The only way that I know of would be to hide all of the barlines in that part, and add barlines back in as expressions. You might still have to adjust the spacing in that line.

Please add your Finale version and OS to your signature, in the user control panel.

Kathrynn Lyle,

We need more info:

1) Is the time signature the same in all staves, and in all measures?

2) Is the tempo the same in all staves, and in all measures?

The better we understand, the better we can help.

The time signature and tempo are the same in all staves and measures.  However, I do have other pieces where the time signature is independent in different staves.  If there is a way to address both issues, I would really appreciate.  Thank you Mike for your suggestion!

… I am working on a score with the bass line phrased over 9 bars while the rest of the instruments are phrased over 8 bars …

… The time signature and tempo are the same in all staves and measures …

I am afraid I do not understand.

Are you talking about the layout you are trying to create?

Or are you talking about (unwanted) layout you have in your Finale document right now?

If the time signature and tempo are “the same in all staves and measures”, then the barlines are not independent.

What am I missing?

… I do have other pieces where the time signature is independent in different staves …

If the tempo is the same in all staves, consider creating each system as one (big) measure, and add false barlines where needed.

… If there is a way to address both issues, I would really appreciate …

I understand the second issue (= “the time signature is independent in different staves”), but what is the first issue?

If it's a matter of phrasing, is it beams over barlines that you are looking for?

Sorry for the confusion.   All of the parts are in 4/4 it's just that the bass plays a repetitive pattern over 9 bars while the other instruments are phrased over eight measures.  I want to mark the beginning and the end of of each 9 bar bass pattern.

You can turn off the bar lines (in Staff Attributes) and add a barline as a Miscellaneous Expression.

Kathrynn Lyle,

I am still not sure what the desired layout should look like.

Perhaps something like this?

Peter, yes that is what I wanted.  When I highlight the stave I want to change the barline, Finale places the barline in all staves.  How do you create independent barlines without have to use the staff attributes tool for every single barline?

Kathrynn Lyle,

In this particular case I added the extra barline with the Expression Tool.

I created an expression category just for the single false barline - with barline thickness, and with a default positioning of 3pt before the (real) Right Barline.

By The Way:

I think that some of the forum users here got confused by your words “independent barlines”.

What you need, we would rather call a “multistyle barline” (= the same barline displaying different styles in different staves).

To us, the words “independent barlines” usually mean staggered barlines.

Your words “polymetric score” might have added to the confusion.