Staff Setup dialog box
How to get there
- Choose Window > ScoreManager.
- Choose Staff > Other.
What it does
In the Staff Setup dialog box you define
the number of lines in the current staff, set the length of barlines,
the placement of rests, and the point on a staff at which Finale will
flip stem direction automatically.
- Custom
Staff. When Custom Staff is selected, you can create a staff with
up to 27 lines. Simply click the handles to show or hide staff lines.
Finale automatically adjusts barlines to enclose the staff lines. The
arrow indicates Finale’s reference staff line, above which you can add
up to 11 staff lines, and below which you can add up to 15 lines. This
is the line from which Finale infers musical information and measures
the placement of items such as clefs and the default placement of rests.
- Staff
Lines. Click Staff Lines if you want to create a staff with up
to 100 lines. This value shows the number of staff lines that will appear
in your score. The arrow indicates Finale’s reference staff line, which
is the top staff line of the default 5-line staff. This is the line from
which Finale infers musical information and measures the placement of
items such as clefs and the default placement of rests. All staff lines
are added below the 5-line staff. Finale automatically adjusts the barlines
to enclose the staff lines.
- Reset
Staff to: • Standard 5-line • 1-line with Full Barline • 1-line with Short
Barline. Use this drop-down list to reset the staff to a standard
five-line or common one-line staff (with a full or short barline). If
you specify a single-line staff with full barline, Finale draws the barline
the length of a five-line staff and centers it on the selected line.
- Line
Spacing. Here, enter the space between each staff line. The value
you enter will automatically round to an even number of EVPUs (or equivalent).
- Top
Barline • Bottom Barline. These offsets allow you to extend the
upper and lower parts of a barline beyond the outer staff lines. To lengthen
or shorten the barlines, enter new values in the text boxes. Enter a positive
value to move the endpoint up, and a negative value to move an endpoint
down. These values default to zero, so that the barlines automatically
enclose the staff lines.
- Units.
Click the drop-down
list to select the measurement unit you want Finale to understand and
display in the Settings section of this dialog box.
- Default
Rest Placement: Double Whole Rests • Whole Rests • Half Rests • Other
Rests. Enter values, in steps, for where you want Finale to place
each rest. The value is measured from Finale’s reference staff line. Enter
a positive value to move the rest higher, and a negative value to move
the rest lower. Note that Finale displays the default whole rest at the
same position as the whole rest you enter.
- Stem
Reversal. The Stem Reversal value, which is measured in lines and
spaces, controls the point in a staff at which Finale will flip stems
up or down. Enter -4 to set the center line in a regular 5-line staff
as the point to use for flipping stems. Enter a positive value to specify
a line above the reference line, and a negative value if you want to specify
a line below the reference line.
- Show
Top Repeat Dot • Show Bottom Repeat Dot. Use these options to control
whether Finale draws repeat dots on any repeat bars on a custom staff.
These options are selected by default so Finale displays both dots. If
you do not like where Finale displays the dots, deselect these options
to hide the repeat dots on the staff. If you prefer only one dot (e.g.
for a tablature staff) then deselect either Show Top Repeat Dot or Show
Bottom Repeat Dot.
- OK
• Cancel. Click OK to save the new settings, or click Cancel to
discard any changes you made to the settings. You return to the Staff
Attributes dialog box.
Tip: Enter -4 to set
the center line in a regular 5-line staff as the point to use for flipping
stems.
See also:
Staff tool
Percussion Layout Designer
