I’m struggling to do the simplest thing, get two systems per page and everything I’ve tried isn’t working. I start my projects by uploading .XML files of vintage sheet music using PlayScore and for some reason the file for this song automatically added System and Frame Breaks throughout (not something I’ve encountered before). I’ve been in Layout Options and matched all the setting to previous arrangements. I’ve deleted the Frame and System Breaks and nothing seems to work. Am I missing something obvious?
In the latest update, Dorico respects system breaks in the XML document. You can turn it off in Preferences.
(That will affect new imports, not the current document, of course.)
You should be able to select all the breaks and remove them. Are you saying you can’t?
Once you’ve done that: look at the page fullness indicators at the bottom of each page in Engrave mode. That will show you whether there’s room, or not, for more.
I’d say your staff size is probably too big, and not doing you any favours for two systems a page. Music of this sort usually uses Size 5 or 6. (I’d also remove the abbreviated labels – everybody knows which line is theirs! – and you’ll get an extra 1cm.)
Thank you! Before I dig in I do have one more question. I noticed that the size of the individual staves on the left page are different than the right, with the right being much smaller. How do I make them consistent? See image and thank you again!
Certainly the setting used in your original file, from which the XML has been exported…
Do you mean the staff size is different; or the distance between the staves? I can’t quite see that in your image. The only way to change the size of the staff is with a property in the System Break.
So, yet another reason for removing all the Breaks from every system (which will also move another system onto page 6.)
You can do this in Engrave menu > Format Music Frames > Reset Layout.
I’d also recommend that you change the Vertical Justification settings in Layout Options to 60% and 100%.
This will space out the staves and systems to fill the page. It is entirely expected that staves have different gaps, based on the contents; and also to fill the page.
I think what you see is just the staves on the left being more apart (which Dorico does because of the second line of lyrics there) - and so the visual density is different. If you compare/measure the individual staff sizes: they are identical.
Maybe this is just a language thing(?) in German we have different namings than in English.
EDIT: maybe what you‘re after is identical distances between staves? Then you would have to look into Layout Options - Vertical spacing
Before doing anything else, do as Ben suggested, remove all System~ and Frame Breaks.
Yes, you’re right about the staff sizes. They are the same but the spacing makes them look different.
When I followed your instructions to reset the layout of music frames as described above I get overlap on the first page, the second page is cluttered, and all the other pages look good. Any tips for cleaning up the first two pages? Thanks in advance!
Things to try:
- Making the first music frame taller (if you don‘t want to put subtitles or composer names etc there)
- Changing staff size in Layout options (try small steps)
- Play with the different options in Vertical spacing
EDIT: if you haven‘t seen this yet: very much recommended:
First of all, I would remove any fixed Casting Off (e.g. 2 systems per page) in Layout Options.
Have you reduced the Staff Size? It still looks pretty big on the page.
I can also see that you have MANUALLY edited out the Flow Heading. Don’t do that. Use Layout Options to remove the Flow Heading. That will also give you a bit more space.