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 step 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.

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 a barline immediately to the left of where you want to input a new time signature.

    • Select a notehead or rest immediately to the right of where you want to input a new time signature.

  2. In the Notations toolbox, click Time Signatures (Meter) to show the Time Signatures (Meter) panel.
  3. 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.

  4. 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-click it in the Time Signatures (Meter) panel.

Result

During step 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 immediately to the right of a selected barline, or immediately to the left of a selected note, even if this is in the middle of an existing bar.

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.