Is it possible to set the gap for multiple staves simultaneously?
Unfortunately not presently. It’s click-type-click-type-repeat.
I use the arrows and shift to select multiple staves at once. Is that what you are asking?
That enables all the selected systems to be moved at the same time, but it only changes the spacing between the first and the second systems selected. I think what is being requested is the ability to change the spacing between all the selected systems to a specified value, all at the same time. Currently, the spacing value has to be entered one at a time.
Yes. A dialogue box in which you could enter a precise value would be welcome. May be in forthcoming versions of Dorico ?
I actually encounter this a lot, as I’m doing more and more projects that require engraving on the line (according to fixed vertical distances, like 6-pt increments).
It is possible to turn off collision avoidance in Layout Options>Vertical Spacing, but that’s sometimes a bit disruptive. If you have a layout that will behave predictably, you can use this setting, along with specific values for inter-system gaps.
I’d be happy to just be able to Tab to advance to the next spin box. But I’ve requested it before. So this isn’t a request.
That’s a lot of spacing overrides:
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to lower the top system, ie add more space between the header and the music, either increase the music frame margins (for the whole layout or just this page) or lower the top of the music frame (ditto, either as a page override or create a page template)
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to spread systems across the full height of the page, lower the vertical justification threshold
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to spread systems out but not to the very bottom of the page, raise the bottom of the music frame (same as above: either locally just on this page, or as a page template that you can reuse on multiple pages/parts - nice and consistent)
References:
The thing that threw things out of whack was a large text block that covered the title at the top. I needed to move the top down and decrease the spacing at the same time… and it was a pretty big move…
That last solution sounds interesting… an alternate page template for those parts most affected.
That’s where I would recommend lowering the top of the music frame: you’ll get more space, but without the responsibility of moving all the systems yourself.
Using justification and frame adjustments does the trick beautifully.
Setting the fullness% low enough so the staves justify, then resizing it on either end by dragging the top line down or the bottom line up does it.
Now I’m trying to find out if I can propagate those properties without necessarily creating a new template
No, local page overrides are local to that page. If you want to reuse those frame dimensions easily, create a page template.