Composer->User Tips  [ Contents | Search | Help]

How to print measure numbers on every measure
User Tip #: 139 Offered By: Andrew Darger Sacher on 2003-10-01 12:37:56 Last Modified: 2003-10-01 12:38:13

How to print measure numbers on every measure

Noteworthy Composer allows you to show measures numbers above each barline in edit mode, but when you print your work, those measure numbers appear only at the beginning of each system (line). To print with every measure numbered, try this solution.

If you don't want to bother with repetitive work, as instructed below, you can download the attached ZIP file, which contains two NWC files. "msrnums_200_bfbar.nwc" is one staff, 200 measures, with the comments preceding the barlines and center-justified above the barlines. "msrnums_200_inbar.nwc" also is one staff, 200 measures, with the comments directly following the barlines but right-justified and aligned before any other staff signatures. You can copy and paste this staff into your NWC composition. It would be a good idea to read the instructions on how to create the staff in order to understand how to insert the staff. "msrnums_example.nwc" shows several examples.

First, we want to create a new staff, which will contain all the measure numbers as comments. This staff is ideally placed as the second staff of the score; or, if you would like measure numbers on a specific staff, directly below that staff. Now, set the staff directly above the new staff to layer with the new staff:

Staff menu> Staff Properties [F2]; "Visual" tab; check the box labelled "Layer with next staff"

(If the staff above is already set to layer, set the new staff to layer as well; leave the above staff set to layer.) To finish this step, allow layering

File menu> Page Setup [Book button in toolbar]; "Contents" tab; check the box labelled "Allow Layering" at the bottom left.

You now need to insert the same time signature as your work. If there are any changes in time signature, these also need to be inserted at the appropriate measure in this staff. (In later versions of NWC, time signature markings can be found using the find function

Edit menu> Find [Ctrl+F]; "By Category" choice of radio boxes; "Time signature" choice in menu; and then for the next marking: Edit menu> Find Next [F3]

It is unnecessary to insert a clef or key. (Incidentally, this staff is a handy place to insert tempo markings.)

At this point, you have to make a decision regarding placement of the measure numbers. Ideally, there are two positions in which to place the measure numbers: just after the barline, or centered on the barline. The advantages of measure numbers after the barline is that they are, on the whole, simpler to edit and that they require less effort to use. The disadvantages are that they sometimes interfere with other staff markings and that they appear somewhat unprofessional in their position relative to the barline. The advantages of measure numbers centered on barline are that your numbers and NWC's numbers coincide fairly well and that the placement is more professional. The disadvantages are that they are slightly more difficult to edit and that a measure number appears at the end of every system (line) and not in the next system, where they should be. (This problem can be remedied by hiding those numbers (see instructions below for "Hiding objects") and then setting NWC's measure numbers to "Plain"

File menu> Page Setup [Book button in toolbar]; "Options" tab; in "Measure numbers" menu, choose "Plain"

Having made this decision, we want to create a block of rests, comments, and barlines which can be copied. For an example of one bar, refer to the two NWC files attached to this tip. In the block, hide the rests (see instructions below for "Hiding objects"), and, if you like, move the rests out of the way

Highlight all the rests; "Edit menu"> Properties [Alt+Enter or Alt+E]; "Rests" tab; change "Vertical Offset" to 3, or whatever

To place the comments (measure numbers) centered on the barline, insert the comment just before the barline, justified center, aligned at next note/bar

Highlight the comments; "Edit" menu> Properties [Alt+Enter or Alt+E]; OR simply, when you insert it; "Expression Placement" tab; change "Justification" pull-down menu to "Center"; change "Alignment/Placement" pull-down menu to "at next note/bar"

To place the comments (measure numbers) directly after the barline, insert the comment directly after the barline, justified right, aligned before all other staff signatures.

Highlight the comments; "Edit" menu> Properties [Alt+Enter or Alt+E]; OR simply, when you insert it; "Expression Placement" tab; change "Justification" pull-down menu to "Right"; change "Alignment/Placement" pull-down menu to "before all other staff signatures"

Copy and paste this block repeatedly as needed, then edit the comments to be the appropriate number. (It's handy to create blocks of ten measures, with the numbers 1, 2, 3 ... 9, 0; and then edit the comment and add on the tens and hundreds place.)

Finally, the measure numbers can be placed either above or below the staff

Highlight the comments; "Edit" menu> Properties [Alt+Enter or Alt+E]; "Expression Placement" tab; change "Staff Position" to whatever

If you want to place them at the same position as NWC's measure numbers, set the position to 9; for just above the staff, set it to 6; for just below the staff, set it to -6; for slightly below the staff, set it to -9. If you have the comments centered below the barline, watch out for extended barlines (e.g. for upper/lower grand staffs or orchestral).

That's the lot. Repeated here are the instructions in NWC listed above:

Align and justify comments: Highlight the comments; "Edit" menu> Properties (Alt+Enter or Alt+E); OR simply, when you insert it; "Expression Placement" tab. For placing comments centered on the next note or bar, change "Justification" pull-down menu to "Center"; change "Alignment/Placement" pull-down menu to "at next note/bar". For placing comments directly after the previous note or bar,
change "Justification" pull-down menu to "Right"; change "Alignment/Placement" pull-down menu to "before other staff signatures".

Allow layering: File menu> Page Setup (Book button in toolbar); "Contents" tab; check the box labelled "Allow Layering" at the bottom left; click "OK".

Find [time signature changes]: "Edit" menu> Find (Ctrl+F); "By Category" choice of radio boxes; in "By category" pull-down menu, choose "Time signature"; click "OK". To find the next marking: Edit menu> Find Next (F3).

Hiding objects: Highlight the object or its diamond and open its properties. "Edit" menu> Properties (Alt+Enter or Alt+E); "Visibility" tab; in "Show on printed page" pull-down menu, choose "Never"; click "OK".

Layer with next staff: Staff menu> Staff Properties (F2); "Visual" tab; check the box labelled "Layer with next staff"; click "OK".

Measure numbers [in NWC, to "Plain"]: File menu> Page Setup (Book button in toolbar); "Options" tab; in "Measure numbers" pull-down menu, choose "Plain"; click "OK".

Move comments vertically: Highlight the comments; "Edit" menu> Properties (Alt+Enter or Alt+E); "Expression Placement" tab; change "Staff Position" to whatever.

Move rests vertically: Highlight the rests; "Edit" menu> Properties (Alt+Enter or Alt+E); "Rests" tab; change "Vertical Offset" to a positive number for upwards, and negative for downwards.

 nwctip_msrnums.zip [3 KB]