These instructions assume you want to insert
a false barline in the middle of an existing measure. This method lets
you create a barline of any thickness, size, or shape—curved, dotted,
triple, or anything you can think up. You can also use Maestro or Engraver
font characters at 24 pt for barlines. The \ character is a normal barline
and the ALT+0241
character is a dashed barline in the Maestro font. The normal barline
is the same in the Engraver font and the dashed line is the ALT+0200 character.
The following instructions give measurements
in points (1/72 inch). If you’ve been working in different units, choose
Shape Designer > Rulers and Grid and select Points (with grid lines
every 6 points).
- Click the Expression tool
.
- Double-click the measure to which the barline
will be attached. The Expression Selection dialog box appears.
- Click Create, then click the Shape radio button.
- Click Create. The Shape
Designer appears. If you want to change the thickness of the barline, use the
Line Thickness submenu of the Shape Designer menu. You can also specify
how you want a dashed or dotted barline to look by using the Dash options
in the Shape Designer menu.
- From the Shape Designer menu, choose Show,
then Grid. From the Shape Designer menu, choose Show, then Staff Template.
- Click the Line Tool
. Begin drawing on
the origin (the small white circle at point 0,0). While pressing shift,
drag in the drawing area, straight down, until the V: text box says -24.
You’ve just drawn a vertical line (the shift key constrains your mouse
to perfectly vertical or horizontal lines) that’s exactly the height of
a staff.
- Click OK to return to the Expression Designer.
- Click Allow Horizontal Stretching to deselect
the check box. You’ve just told Finale that the Shape Expression
you’ve just created should not be allowed to stretch horizontally along
with the measures (when Finale widens measures slightly to make them flush
with the page margins).
- Click OK, then Assign. The
“barline” appears in the measure. Drag its handle to move it. Select its
handle and press DELETE to remove it.
