Inputting time signatures with the popover

Dorico Pro Help
Product
Dorico Pro
Version
4.3
Language
English
Document type
Webhelp
ft:openMode
fluidtopics

You can input time signatures using the time signatures popover, both during note input and by adding them to existing music. You can also input time signatures only on single staves.

Note

Dorico Pro does not automatically add beats to fill bars according to the new time signature at the end of the affected region unless Insert mode is activated.

Procedure

  1. In Write mode, do one of the following:

    • Start note input.

    • Select an item at the rhythmic position where you want to input a time signature. If you want to input a time signature on a single staff, select an item that belongs to that staff only.

  2. Optional: If you want to input time signatures onto multiple specific staves at once, extend the caret to those staves.
  3. Optional: If you want Dorico Pro to add beats at the end of the region affected by the new time signature if required, activate Insert mode in any of the following ways:

    • Press I.

    • In the Notes toolbox, click Insert Insert button.

  4. Open the time signatures popover in any of the following ways:

    • Press Shift-M.

    • In the Notations toolbox, click Popovers Popovers button, then Time Signatures (Meter) Time Signatures (Meter) button.

  5. Enter the time signature you want into the popover.

    For example, enter 4/4 for a 4/4 time signature or [2+2+3]/8 for a 7/8 time signature with a custom beat grouping.

  6. Input the time signature and close the popover in one of the following ways:

    • To input a time signature on all staves, press Return.

    • To input a time signature only on the selected staff or staves across which the caret extends, press Alt/Opt-Return.

Result

During note input, time signatures are added at the caret position, even if this is in the middle of an existing bar.

When adding time signatures to existing music, they are added at the rhythmic position of the earliest selected item. They appear to the right of barlines, key signatures, and clefs, and to the left of other items, even if this is in the middle of an existing bar. If you selected an existing time signature, the new time signature directly replaces the existing one.

All subsequent bars follow the input time signature, until the next existing time signature or the end of the flow, whichever comes first. Dorico Pro automatically inputs and moves barlines as required so that subsequent music is barred correctly. However, in open meters, you must input barlines and add beats manually.

Any time signatures you input after an interchangeable time signature that are specified in it are hidden automatically until you end the interchangeable time signature.