In many cases where there is an anacrusis or pickup measure at the beginning of a piece, the last measure of the piece will be truncated to complete the first measure. For instance, a quarter note pickup in a piece that is in 4/4 time will end in a measure that is 3 quarter notes long.
Since the time signature does not change when this last measure is truncated, it provides a challenge that we must take steps to address:
1. Create the pickup measure as described in this user manual article for Windows or Mac.
2. Choose the Time Signature Tool and double-click the finale measure in the score.
3. Set the time signature to the appropriate size. For instance, if the anacrusis was 1 quarter note long and the time signature for the piece is 3/4, set the time signature for the last measure to 2/4 to account for 1 quarter note less than the true time signature.
4. Click More Options.
5. In the lower area of the window, select Use a Different Time Signature for Display.
6. Set the lower time signature (which will now be used as the display signature) to the same time signature that was used leading up to the last measure.
7. Click OK.
8. The last measure is now prepared for the appropriate amount of beats to account for the anacrusis at the beginning of the score.