System (line) break

Finale automatically chooses the most logical measure at which to create system breaks. You can, however, create any system breaks you wish, even if they occur in the middle of a measure.See Measures per line for more information on locking and unlocking systems.

To create a system break

You can specify any measure to begin a new system, no matter what the measure layout may be in other systems.

1. Click the Measure Tool  . A handle appears on each barline.
2. Double-click the measure you want to appear at the beginning of a new system. The Measure Attributes box appears.
3. Select Begin a new staff system. Click OK (or press return).
4. From the Edit Menu, choose Update Layout. The measure you specified now begins a new system and displays a non-printing Begin New System icon in Page View to indicate that the measure must appear at the start of a system (if Show Page layout Icons is activated under the View Menu). The measure will always begin a new system, no matter how the page layout may change. Be careful how you use this technique, however; it could result in unusual measure widths preceding the affected measure (for example, the preceding single measure could stretch across the entire system).

To move a measure to the previous (or next) system

See To move a measure to the previous (or next) system.

To split a measure across a line break

See Measures—To split a measure across a line break.