How to add a time signature without losing system breaks?

• Apr 1, 2020 - 14:00

Hello,

I'm currently writing a long file made of 12*7 cantus firmus (for Counterpoint studies). To achieve this, I already have set one system per cantus firmus. Each 10 bars, I set a system break in order to the new cantus firmus to start at the left of the page, which is more convenient. Now I have to deal with time signatures. The problem is when I drag a time signature on the first bar of a system, it automatically removed all my system breaks, which is annoying.

Is there a way to put a time signature without losing all the system breaks already in place, please?

See pictures below: the first before inserting a time signature, the second after. You will notice that I also lost all the final barlines placed at the end of each system. So my question also concerns final barlines.

Thanks,

creal.

Attachment Size
1.cantus firmus before time signature.png 71.74 KB
2.cantus firmus after time signature.png 74.78 KB

Comments

• Apr 1, 2020 - 14:04

No there is no way. It might (be made to) work for mathematical identical time signature (Cut and Common time, 4/4 2/2), but can't for others, as after the change there is then a different amount of measures, and system breaks might need to get inserted mid-measure too.
Same reasoning for barlines.

In your case there even was't any time signature before (so it got to be 4/4?)

To properly treat equivalent time sigs see #34076: Don't eliminate layout elements upon some cases of time signature change, #51176: Change the time signature remove the score elements, #287071: Changing Time Signatures removes symbols from barlines and #123886: 4/4 and cut time not considered equivalent

Reply

• Apr 1, 2020 - 18:13

Helllo Jojo,

Thanks for your reply. You're right: changing the time signature will change the bars content. What I wanted to achieve is: insert a time signature while keeping the number of bars but removing all of its notes content (ie not removing final barlines and system breaks). Even if it is not the most common way to use time signatures, I don't understand why it could not be possible (it could be a feature request if it cannot be done for the time being). It could be a rule like "preserve number of bars and remove notes".

In a topic you shared, Marc said that this is "by design", so I guess I have to put a FR after having checked that is not already asked.

creal.

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