The Distance between systems can also be redefined globally in Page Format (apply the new parameters in the Page Layout Menu -> Redefine Pages -> All pages).

In the edit system margin box, just have a checkmark next to the top system. Then you can apply that to any range of systems and only the top system will be affected.

Jeffrey Turner,

I could be wrong here, but in my own copy of Finale the dialog box Edit System Margins has a field called ‘Top’ which means the Top Margin - not the Top System.

I do not see a way to affect only the Top System on each page.

Am I missing something?

What about simply increasing the top page margin on these pages. Would that give you what you need?

Hi everyone,

Thank you for your replies.

I'm inclined to agree there is not a way to affect only the Top System (not Margin) on selected pages.

I am hoping to change a choral work with SATB on two staves and piano on two staves (for one complete system), and have only two systems per page.

Right now, I have three systems per page by default when I created the document.

So far, my solution is to click on the box for the top system on a page I like, right-click to open the "Edit System Margins..." and then enter the system number for each every other system I wish/need to change.

So, if on page two with three systems, I adjust the top system (#02), I do the above and enter for the system to change #04/Click Apply, enter #06/Click Apply, enter #08/Click Apply, etc, etc. until I come to the end of where I want the system changes.

I was hoping to be able to do something asin a word processor when I wish to print pages 2,3,4-5,9, 34, etc.
In other words just the systems I choose and not be limited to an uninterrupted range.

Hope this makes sense.
:-)
Vanessa

… on selected pages …

Vanessa McClintock,

Why only on “selected pages”? Why not on all pages?

What is happening on the “not-selected” pages?

The better we understand, the better we can help.

Thank you, Peter, for a good question for a good purpose.

Sometimes I use subtitles within the context of the score and they end up at the top of a page.

I try to keep the staff lines lined up across pages, as well as the space at the top of each page.

In this example, an extracted part, the subtitle takes up a goodly amount of space, so I dropped the top staff line down so the top of the text is approximate to the top staff line on the previous and following page. It doesn't always work out because frequently I have to adjust individual staff lines to accommodate lower or higher notes and expressions, etc.

Hop this helps,
:-)
Vanessa

Vanessa,

Now I am confused.

Until your last post I thought that you were talking about “a choral work with SATB on two staves and piano on two staves”.

But your last post shows a Trumpet part ?!?

And it seems that there are a lot more than “three systems per page” ?!?

Are you talking about two different Finale documents?

Hi Peter,

Yes, you are right--poor choice of example on my part.

I was just trying to give you another example in response to your questions, "Why only on “selected pages”? Why not on all pages?"

Here's another go at it--please forget the trumpet example.

Perhaps I am doing the "Edit System Margins.." all wrong, but when I adjust the first (top) of three systems on a page and then "Apply" it to a range of systems, then the top and bottom margins change on all of them.

When I just change the top system using "Edit System Margins.." the top system and the two below it move down but the spacing between the three does not change.

When I "Apply" the change to a range, then the spacing changes between the three system.

So, what I have to do (by my understanding) is change the top (first) system on each page independently. This why I had hoped to be able to apply the changes to only the top staff on each page, which in this case would be every fourth system.

I hope I explained this more clearly.

:-)
Vanessa

If I understand you correctly, you mean the Top staff on all pages, not on selected pages - right?

And the spacing between the systems should remain the same - right?

In that case the simplest solution is what Jeffrey Turner suggested:

Adjust the top page margin on all pages.

If I misunderstand you, then I apologize.

Thank you, Peter -- and no need to apologize; I just need to be more clear :-)

I have found, however, that doing what Jeffrey suggested changes ALL of the top vales for the systems in the range.

Therefore, it is not just the top margin of the top system on the page that changes, because the 2nd system's "Top" margin all changes.

If I make the Top margin on System 1 = 1 inch, and apply the value to a range of pages, all of the systems in that range change.

Obviously, I'm not understanding something.

I do greatly appreciate and value your comments and advice.
:-)
Vanessa

Sorry Vanessa, I was not clear.

There are two posts by Jeffrey Turner.

I was referring to the second post:

“What about simply increasing the top page margin on these pages. Would that give you what you need?”

The “magic word” here is Page Margin (not System Margin).

Thank you, Peter

Success!

Thank you for your patience and persistence.
:-)
Vanessa