Multimeasure rests

1. Choose Document > Document Options and select Multimeasure Rests. The Document Options - Multimeasure Rests appears.
2. Click Shape > Select to specify how you want the multimeasure rests to appear when you use Extract Parts (in the File menu), when you turn on Special Part Extraction (in the Document menu) for one or more staves, or when you choose Create (in the Measure menu’s Multimeasure Rests submenu).

   If you want to use the existing multimeasure rest symbol but you don't want it centered on the middle staff line, edit the shape in the Shape Designer.

3. If you want to use a shape to notate multimeasure rests, make sure that Start Numbering at ___ Measures is set to two measures. Finale displays a number on all multimeasure rests in your score. If you prefer that no number appears—as when using the new symbolic rest style, for example—enter the number of measures to be included in a multimeasure rest before Finale displays the number.
4. Click OK. Finale uses these settings when you create multimeasure rests in the score.

   If you need to change the settings for a single multimeasure rest, select the multimeasure rest and choose Edit > Multimeasure Rests > Edit.

1. Choose Document > Document Options and select Multimeasure Rests. The Document Options - Multimeasure Rests appears.
2. Select Use Symbols for Less Than ___ Measures and enter a number.

   Finale’s default number of measures for using rest symbols (instead of shapes) is nine. Symbols are usually used for rests containing up to eight measures, and shapes are used for rests containing nine or more measures.

3. Click OK. Finale uses these settings when you create multimeasure rests in the score.

   If you need to change the settings for a single multimeasure rest, select the multimeasure rest and choose Edit > Multimeasure Rests > Edit.

When you create parts using Finale’s Linked Parts and Special Part Extraction commands, Finale groups all empty measures into multimeasure rests. If you would rather control which measures get combined into multimeasure rests, you can select the measures that you want to combine into a multimeasure rest in your score.

1. If you’re not in Page View, choose View > Page View.
2. Choose the Selection tool and select the region that contains the measures you want to display as a multi-measure rest (you can also select your whole score).
3. Choose Edit > Multimeasure Rests > Create. Finale creates multimeasure rests in the selected region, using the same rules as when you use Special Part Extraction to create rests—breaking them at key and time signatures, or when you’ve selected Break a Multimeasure Rest in the Measure Attributes dialog box for the measure.

   In order for measures to be grouped, they must contain default whole rests. If a whole rest was entered in a measure, that measure will not be included in a multimeasure rest until you erase the whole rest (using the Simple Entry tool , Speedy Entry tool , or Edit > Clear All Items).

4. Choose Utilities > Update Layout to ensure that Finale is displaying the current layout of the score.

When you create parts, Finale groups all empty measures into multimeasure rests. You can now break one or more multimeasure rests into separate measures. For example, you might prefer that measures are written out if less than four consecutive measures are empty, or you might want to break a single multimeasure rest into two or more rests.

1. If you’re not in Page View, choose View > Page View.
2. Choose the Selection tool and select the multimeasure rest to break. To break more than one multimeasure rest, select a region that contains the rests.
3. Choose Edit > Multimeasure Rests > Break, or right-click on the multimeasure rest and choose Multimeasure Rests > Remove. Finale breaks the multimeasure rests in the selected region into separate measures of rests.
4. Choose Utilities > Update Layout to ensure that Finale is displaying the current layout of the score.

When you edit a multimeasure rest using the Measure menu, you’ll change the appearance of the selected rest only. (If more than one multimeasure rest is selected, Finale changes only the first rest in the region.)

Noteman says: If you find that you’re using the Edit command frequently to change rests, consider changing the global settings in the Document menu. See To set up the appearance of multimeasure rests above.

1. If you’re not in Page View, choose View > Page View.
2. Choose the Selection tool and select the multimeasure rest you want to change.
3. Choose Edit > Multimeasure Rests > Edit.
4. Specify the settings that you want Finale to use for this multimeasure rest.
5. Click OK to return to the document, where Finale displays your new settings.
6. Choose Utilities > Update Layout to ensure that Finale is displaying the current layout of the score.

1. Choose the Measure tool .
2. Choose Measure > Edit Measure Number Regions.
3. Select Show Measure Number Ranges on Multimeasure Rests.

   Additionally, you can click Show on Multimeasure Rests to display ranges regardless of any other settings.

4. If your measure number is not displayed, choose Measure > Show Measure Numbers.