Cut time, also known as 
or
alla breve, is a meter with two half-note beats per measure. It’s often
symbolized by the cut-time symbol: 
. For general information
on time signatures, see Time
signatures. For details on Finale’s automatic beaming-pattern feature,
see Beaming.
Tip: For large Time Signatures used for
some scores, use the Engraver Time font.
To change
the cut-time display (, 
, or another symbol)
- From the Document Menu, choose Document Options
and select Time Signatures.
- Click Abbreviate Cut Time To. If there’s
a check in the checkbox, Finale will display the cut-time symbol. If not,
Finale will display . (You can also specify any other
symbol you want by clicking the Select button.)
- Click OK (or press return).
To
mix abbreviated and non-abbreviated cut and common time signatures
Tip: Before you begin, remember to
set the global settings for common and cut time in the Time Signatures
portion of the Document Options dialog box (under the Document Menu).
- Click the Time Signature Tool
.
- Double-click on the first measure in which
you want to change the appearance of the time signature. The Time
Signature dialog box appears.
- Choose the measures you want affected.
By default, Finale selects the measure you clicked, or the area you drag-enclosed,
so if that’s the range you want, you don’t need to enter anything. To
specify a different range of measures, enter the numbers of the first
and last measures making up the region. To change the measure you selected
through the end of the piece, click Measure ___ Through End of Piece.
- Click More Choices. The Time Signature dialog box expands
to show the display options.
- Click Use a Different Time Signature for Display.
(If it’s already selected, don’t click it again). Set the time signature
if necessary.
- Use the Abbreviate checkbox to specify whether
to abbreviate the cut or common time signature for this time change.
If you want to use the abbreviated symbol
, simply click
Abbreviate. On the other hand, if you want the time signature to appear
as numbers 
, just deselect Abbreviate by unchecking the checkbox.
- Click OK (or press return).
You return to the document, where the measure region you specified
now shows the time signature in the format you chose.
