Inputting time signatures with the panel

You can input time signatures, including time signatures with pick-up bars, using the Time Signatures (Meter) panel, both during note input and by adding them to existing music. You can also input time signatures only on single staves.

Note
  • These steps describe inputting with the default mouse input preference Create item at selection.

  • Dorico Pro does not automatically add beats to fill bars according to the new time signature unless Insert mode is activated.

Prerequisite

If necessary, you have created the time signature you want in the Create Time Signature section of the Time Signatures (Meter) panel.

Procedure

  1. In Write mode, do one of the following:
    • Start note input.

    • Select an item at the rhythmic position where you want to input a time signature. If you want to input a time signature on a single staff, select an item that belongs to that staff only.

  2. Optional: If you want Dorico Pro to add beats at the end of the region affected by the new time signature if required, press I to activate Insert mode.
  3. In the Notations toolbox, click Time Signatures (Meter) to show the Time Signatures (Meter) panel.
  4. Optional: For pick-up bars, activate Pick-up bar of in the Create Time Signature section of the Time Signatures (Meter) panel and select one of the following options:
    • 1/2 beat

    • 1 beat

    • 2 beats

      Note

      Not all pick-up bar lengths are possible using this method. For example, a single eighth note upbeat in 6/8 cannot be produced by any of these three options. In such cases, you must use the time signatures popover.

  5. Input the time signature you want in one of the following ways:
    • To input a time signature on all staves, click it in the Time Signatures (Meter) panel.

    • To input a time signature on the selected staff only, Alt/Opt-click it in the Time Signatures (Meter) panel.

Result

During note input, time signatures are added at the caret position, even if this is in the middle of an existing bar.

When adding time signatures to existing music, they are added at the rhythmic position of the earliest selected item. They appear to the right of barlines, key signatures, and clefs, and to the left of other items, even if this is in the middle of an existing bar. If you selected an existing time signature, the new time signature directly replaces the existing one.

All subsequent bars follow the input time signature, until the next existing time signature or the end of the flow, whichever comes first. Dorico Pro automatically inputs and moves barlines as required so that subsequent music is barred correctly.