Only the {Distance Between Systems} can go across a page break.

If you set both the Top Margin and the Bottom Margin to zero, then the system can be as high and low on the page as the Page Margins will allow.

But then, if the system begins a new page, anything above the system (e. g. high notes on ledger lines) will go above the Page Top Margin.

Similarly, if the system is at the bottom of a page, anything below the system (e. g. low notes on ledger lines) will go below the Page Bottom Margin.

In Other Words:

1) A system’s Top Margin determines what happens, where the system begins a new page.

The system can not be higher up on the page than allowed by the Page Top Margin and the System Top Margin.

(thus making space for high notes above the system)

2) A system’s Bottom Margin determines what happens, where the system is at the bottom of a page.

The system can not be lower down on the page than allowed by the Page Bottom Margin and the System Bottom Margin.

(thus making space for low notes below the system)

Thanks for clarifying—that makes a lot of sense! Now that you mention it, the fact that {Distance Between Systems} crosses page breaks is the reason I've often found it so frustrating. I turn to it when I find that systems are too crowded together on my pages. But since that parameter crosses page breaks, yes, increasing it will spread systems out on the page you’re looking at, but then, because it crosses page breaks, it will start the top system on the next page lower down than is desirable, thereby making the music look sloppier and allowing for less room on that next page. I’d be interested in an option whereby changing the {Distance Between Systems} parameter would simply apply to systems internally within each of the pages covered by the user's selected system range, and would adjust the bottom margin of the bottom system of those pages accordingly. Might be too complicated, though.

… the fact that {Distance Between Systems} crosses page breaks, is the reason I've often found it so frustrating. I turn to it when I find that systems are too crowded together on my pages. But since that parameter crosses page breaks, yes, increasing it will spread systems out on the page you’re looking at, but then, because it crosses page breaks, it will start the top system on the next page lower down than is desirable, thereby making the music look sloppier and allowing for less room on that next page …

… {Distance Between Systems}—is it only within a single page? As I said, if you change it globally, you introduce a random element into the placement of the top system on the next page(s) …

Peter Lurye,

I am not sure I understand your words.

However:

1) It sounds like you need a consistent look on all pages in the Finale document - right?

In the Page Layout menu you have the command Redefine Pages which will reset to the settings in

Document menu > Page Format > Score…

If you Redefine All Pages, you will get a consistent look on all pages.

Try it!

I do not understand how a “random element” is introduced for the Top System’s placement, if you change the {Distance Between Systems} “globally” ???

(I assume that “globally” means “everywhere in the document”)

If you Redefine All Pages, then you get the same {Distance Between Systems} everywhere (globally).

And the {Top System placement} is the same on all pages.

Where is the “random element”?

2) In the Page Layout menu you have the command

Space Systems Evenly…

3) Also there is the plug-in Space Systems:

Plug-ins menu > Scoring and Arranging > Space Systems…

Sorry— "random" was definitely the wrong word! What I mean about the {Distance Between Systems} function is this: the name evokes an image of the space between two systems on a page. But because the function can cross pages, it can also affect the top margin of the system on the next page after you apply it. This impact is of course not random—but it's always seemed odd to me that the function should affect both 1) the way two adjoining systems on a page look in relation to each other, and 2) where the top staff on the next page is placed vertically. I know it's an inevitable consequence of what the function does—but it makes me reluctant to use it. My alternate suggestion: Have an option where {Distance Between Systems} would only apply internally to systems that are together on one page, with the bottom margin of the bottom staff automatically adjusting itself if increasing {Distance Between Systems} would end up moving it to the next page (or warning us if there's no room).

I do know about most of the other functions you suggested. I don't believe I've ever tried the plug-in, though, so thanks for that. And thanks for the thorough replies!

PL