Double dotted line in the middle of a bar

Germain_Tremblay · March 13, 2026, 1:47pm

Attached is a jpg of the measure with a double dotted line that separate the measure. Is this count for one measure or 2 measures? I see that dorico counted as 2 measures. How to you get these two dotted lines so close together I tried but I can’t get them close. Please can you help me solve this problem and is there a way since dorico counted as 2 measures to change the total number of measures if it counts for 2 measures.

Thanks for your great help

Germain

asherber · March 13, 2026, 2:19pm

Someone else may have a better idea, but you can do this by turning the second bar into three bars – 2/4, 1/4, 2/4 – with dashed barlines where needed.

Add bar number changes for the “new” bars 3 and 4 so that they’re not included in numbering.

Remove the rest in bar 3, and then use the Note Spacing tool in Engrave mode to move the two barlines closer together.

I’ll add instructions for this later.

jesele · March 13, 2026, 2:31pm

Don’t know if easier, but a real tick barline, and two coordination lines?

Jesper

asherber · March 13, 2026, 4:20pm

Instructions for the above:

Select the note in bar 3. Open the Meter popover with Shift+M, type 4/4 and hit Enter.
Select the quarter rest in bar 2. Open the Meter popover, type (2/4) and hit Enter. Note the parentheses around the time sig.
Select the barline at the start of new bar 3. Open the Bars popover with Shift+B, type 1q and hit Enter.
Select the quarter rest in bar 2. Open the Meter popover, type (1/4) and hit Enter.
Select the half note in bar 2. Open the Meter popover, type (2/4) and hit Enter.
Select the 4/4 time signature in bar 5, and enable “Hide time signature” in the bottom Properties panel.
Select the barline before bar 2. Open the Bars popover with Shift+B, type dashed and hit Enter.
Repeat this step for bar 3.
Select bar 3. Right-click, choose Bar Numbers > Add Bar Number Change. Click “Don’t Include” and OK.
Repeat this step for new bar 3 (quarter rest and quarter note).
Select the whole rest between the dashed barlines, and do Edit > Remove Rests.
In Engrave mode, select the Note Spacing tool.
Select the square box over the second dashed barline, and use Alt/Opt+left arrow to move it to the left.

One odd thing I found is if the time sig in step 1 is added with parentheses (so that it’s hidden), the next steps don’t work correctly. For example, adding the hidden 2/4 in step 2 results in this:

Note that the 4/4 has changed to a 2/4.

Germain_Tremblay · March 14, 2026, 1:11pm

Jesele

Thanks for a quick response but please could you tell me how you’ve got these line what is the procedure?
Thanks for you help
Germain

jesele · March 14, 2026, 1:28pm

I selected a rest or note in both staves, then in Engrave mode, right-click->Staff->Create coordination line. Set it to note attached in properties and moved it into place with alt/opt + arrows. Also, adjusted the top and bottom since it defaults to between the staves. Then created one more and placed it next to the first one. You can also move/stretch it with the mouse.

Jesper

Forgot that I set the original barline to tick barline with these property settings in Engrave mode.

Perhaps @asherber 's solution is easier?