Ossia

A floating measure must be based on a “real” measure. For most purposes, then, you’ll need to create a “scratch staff” on which to notate the actual contents of the ossia measure. You then choose “hide staff” in the Staff Attributes dialog box (see Hiding staves for full instructions).

1. Choose View > Page View.
2. In a scratch staff, enter the music you want to appear in the floating ossia measure.
3. Choose Window > Advanced Tools Palette. Choose the Ossia tool .
4. Double-click the spot on the page (in Page View) or double-click the measure to which you want to attach the floating measure (do not double-click a measure on your scratch staff). The Ossia Measure Designer dialog box appears.
5. Select whether you want a measure or page-attached ossia.
6. Select the Source Staff and Source Measure. The Source Staff is the scratch staff, and the Source Measure is the measure in which you entered the music.

   If the source staff is not named and you don’t know the staff’s number, choose the Staff tool and select the staff’s handle. Choose Staff > Staff Usage. The Staff Number appears in the Staff Usage List dialog box.)

7. If you want to specify a clef other than the default treble clef, click Clef: Select; to set a key or time signature, click Key Signature or Time Signature. You can change the ending barline, too, by clicking one of the barline types.
8. Specify the reduction value by entering a number in the Scale To box. Generally, 50% to 85% (of full size) looks good. If there are elements of the scratch staff you don’t want to include in the floating measure, deselect the appropriate boxes under Items to Display. You can also specify various positioning aspects of the floating measure, such as the Top or Left Margin.
9. Click OK (or press ENTER). The Page Assignment dialog box or Measure Assignment dialog box appears. If you wish, specify horizontal and vertical coordinates for the measure (in the currently-selected measurement units). If you’re entering a page-attached ossia, you can also specify the barline-to-barline width of the floating measure.
10. Click OK (or press ENTER). You return to the document, where the floating measure is in place. If you’re in Page View, you can drag the measure’s handle immediately to position the measure. In Scroll View, you have to click the “real” measure to which you attached it; a handle appears, allowing you to drag the measure into position.

1. Choose the Staff tool .
2. Double-click a measure in the scratch staff. The Staff Attributes dialog box appears.
3. Choose Force Hide Staff > Collapse.
4. Click OK. The ossia measure will remain in the score.

To edit the musical contents of the floating measure, simply edit the measure on the “scratch staff” from which it was created.

1. Choose View > Page View.
2. Choose Window > Advanced Tools Palette. Choose the Ossia tool . A handle appears on the floating measure.
3. Double-click the handle to change the Ossia Measure Designer settings (clef, percentage reduction, and so on). SHIFT+double-click the handle to change the Assignment variables (H and V position and measure width).
4. Drag the handle to move the floating measure. Click the handle, and then press DELETE to remove it.