RESOLVED: This seems to be a (hopefully rare) anomaly, answered by Aaron (in a way that I can understand, and that I’m happy with. Thank you!
OP: I’m trying to understand–and learn how to use–“Minimum Gaps”. In the first image I have “Inter-system gap” == 4 3/4 spaces. But see how tightly the systems are packed together. I’ve asked Dorico for a minimum gap between systems of 4 3/4 spaces. “Minimum” means “at least that much”, right? But the gaps here are way smaller than I’ve asked for. Why isn’t Dorico doing whatever it takes to give me my minimum (even if that would mean moving a system to the next page, which Dorico is NOT doing)?
What do folks think? How am I to understand this behavior? I just want to be able to make changes to these values and be in with some kind of a fighting chance of knowing what to expect. Right now I have no idea what to expect. It’s all trial and error. Thanks! [I’ve attached a repro project].
You’re right about what “minimum gaps” means. However, there is a circular reasoning issue which can affect some frames/systems and can keep Dorico from providing the expected results.
That seems to be what’s happening in your case. If you look at the frame fullness indicator in Engrave mode, your first page is at 114%; Dorico won’t normally produce a page that overfull. My guess is that Dorico estimated that it could fit 4 systems on that page, respecting your minimum gaps, and then ran into problems making it happen.
If you add a frame break at the beginning of the 4th system, things will look much better. (Though it seems to me that everything looks a little tight with that spacing. You may be happier either increasing the inter-system gap so that Dorico only puts 3 systems on a page, or reducing your space size so that each system is a little smaller.)
That was a typo, sorry for that. I’ve corrected my post. But do you think that gap above is 4 3/4 spaces? That’s more than the size of a staff, and it definitely isn’t that. My question is not about what value I should put in that property, my question is why isn’t Dorico giving me the minimum gap I’ve asked for. It shouldn’t matter if I put 1 in that field, if it’s not giving me 1 space, then my question stands. Thanks!
Every time the fullness (of page or system) exceeds 100%, Dorico is no longer reliable. Never go further than 100% (I know some very knowledgeable users do, but I really don’t think it’s a good idea!), Dorico’s behavior is no longer predictable nor reliable.
Dorico will want to give you those minimums, but it also allows the user to force more systems on a page than it would otherwise allow space for. This can happen in a number of ways, you could force a system onto the previous page by selecting all the content and choosing “Make into Frame” - that would force (at your request) and extra system onto a page. There’s also an option in the Layout Options that could be engaged that SETS the number of systems per page. If that is on, it supersedes the Minimum Gaps because that’s a user defined setting, so with that on, if the content is particularly dense vertically, Dorico can’t simultaneously resolve all the vertical collisions AND respect the minimum gaps, at some point, something has to give, and it’s the System Gaps that give out first. Dorico is essentially saying, “Hey, if you want to put too many systems on this page, you’re more than welcome to, but I can’t at that point guarantee your minimum gaps”.
If you don’t have that option in the Layout Options selected, and if you don’t force extra systems onto the frame, then indeed, Dorico should give you the correct minimum gaps.
But in all fairness, Daniel has admitted that under certain circumstances, once Dorico calculates the number of systems per page, the various things it then has to add to the music (text, rehearsal marks, ledger lines, and the like) may force the systems together in ways Dorico’s layout engine cannot anticipate.
So an overcrowded page is not always the result of a user’s decisions. Fortunately the situation is not that common.
