Hello all. Just wanting to confirm this is how Dorico works:
I have a file that is a template. The file is blank with a staff in 4/4, with 3 measures per system made with System Breaks. If I need to add a pickup at the beginning of this file and type Shift-M, and 4/4,1 the measures at the end and beginning of all the systems with system breaks also break mid-measure.
Is this the way System Breaks work? I understand I can remove the system breaks and everything is fine but it seems that one measure can change the layout of something existing in an odd way. Yes, I know, just put it in before you start laying out. That would be great in a perfect world but it’s not uncommon in publishing houses to readjust whether a pickup should or should not exist after it’s in layout and gone into the proofing process.
I just want to know if this is expected and wanted behavior?
As a template, this is just a clean start and the system breaks will be removed. Just wondering how it affects pieces without Casting Offs and with System breaks, if done after layout – what have people’s experiences have been?
Hi @sfiskum, beside the suggestion above by @TonH, to overcome this (shifting) behaviour, here a method to add pick-up after the fact, without influencing system breaks and barline shifting:
create a new bar at the beginning (with popover or with the right panel)
write your pick-up notes at the end of the first newly created bar
activate Insert Mode (Global Adjusting of Current bar scope)
delete the unneeded rests: Dorico creates the pick-up bar for you and no shifting occurs
