Multiple concurrent time signatures without breaking barlines possible?

[MicheleGalvagno]

I’m copying a piece where—surely for the composer’s convenience—several instruments have specific passages (not necessarily the same ones!) written in 12/8 instead of the prevailing 4/4.

I know I can use Shift-T and type “12/8, 8” to get the time signature with the first measure right, followed by Option/Alt-Return but is it possible to get this without breaking the barlines?

I’ve found this old post that describes the workaround but I cannot see how @claude_g_lapalme managed to join the barlines again.

If it is not possible, is there any other way apart from having a text object or a Playing Technique manually moved in place?

[Janus]

You have only implemented one part of the ‘trick’.

1. Local time signature as a pickup bar 12/8,8 (as you have done).
2. Return to the 4/4 (with a hidden time signature) at the next barline.
3. Notate everything as tuplets (and hide the numbers/brackets).

This method keeps all the barlines aligned and joined.

[MicheleGalvagno]

Ah, one thing: in Galley View I see this (the break is above/below English Horn):

While in Page View everything looks fine.