Vertical alignment of hyphens in lyrics when using system text

[vxla]

I’ve noticed that it’s impossible to vertically align hyphens manually added to lyrics to the hyphens added automatically when breaking syllables across multiple notes. This is an issue when manually adding a hyphen at a section repeat, etc. with system text (SHIFT+X).

Note the hyphen is too high here:

But sliding down the hyphen, with either the mouse or keyboard, snaps to a location too low:

Is there any work-around or, if not, can a remedy for this be submitted as a feature request?

Thank you in advance.

[charles_piano]

@vxla

with either the mouse or keyboard,

Have you tried Ctrl(Cmd)+Shift+Alt+Arrow? It makes very small gaps (1/32 space per press)

In ascending order:

Ctrl+Shift+Alt+Arrow
Alt+Arrow
Shift+Alt+Arrow
Ctrl+Alt+Arrow

[vxla]

Thanks Charles. I didn’t realize OPTION+COMMAND+SHIFT on macOS gave smaller increments; I’ve always used SHIFT+COMMAND.

This definitely helps, thank you again! I only wish that Dorico had an option to add these hyphens instead of having to manually input them.

[charles_piano]

The manual’s detailed explanations:

1. Move the selected items in any of the following ways:

• To move items a standard amount to the right, left, up, or down, press Alt/Opt plus the corresponding arrow key. For example, press Alt/Opt-Left Arrow to move items to the left. This moves beams by 1/4 space and all other items by 1/8 space per press.
• To move items a large amount, press Ctrl/Cmd plus the standard key command; for example, Ctrl/Cmd-Alt/Opt-Left Arrow. This moves items by 1 space per press.
• To move items a moderate amount, press Shift plus the standard key command; for example, Shift-Alt/Opt-Left Arrow. This moves items by 1/2 space per press.
• To move items a small amount, press Ctrl/Cmd-Shift plus the standard key command; for example, Ctrl/Cmd-Shift-Alt/Opt-Left Arrow. This moves items by 1/32 space per press.
• Click and drag them in any direction.

Tip

To constrain movement either horizontally or vertically, start dragging, then press and hold Shift.

[dan_kreider]

@vxla

This is an issue when manually adding a hyphen at a section repeat, etc. with system text

I’m not clear here. You’re adding text hyphens to a lyric line? That’s not the way to do it!

If you mean something like this, it’s all lyrics and non-breaking hyphens. No fooling around with text:

Make sure you set this as well:

[vxla]

@dan_kreider

I’m not clear here. You’re adding text hyphens to a lyric line? That’s not the way to do it!

Yes, I’m adding hyphens for lyrics that return back due to a repeat.

“Oshokua” is a word in this example:

[dan_kreider]

Ah. Yeah, don’t do that. Use non-breaking spaces (Cmd-Shift-Spacebar) and non-breaking hyphens (Opt-hyphen).

Actually, I like to do this using Edit Single Lyric. Easier to control, in my opinion.

Dorico occasionally requires tedious workarounds for edge cases. This is not one of them!

[vxla]

Edit Single Lyric works, thank you. Is that new(er)?

I can’t seem to get non-breaking spaces to work, and opt+hyphen gives me a long dash…not really what I’m looking for.

[dan_kreider]

Yes, I recall that this long hyphen is an issue for some fonts. Edit Single Lyric should work, then. Just use a regular hyphen. I use a modified version of Minion Pro that replaces the long hyphen with the regular hyphen, so I forget it’s a problem otherwise.

Non-breaking space should work. Mac? Opt-Shift-Space. PC is Alt-Shift-Space.

Edit Single Lyric is new-ish, I don’t remember exactly. I assigned it to Cmd-Opt-Shift-L and use it frequently.

[vxla]

Opt+shift+space carries hyphens over to the lyrics in the second repeat. I’ll use that key command, thanks for sharing. This saves so much time!