A floating measure must be based on a “real” measure. For most purposes, then, you’ll need to create a “scratch staff” on which to notate the actual contents of the ossia measure. You then choose “hide staff” in the Staff Attributes dialog box (see Hiding staves for full instructions).

To create a floating (ossia) measure

1. Choose View > Page View.
2. In a scratch staff, enter the music you want to appear in the floating ossia measure.
3. Choose Window > Advanced Tools.  
4. Click the Ossia tool  .
5. Double-click the spot on the page (in Page View) or double-click the measure to which you want to attach the floating measure (do not double-click a measure on your scratch staff). The Ossia Measure Designer dialog box appears.
6. Select whether you want a measure or page-attached ossia.
7. Enter the number of the Source Staff and Source Measure. The Source Staff is the scratch staff, and the Source Measure is the measure in which you entered the music. (If you don’t know a staff’s number, click the Staff tool and select the staff’s handle. Select Staff > Staff Usage. The Staff Number appears in the resultant dialog box.) If you want to specify a clef other than the default treble clef, click the Clef Select button; to set a key or time signature, click Key Signature or Time Signature. You can change the ending barline, too, by clicking one of the barline types.
8. Specify the reduction value by entering a number in the Scale To box. Generally, 50% to 85% (of full size) looks good. If there are elements of the scratch staff you don’t want to include in the floating measure, deselect the appropriate boxes in the Items to Display section. You can also specify various positioning aspects of the floating measure, such as the Top or Left Margin; for full descriptions of these elements, see Ossia Measure Designer dialog box.
9. Click OK (or press ENTER). The (Page or Measure Assignment) box appears. If you wish, specify horizontal and vertical coordinates for the measure (in the currently-selected measurement units). If you’re entering a page-attached ossia, you can also specify the barline-to-barline width of the floating measure.
10. Click OK (or press ENTER). You return to the document, where the floating measure is in place. If you’re in Page View, you can drag the measure’s handle immediately to position the measure. In Scroll View, you have to click the “real” measure to which you attached it; a handle appears, allowing you to drag the measure into position.

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