You are here: Encyclopedia > B > Barlines > Inserting a false or custom barline

These instructions assume you want to insert a false barline in the middle of an existing measure. This method lets you create a barline of any thickness, size, or shape—curved, dotted, triple, or anything you can think up. You can also use Maestro or Engraver font characters at 24 pt for barlines. The \ character is a normal barline and the ALT+0241 character is a dashed barline in the Maestro font. The normal barline is the same in the Engraver font and the dashed line is the ALT+0200 character.

To insert a false or custom barline

  1. Click the Expression tool image\Expression_Tool.gif.
  2. Double-click the measure to which the barline will be attached. The Expression Selection dialog box appears.
  3. Click Create, then click the Shape radio button.
  4. Click Create. The Shape Designer appears. If you want to change the thickness of the barline, use the Line Thickness submenu of the Shape Designer menu. You can also specify how you want a dashed or dotted barline to look by using the Dash options in the Shape Designer menu.

The following instructions give measurements in points (1/72 inch). If you’ve been working in different units, choose Rulers and Grid from the Shape Designer menu and select Points (with gridlines every 6 points).

  1. From the Shape Designer menu, choose Show, then Grid. From the Shape Designer menu, choose Show, then Staff Template.    
  2. Click the Line Tool . Begin drawing on the origin (the small white circle at point 0,0). While pressing shift, drag in the drawing area, straight down, until the V: text box says -24. You’ve just drawn a vertical line (the shift key constrains your mouse to perfectly vertical or horizontal lines) that’s exactly the height of a staff.
  3. Click OK to return to the Expression Designer.
  4. Click Allow Horizontal Stretching to deselect the checkbox. You’ve just told Finale that the Shape Expression you’ve just created should not be allowed to stretch horizontally along with the measures (when Finale widens measures slightly to make them flush with the page margins).
  5. Click OK, then Assign. The “barline” appears in the measure. Drag its handle to move it. Select its handle and press DELETE to remove it.

 

 

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