Inspector.
• Select the object and apply any of the following keyboard shortcuts:
  • ←: Move text left 0.1 staff space.
  • →: Move text right 0.1 staff space.
  • ↑: Move text up 0.1 staff space.
  • ↓: Move text down 0.1 staff space.
  • Ctrl+← (Mac: ⌘+←): Move text left one staff space.
  • Ctrl+→ (Mac: ⌘+→): Move text right one staff space.
  • Ctrl+↑ (Mac: ⌘+↑): Move text up one staff space.
  • Ctrl+↓ (Mac: ⌘+↓): Moves text down one staff space.

Text anchors

When you apply a text element to the score, its anchor position will depend on the type:

• Title, Subtitle, Composer, Poet: Anchored to a frame.
• Fingering: Anchored to note heads.
• Lyrics: Anchored to a time position (a note/chord, but not a rest).
• Chord symbol: Anchored to a time position.
• Staff text: Anchored to a time position.
• System text: Anchored to a time position.