Repeat mark at beginning

Dorico
1

I know that a repeat mark is not needed at the beginning of a piece, but is there a way to force one?

::: Bill

2

Yes, you can activate the caret (or select a note) on the first beat, Shift+B, type |:

3

Thanks. It should work that way, but not in my case, possibly because of XML import. But not a big deal.

::: Bill

4

XML import should not have anything to do with it. Once the file opens in Dorico, Dorico can change it.

5

Here’s an example. Does a repeat at the beginning work for you?

Aunt Lydia’s Banjo.dorico (1.7 MB)

I can add a repeat at the beginning of the B section, but not at the top.

::: Bill

6

In the View menu, go to Signposts and uncheck Hide Signposts. You will see two or three time signature signposts at the start. Go into Write mode and click on one of those and press Delete. You should now be able to add a start repeat barline.

7

Excellent. Thank you.

::: Bill

8

Steven’s solution works in most cases (many thanks) but here’s a sample where it doesn’t. I thought it might be the tablature but I changed to an instrument without tab and still couldn’t get the beginning repeat. Any suggestions?

Test.dorico (1.6 MB)

9

It is because you have a local time signature (these can commonly happen with xml imports).

To add a repeat barline that would need to be local as well (shift-B |: alt-enter), else delete the existing time signature are replace it with a normal one.

10

Thanks, Janus. And thanks to all who pitched in here.

Janus, how can you tell if a time signature is local or global?

::: Bill

11

With a single instrument it is impossible to tell. But with multiple instruments you select one time signature and if all the others turn blue, it a local one. If they all turn orange it is global.

(Edit: @dspreadbury perhaps there could be an indication on the status bar that a selected item is local?)

12

Thanks. Good to know.

::: Bill