Hello Dorico users, Is there any way to start a new project and name your first flow number as, say, 17.
I’m working on a big project and, yes, I know one Dorico project is in theory able to handle a 90 minute orch score, but I find it far too massive and unwieldy. So I’m breaking it down. So that’s why I want a section 17 flow heading at the beginning of a new project.
Thanks for any advice…
I’d also like to know if there is a native way of doing it.
The workaround i’ve used is to edit the Default Flow Heading. Insted of the flow number token use another available token (for example “Work number” or “other information”) then you have to write every new flow number in the respective field in the project/flow info window.
You could create 16 empty flows at the beginning, and not include them in any layout. The first flow visible will automatically be number 17.
No, I’m afraid at the moment there’s no way of starting the flow numbering beyond 1, but we’ll think about how best to accommodate this in future. Pjotr’s suggestion of using dummy flows is fine, but of course I’m sure you would prefer not to have 16 dummy flows in your project.
Thanks, Daniel and everyone.
Just adding a data point with another case of wanting to manually adjust flow numbers.
I’m working on a big opera score where each scene is a separate flow, except that in the middle of the opera we have an “attacca” scene where some instruments are tied into the next movement (argh) — so I’ve had to combine those two scenes into one flow, but now the flow numbers are messed up from that point on. I think I’ll use a spare field in the Flow Info window (and adjust the Flow Heading template to use that in place of the flow number), but it’s a shame to have to give up Dorico’s magic auto-numbering.
Is there any update yet?
No, there’s been no change in options for automatic flow numbering.
If I could pile on to this, when working on large projects, I always have 1, 2, 3, 3a, 3b, 4 etc. Is there a way we send this request up the chain?
Also this creates a huge annoyance when printing. I’m using the work number in my layout in place of the flow number as a work around right now so I can have custom numbers, but when I go to print, there’s no way to put the work number in the file name when printing to pdf so I often have to spend like 20 minutes manually changing all the file names from the incorrect flow number to the correct work around number.
I’m afraid I have to add my voice to the confusion. In the Info window, Dorico numbers the flows sequentially, which is fine if that’s what you want. In a project I’m working on, I need to add numbered texts between the flows, meaning that the music flows are no longer sequential. I can rename the flows, giving them the number I want, both in the bottom panel and in the two fields in the Info window but for some reason these numbers are ignored in the flow heading. The only way I could achieve this is by placing the number in another field, like Work number, and then adding this token to the flow heading window. I don’t understand the logic of this.
If you remove the FlowNumber token from your Flow Heading, you can include any identifier you want in the FlowTitle project info field. (There was a thread somewhere on this topic).
Actually this has now stopped working for me, as well. I’ve tried putting numbers in several fields in the FlowTitle project info field, as well as in the Flow Heading, and the numbers get categorically ignored.
Uncheck the Resolve Markdown Formatting for Text Tokens option in Project Info.
Sorry but I’ve no idea where that is. I’ve looked in the Project Info window and can’t find ‘Resolve Markdown Formatting for Text Tokens’ anywhere.
And it was below the visible area in the window and I didn’t realise it needed scrolling. Thank you, Janus!
Custom flow numbers would be great, so I really support this request. Here’s a simple work around you can use in the meantime.
Dorico distinguishes between a flow name and a flow title. The flow name appears in Setup mode, the left panel of Project Info, and is used for PDF exports. The flow title appears on the page when using the flow title token. By default, flow titles match flow names until manually changed in Project Info.
This allows the following setup:
- Flow name: 3B Scene Change
- Flow title: Scene Change
- Flow work number: 3B
This method gives full customization of work numbers:
- Displayed in a text box on the first page of the flow.
- Shown in a running header, e.g., #3B - Scene Change.
For exported PDFs, use the flow name token—it already includes the custom number, and will give you 3B Scene Change.. This works seamlessly with templates across all layouts, both on the page and in the PDF name.
The only downside is that you must manually update the flow title and work number, but it’s a one-time operation. I’ve used this setup in several big projects, and it works great.
This is exactly the workaround I needed. Thank you!