Dorico 6: Cannot select notes in upper staves in Write mode

Dorico
1

Hi everyone,

I’m experiencing a strange bug in Dorico 6 that I can’t figure out, and I’d appreciate any help or confirmation from others.

The problem:
In a specific orchestral score, I cannot select any notes or rests in the upper staves (e.g. French Horn, Trumpet, Trombone) when in Write mode / Page view. Clicking on notes or rests in these staves does absolutely nothing – no selection, no response at all.

What works:

  • Write mode / Galley view: everything works fine, all staves selectable
  • Engrave mode / Page view: everything works fine, all staves selectable
  • Lower staves (strings etc.) seem to be selectable in Write mode / Page view

What I’ve already checked:

  • The problem only occurs in this one project, not in other scores
  • I have not migrated from an older Dorico version
  • Signposts are visible and there are no unexpected signposts above the affected staves
  • In Engrave mode with frame editing active, all frames appear to be the correct size – no frame seems to be overlapping the affected staves
  • There are some text frames on the page (title, subtitle), but their dimensions look correct
  • Pressing Escape before clicking does not help

My setup:

  • Dorico 6 (Mac)
  • Large orchestral score (Piccolo, Flute, Oboe, Clarinets, Bassoon, French Horns, Trumpets, Trombones, Tuba, Timpani, Marimba, Harp, Strings, Percussion)

I will attach the diagnostic report. Has anyone seen this before, or is this a known bug?

Thank you!

(Version 6.2.10.6140 (Mar 27 2026))

2

Welcome to the forum, @Samuel_Pfeil!

It’s probably just because your score is condensed. You can’t edit condensed staves in Write Mode > Page View.

You need to be in Galley View (where all the staves show up, i.e. there is no condensing). Or in Engrave Mode for Engraving edits :slight_smile:

More information here:

Especially this note:

Note

  • In Write mode, you cannot select anything on condensed staves. In Engrave mode, you can select notes and items on condensed staves but you can only edit them graphically.Most graphical edits to condensed staves do not affect the source music, but some properties do, such as slur and tie style properties.
  • Condensing is never enabled in galley view or fill view. To see all staves separately without disabling condensing in the current layout, you can switch to galley view or fill view.
3

Thank you, you are absolutly right!