dividing a measure between 2 systems

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Tammy Detwiler Posted November 10, 2016 08:43

How can I split a measure between 2 systems in Finale Songwriter 2012? I would like the entire text phrase to be in the same system. For example: "Amazing grace, how sweet the sound / That saved a wretch like me. / I once was lost, but now am found; / Was blind, but now I see." How do I begin the new system with the pick-up beat from the previous measure?

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MIKE ROSEN Posted November 10, 2016 17:25

Sorry, but you can't do that in SongWriter. Only the full Finale has the ability to split the measures, becuse it involves altering and hiding the time signatures, as well.

Tammy Detwiler Posted November 10, 2016 20:32

That's what I was afraid of. Thanks for your input, Mike.

George Holloway Posted February 03, 2022 11:47

Mike, do you mean that the only way to do this is to make multiple real measures, and then hide the time signatures and barlines to make it look like one measure spanning two systems?

PETER THOMSEN Edited February 03, 2022 14:51

George Holloway,

There are two ways to split a measure:

1) Via the feature Allow Horizontal Split Points (look in the Measure Attributes).

This is the “old” way which dates back to a very early Finale version.

The feature {Horizontal Split Points} is buggy - it may, or may not, give you problems.

2) Via making two measures look like one, split measure, as Mike indicated five years ago.

Fortunately it can be done easily with the plug-in Split Measure.

MIKE ROSEN Posted February 03, 2022 17:10

None of these work in SongWriter. No plugins, and no way to hide time signatures after changing them. Sorry.

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