Some problems formatting an XML import

[Derrek]

I wanted to see how Dorico would do with an XML import of a Finale piano/vocal score. I knew I would not be able to put a bracket on the choral parts, but I ran into some other problems I thought you should know about.

1. On page 1 there is a break for dialogue. I had two problems with this. One was getting the text size to stick at 10pts. I would change a line to 10 pts, but it would switch back even when I tried to change the default property. The second problem was getting the staff spacing to make room. The ability to change the staff spacing by number is great; but it too kept changing back. Compare the PDF to the PNG of page 1 which I opened after creating the PDF and closing (and Saving) the program.
   
   
   
   hexOpenerDorico.zip (1010 KB)
   I realize one option I did not try was changing the frames on page 1 to create a text frame for the dialogue. Perhaps that would be a more elegant solution, but the staff spacing should still hold, right?
   opener161217.zip (415 KB)
   I also had a question about how Dorico casts off systems. The systems on p. 3 are tight with a gap below. Those on p. 9 are stretched out to fill the space (not very attractive, but perhaps that will get better), but then those on p. 10, which might benefit from a little more space between staves, remain tight.

I’m not sure what happened to the lyrics in measure 50; the overwritten syllable was (thankfully) not in version from which I made the XML. Maybe I did something without realizing it.

At any rate, I enjoyed this as a learning experience; Dorico does some really nice things on its own. I’m still learning (and trying to remember after I do) where exactly to look for things. (“Was that in Engraving? No it was a Layout option.” etc.)

[Derrek]

Whoops, originally did not include the PDF (that needed to be zipped). Now corrected.

[dspreadbury]

Sorry to take so long to come back to you on this thread.

@Derrek

On page 1 there is a break for dialogue. I had two problems with this. One was getting the text size to stick at 10pts. I would change a line to 10 pts, but it would switch back even when I tried to change the default property.

This was a bug that we fixed in 1.0.20.

@Derrek

The second problem was getting the staff spacing to make room. The ability to change the staff spacing by number is great; but it too kept changing back. Compare the PDF to the PNG of page 1 which I opened after creating the PDF and closing (and Saving) the program.

We found a bug in the staff spacing code, discussed here, that might explain this. It’ll be fixed in 1.0.30.

@Derrek

I also had a question about how Dorico casts off systems. The systems on p. 3 are tight with a gap below. Those on p. 9 are stretched out to fill the space (not very attractive, but perhaps that will get better), but then those on p. 10, which might benefit from a little more space between staves, remain tight.

I think this is simply that you’re very close to the threshold for whether or not the page should be justified; you can will find this thresholds on the Vertical Spacing page of Layout Options. Try reducing the lower value (60% by default) to a lower value still, so that Dorico will justify the page even when it is less than 60% full.