One empty staff refuses to hide

Dorico
1

In Dorico, one empty staff refuses to hide even though “Hide Empty Staves” is enabled. All the other empty staves are hidden correctly. Does anyone know what might cause this and how to fix it?

2

There can be many reasons for this…! Could you please upload the file or at least a cut-down version that shows the issue?

1 Like
3

Sure! I have tried all the suggestions from AI. :slight_smile: The Alto part in the fifrst system needs to be hidden.

Screenshot 2026-03-12 at 12.47.56 AM
Screenshot 2026-03-12 at 12.47.56 AM1138×1406 82.4 KB

Also, why does Dorico automatically place only two systems on a page? Is there a way for it to automatically place an appropriate number of systems? Some pages look fine, but others do not. It seems very random.

4

I think what Charles refers to, is actually posting the .dorico file itself, a screenshot (while it can be useful occasionally!) is likely not going to work in this case.

Cheers,
Benji

5 Likes
5

Thank you very much, but I was meaning a Dorico file, not only a screenshot :slight_smile:

Apparently there is something in the Alto staff in this system, which prevents Dorico to hide it.

If it’s impossible for you to share a file, you may try this: drag-select the alto staff and press Delete. It could work as it could remove the hidden thing… (in this example I lenghtened a playing technique from the previous bar).

2 Likes
6

It’s actually not random, it depends on many different settings (space size, vertical gaps, margins, justification…). Once again, it would be easy to help… with the .dorico file!

5 Likes
7

My apologies—I misunderstood earlier. Here are the pages with the issue. After hiding the alto part on page 2, I expected the staves from page 3 to move onto page 2. Thank you so much for your support!

Try.dorico (2.0 MB)

8

Your cresc in Alto extends too far. This prevents the system from hiding.

2 Likes
9

A few bars before the recalictrant rests there is a cresc. marking in the Alto part. In Write mode, click on it. As well as the small red circle at the start of that marking you will see a similar circle a few bars later. That shows the extent of the cresc. . In Write mode with the cresc. selected, press shift+alt+left arrow a few times. The circle on the far right should move to the left. When it no longer encroaches on the bars of rest, those rests will hide.

! Pipped to the post by the speedy @Janus!

2 Likes
10

In Engrave mode, click on the Frame Break at the start of page 3 and press shift+S to change it into a System Break.

1 Like
11

Thank you so much—it worked! I have one more question. Is there a way to move the system from page 3 up to page 2? I tried moving it manually, but it didn’t work.

Try.dorico (2.0 MB)

12

Thank you so much!

13

Is this suitable?

I did three things in Layout Options:

In Page Setup > Page Size

  • reduced the left margin to half its original size (it was twice as big as the other 3 margins)

  • changed the Rastral size from a custom setting (7.22mm staff) to 6.5mm

in Vertical Spacing

  • reduced the Inter-system gap to 5 1/2 spaces

Try (ed).dorico (1.9 MB)

2 Likes
14

Thank you so much. This was immensely helpful! I truly appreciate your time.

1 Like