No. 401

A Stem Connection Option to have Noteheads Shifted instead of Stems

IWBNI there were an option to specify that when a given custom stem connection that is defined on the Stem Connection Editor dialog box is used, the horizontal position of the stem should remain fixed while the horizontal position of the notehead is shifted.

As it is now, to display a specified stem connection, noteheads remain fixed in their default position that is determined by spacing requirements defined by allotments while stems are automatically moved left or right as needed. This approach causes the space between the stems of a beamed group of notes of equal duration that have mixed noteheads to vary as shown in the following figure (Note: the rests in this figure are actually notes for which the notehead has been changed to the character that is used for 1/8th rests):


Figure 1. Stems Shifted Horizontally (in this case to the left) to Satisfy Stem Connection Requirements


Alternatively, if stems were kept in the horizontal position that is determined by spacing requirements while noteheads are allowed to float horizontally to satisfy stem connection requirements, stems would be evenly spaced as shown in the following figure:


Figure 1. Alternate Noteheads (in this case rests) Shifted Horizontally (in this case to the right) to Satisfy Stem Connection Requirements


This feature could be implemented by adding the following controls to the Stem Connection Editor dialog box:

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Stem Connection Editor Dialog Box

Element to Shift Horizontally:
For Beamed Notes: ( ) Notehead ( ) Stem
For Unbeamed Notes: ( ) Notehead ( ) Stem
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These settings would apply to a given stem connection that is defined using the Stem Connection Editor dialog box. The Notehead options would be selected to obtain the behavior in the current version of Finale. The Stem option could be selected For Beamed Notes to have stems remain in a fixed horizontal position for which they will be evenly spaced according to allotment requirements while noteheads are shifted to satisfy the stem connection requirements.



Created: March 19, 2000
Last Updated: March 19, 2000
Version: Finale 2000b