IWBNI it were possible to specify that a given instance of a shape expression should be scaled to fill a given duration. As it is now, the width of all instances of a given shape expression is constant and equal to the width of the underlying shape.

This feature would be useful when creating the following types of objects:

• A hairpin to indicate a crescendo that is to occur over the duration of a half note and end on a rest.

 
• A note extender to indicate the duration of a sustained note as one would do in proportional notation (e.g. see pages 96-98 of Music in the Twentieth Century by Kurt Stone or pages 94-5, 152 of Techniques of the Contemporary Composer by David Cope).

 
• A thick band to indicate a cluster of a given duration (e.g. see pages 59-61 of Music in the Twentieth Century by Kurt Stone).

 
• A graphical waveform envelope of a given duration as one would use for electronic or tape parts (e.g. see pages 318 of Music in the Twentieth Century by Kurt Stone or page 157 of Techniques of the Contemporary Composer by David Cope).

 
• A graph to indicate gradual changes in the point at which a given percussion instrument such as a xylophone or drum is to be struck during a roll of a given duration (e.g. see pages 222-3 of Music in the Twentieth Century by Kurt Stone).

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Measure-attached Expression Assignment and
Note-attached Expression Assignment Dialog Boxes

Width:
( ) Fixed Size
( ) Fixed Duration
    ( ) Scale Right Edge of Shape To:  _____ |Duration Units List Box {EDUs, beats, seconds}|
    ( ) Scale Shape Using Ratio:
        _____ |Shape Designer Units List Box
                   {Inches, Centimeters, Picas, Points, EVPUs, Spaces, Eighth Notes}|
        per
        _____ |Duration Units List Box {EDUs, beats, seconds}|

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These controls would be disabled for text expressions and enabled for shape expressions.

The option Fixed Size would be used to specify that the width of a given instance of a shape expression should be determined as it is in the current version of Finale.

The Fixed Duration option would be used to specify that the width of a given instance of a shape expression should be scaled to fit a given duration (e.g. 1024 EDUs, 3 beats, or 7 seconds). The scaling factor could be specified in one of two ways. The option Scale Right Edge of Shape To would be selected to scale the shape so that the distance from the origin to the right edge of the shape would occupy a given duration. The option Scale Shape Using Ratio would be selected to scale the shape so that a given graphical distance (e.g. 24 EVPUs) would occupy a given duration (e.g. 1/2 beat).

Created: March 9, 2000 (based on a submission from Timothy Brown)
Last Updated: March 9, 2000
Version: Finale 2000b