Create Brackets

Dorico
1

When I do XML imports sometimes there are no brackets and other times brackets where they don’t belong, even if the instruments are set up properly. I’m looking for a way to create brackets like in Finale where I could select the staff handles and then select style of bracket or brace. Am I missing something obvious?

::: Bill

2

First, I would make sure you have signposts showing and verify that you don’t already have any manual bracket changes. (You can delete them.)

Then in Setup mode, make sure your players are in the correct order and that instruments are assigned to the right family. (Dorico generally bases its default bracketing on instrument family.)

Edit: Also check the current settings for brackets in Layout Options, as @benwiggy suggests.

Then you can add any custom bracketing you want.

3

Generally, the options for bracketing are in Layout Options, where you can define what sort of grouping and sub-grouping you want.

Then you can make custom changes in Engrave mode.

1 Like
4

Thanks. The link to the manual entry was what I needed. Don’t know why I couldn’t find that before.

::: Bill

5

I continue to hope (while knowing it’s not high priority, if any at all) for custom bracket changes to be settable in Setup somehow. If I want specific brackets and sub-brackets in a score with many doubling instruments, I first need to add bogus notes in Bar 1 for all the pertinent instruments, so they’ll all show up on the first page. Then I can adjust the brackets as needed. Then I go back and delete all the fictional notes from bar 1, making sure not to touch any real ones. I’ve become used to it, but it doesn’t feel ideal…

6

Can you give us an example of what you’re trying to achieve?

7

This file shows several instances of challenges that come up after initial setup:

  • I added Piccolo to Reed 1, and the overall Woodwind bracket doesn’t include it.
  • I added Bassoon and Baritone Saxophone to Reed 4, and again the overall Woodwind bracket doesn’t include them.
  • I added Timpani to the Percussion part, but its bracket doesn’t include the two staves.
  • Any time 2 or more Clarinets are playing on the same page (even on non-adjacent staves), a subbracket connects them, although it is not wanted here in this doubling situation where two more of the same woodwind doesn’t constitute a “section”. (But I do want subbrackets for Trumpets and Trombones.)

So far, when this sort of situation comes up, I have added a “temporary note” to the relevant instruments in bar 1, so they’ll appear on page 1 in Engaving view, so I can adjust all the brackets as needed; then I need to remove those temp notes, back in the Write mode. Am I overlooking a feature that would let me set these brackets as the instruments are added?

Bracket example.dorico (1.5 MB)

8

These were easily fixed by removing your manual Bracket Changes, and grouping all the Reeds in Setup mode.

You’ll have to do this manually. Just select the first sub-bracket and press delete. (Deleting the bracket between 1 & 2 also seems to fix the bracket between 2 and 3.)

You mean when both staves are showing, you want them in one bracket? Hmm. Not sure about that.