Multimeasure rests

You can create a multimeasure rest (or sometimes referred to as a block rest) many different ways with Finale. One way is by generating parts or turning on Special Part Extraction. This will create multimeasure rests in your entire score, and all the rests will look the same. See Multimeasure Rests in linked parts and To temporarily view a part using Special Part Extraction.

You can also use the Measure Tool to quickly create multimeasure rests in a selected region or for the entire piece. You can change the appearance of a single multimeasure rest without affecting the appearance of the other rests in the score. Also, you can choose to use shapes and/or symbols for multimeasure rests in the same piece, and control when Finale should display the number which indicates how many measures are in the rest.

Note: You must be in Page View to use the Break, Create, or Edit multimeasure rest commands.

To set up the appearance of multimeasure rests

Use the Multimeasure Rest command in the Multimeasure Rest section of the Document Options to set up the default appearance of most of the rests in your score.

From the Document Menu, choose Document Options and select Multimeasure Rest.
Specify how you want the multimeasure rests to appear when you use Extract Parts (in the File Menu), when you turn on Special Part Extraction (in the Document Menu) for one or more staves, or when you choose Create (in the Measure Menu’s Multimeasure Rests submenu. For details about the settings in this set of options, see Document Options-Multimeasure Rests.
Optional: If you want to use a Shape to notate multimeasure rests, make sure that Start Numbering at ___ Measures is set to two measures. Finale will display a number on all multimeasure rests in your score. If you prefer that no number appears—as when using the new symbolic rest style, for example—enter the number of measures to be included in a multimeasure rest before Finale will display the number.
Click OK when your settings are complete. Finale uses these settings when you create multimeasure rests in the score. If you need to change the settings for a single multimeasure rest, use the Edit command in the Multimeasure Rests submenu (in the Measure Menu).

To display symbols for multimeasure rests

From the Document Menu, choose Document Options and select Multimeasure Rests.
Select Use Symbols for Less Than ___ Measures. Finale’s default number of measures for using rest symbols (instead of shapes) is nine. Symbols are usually used for rests containing up to eight measures, and shapes are used for rests containing nine or more measures.
Optional: If you want to use symbols for multimeasure rests containing fewer or more measures than the default of nine measures, enter the number of measures in the Use Symbols for Less Than ___ Measures text box.
Click OK when your settings are complete. Finale uses these settings when you create multimeasure rests in the score. If you need to change the settings for a single multimeasure rest, use the Edit command in the Multimeasure Rests submenu (in the Measure Menu).

To create a multimeasure rest

When you create parts using Finale’s Linked Parts and Special Part Extraction commands, Finale groups all empty measures into multimeasure rests. If you would rather control which measures get combined into multimeasure rests, you can select the measures that you want to combine into a multimeasure rest in your score.

Choose the Selection Tool $image\Selection_Tool.gif$ .
Select the region that contains the measures you want to display as a multi-measure rest. You can also select your whole score. (You must be in Page View to do this.)
From the Edit Menu, chose Multimeasure Rests > Create. Finale creates multimeasure rests in the selected region, using the same rules as when you use Special Part Extraction to create rests—breaking them at key and time signatures, or when you’ve selected Break a Multimeasure Rest in the Measure Attributes dialog box for the measure. In order for measures to be grouped, they must contain default whole rests. If a whole rest was entered in a measure, that measure will not be included in a multimeasure rest until you erase the whole rest (using the Simple Entry or Speedy Entry tools, or the Edit Menu's Clear commands).
Choose Update Layout from the Utilities Menu to ensure that Finale is displaying the current layout of the score.

To break a multimeasure rest

When you create parts, Finale groups all empty measures into multimeasure rests. You can now break one or more multimeasure rests into separate measures. For example, you might prefer that measures are written out if less than four consecutive measures are empty, or you might want to break a single multimeasure rest into two or more rests.

Choose the Selection Tool $image\Selection_Tool.gif$ .
Select the multimeasure rest to break. To break more than one multimeasure rest, select a region that contains the rests. (Remember that you must be in Page View to do this.)
From the Edit Menu, chose Multimeasure Rests > Break, or right-click on the multimeasure rest and choose Multimeasure Rests > Remove. Finale breaks the multimeasure rests in the selected region into separate measures of rests.
Choose Update Layout from the Utilities Menu to ensure that Finale is displaying the current layout of the score.

To edit the appearance of a multimeasure rest

When you edit a multimeasure rest using the Measure Menu, you’ll change the appearance of the selected rest only. (If more than one multimeasure rest is selected, Finale changes only the first rest in the region.)

Note: If you find that you’re using the Edit command frequently to change rests, consider changing the global settings in the Document Menu. See “To set up the appearance of multimeasure rests.”

Choose the Selection Tool $image\Selection_Tool.gif$ .
Select the multimeasure rest you want to change. (You must be in Page View to do this.)
From the Edit Menu, choose Multimeasure Rests > Edit.
Specify the settings that you want Finale to use for this multimeasure rest.
Click OK to return to the document, where Finale displays your new settings.
Choose Update Layout from the Utilities Menu to ensure that Finale is displaying the current layout of the score.

To display a measure number range for a multimeasure rest

Click the Measure Tool $image\Measure_Tool.gif$ .
From the Measure Menu, choose Edit Measure Number Regions.
Click Show Measure Number Ranges on Multimeasure Rests. Additionally you can click Always Show on Multimeasure Rests force ranges no matter what the other settings.
If your measure number is not displayed, choose Show Number from the Measure Numbers submenu of the Measure Menu. The current multimeasure rest is not designated to show in the current measure number region, show it must be forced on.

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