Master pages in Dorico

Master pages function like templates in Dorico Pro, allowing the same page formatting to be applied to multiple different pages in different layouts.

Master pages contain arrangements of frames. Frames are boxes in which you can display text, music, and graphics. The default master pages contain text frames at the tops of pages, to display the page number and running header information, and a large music frame that takes up most of the page.

All pages in your score and parts inherit their layout formats from master pages. Whenever you create or change anything on master pages, this is automatically reflected on the pages that use these master pages. For example, if you insert a new frame on a master page, a corresponding frame appears on all the pages that use that master page, so long as those pages do not have master page overrides.

Note

Changing individual pages in layouts is considered a master page override in Dorico Pro, which is a type of page format change. This includes, for example, editing the title or running header on one page, rather than in the master page editor. Pages with master page overrides no longer get updated if you change the master page and are not automatically deleted, even if they are now empty because the layout became shorter.