Text blocks

A text block can be almost any piece of text: a note to the conductor, a page of dialogue, performance instructions, or an extra verse of lyrics, for example. You can place block text, in any font and size, anywhere in the score.

Text blocks created in Scroll View and text blocks created in Page View are treated differently. SongWriter always assigns a text block to a measure if you are in Scroll View when the text block is created. To create a page-assigned text block, you must be in Page View. If you wish to create a measure-assigned text block in Page View, select Attach New Text To Measure from the Text Menu.

To create text in a frame that automatically expands as you type

1. Click the Text tool  . The Text Menu appears.
2. Double-click the document window where you want to place text. The editing frame appears, with a flashing cursor to indicate the insertion point.
3. Type the text directly into the score without dragging to create a frame. Press enter (type a carriage return) to start a new line. The frame expands horizontally and vertically to accommodate the text you enter.

A single dashed line indicates that the frame will expand vertically and /or horizontally as you type.

To create text within a fixed-size frame

1. Click the Text tool  . The Text Menu appears.
2. Double-click the document window, and drag to create a rectangle to accommodate your text. An editing frame of the size you create appears, with a flashing cursor to indicate the insertion point. The placement of the insertion point—left, center, or right—depends on the justification options selected in the Text Menu.

A double dashed line indicates that the frame is a fixed size; it will not expand as you type.

3. Enter the text you want displayed. The placement of the text within the frame—left, center, or right—depends on the justification options selected in the Text Menu. The words wrap when you reach the side of the frame.
4. To resize the frame to accommodate additional text, drag the side of the frame to the desired size.

To edit text on-screen

1. Click the Text tool  . The Text Menu appears.
2. Double-click a text block handle. The editing frame appears around the text.
3. Click within the selected text block to edit the text. The insertion point appears where you click. Select some text, then use the Text Menu to change the character or text block settings for the selected text.
4. Use the Alignment submenu of the Text Menu or Frame Attributes dialog box to change a text block’s attributes, such as whether it is assigned to a measure or a page or pages, how it’s positioned, and so on.

To resize a text block on-screen

If a standard frame is set for a text block (Standard Frame is selected in the Text Menu), you can resize the text block on-screen by dragging its frame. If you’re using a custom frame for a text block (Custom Frame is selected in the Text Menu), see “To resize a custom frame” next for instructions.

1. Click the Text tool  . The Text Menu appears.
2. Double-click a text block handle. The editing frame appears around the text.
3. To change the text block’s shape or size on-screen, drag any side of the frame to stretch the shape.

To resize a fixed-size frame text block on-screen

1. Click the Text tool  . The Text Menu appears.
2. Double-click a text block handle. The editing frame appears around the text.
3. To change the text block’s shape or size on-screen, drag any side of the frame to stretch the shape.

To assign a text block to a measure

1. Click the Text tool  . The Text Menu appears.
2. From the Text Menu, choose Assign to Measure.
3. Double-click the document window where you want to place text. Or double-click and drag to create a fixed-size text block. The editing frame appears, with a flashing cursor to indicate the insertion point.

To position text blocks on-screen

1. Click the Text tool  . The Text Menu appears.
2. Drag a text block’s handle to adjust its placement in the score. Drag-enclose or shift-click additional text block handles to select them. You can drag multiple text blocks on the score to position them.

To position page-assigned text blocks

1. Choose Page View from the View Menu, if it isn’t already selected.
2. Click the Text tool  . The Text Menu appear.
3. Click a page-assigned text block handle, then choose Alignment from the Text Menu. Choose Left to place the text block on the left margin of the page; choose Center Horizontally to center it between the left and right margins; or choose Right to align it on the right margin.

Note: When you change the horizontal Alignment, SongWriter clears any manual positioning that was done in the score.

To delete a text block

1. Select a text block handle or drag-enclose to select a group of handles.
2. Press delete.

To specify a default font for text blocks

1. Choose Select Default Fonts from the Document Menu. The Select Default Fonts dialog box appears.
2. Click the Set Font button across from Text. The Font dialog box appears in which you can select the font you want to use for your text blocks.
3. Click OK twice. You return to the score. Now any new text you create with the Text tool will use the font you selected. Old text blocks will not be affected.

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