Composite Time Signature

$image\Composite_Time_Signature.gif$

How to get there

Click the Time Signature Tool $image\Time_Signature_Tool.gif$ , and double-click the measure in which you want to change the meter. The Time Signature dialog box appears. Click Composite. Or, click the Options button and select the Composite button in the expanded options section of the Time Signature dialog box.

What it does

This dialog box allows you to create complex time signatures.

Beat Groups: _ + _ + _ + _ + _ . Enter up to five numbers that you want to appear as the upper half of the composite time signature, specifying the number of beats per measure. Finale treats each number and its corresponding Beat Duration as a separate component of the composite time signature. You can use + signs between numbers within a text box if you need time signatures such as 3+2+2 over 8 You can also use decimals, such as .75.
Beat Duration: _ + _ + _ + _ + _ . Enter up to five numbers you want to appear as the lower half of a composite time signature. These numbers specify the rhythmic value of the beats in the measure. Each number appears below its corresponding Beat Group number. You can use + signs between numbers within the Beat duration text box.
Use EDUs for Beat Duration. Select this checkbox if you need to enter beat durations for dotted notes. When this checkbox is selected, Finale uses the specified EDUs number for the beat duration. When this checkbox is not selected, Finale displays the number you enter in the lower half of the composite time signature.
OK • Cancel • Clear. Click OK to save new settings and return to the score, or click Cancel to cancel any changes you made to the settings. Click Clear to remove the current composite time signature settings.

For example, to specify a dotted quarter as the beat duration, enter 1536 (1024 EDUs = quarter note, plus 512 EDUs = eighth note for the dot value).