John Greschak - Finale Suggestion 555: Default Position of Tuplet Numbers on Beams as a Function of Stem Direction

No. 555

Default Position of Tuplet Numbers on Beams as a Function of Stem Direction

IWBNI it were possible to specify, as a function of stem direction, the default position to be used for a tuplet number or ratio that is displayed under the following conditions:

The set of notes in the tuplet are beamed together with a primary beam that begins on the first note of the tuplet and ends on the last note of the tuplet, and

The Auto Bracket checkbox is selected on the Tuplet Definition dialog box, and

The Placement option on the Tuplet Definition dialog box is set to Beam Side.

Under these conditions, the tuplet marking will consist of a number or ratio with no bracket or slur that is positioned next to the beam as shown in the following figure:

As it is now, default positions for tuplet numbers may be specified by using the Number H and Number V text boxes in the Position section of the Default Tuplet Visual Definition dialog box. Also, on this dialog box, the checkbox Ignore Format Offset may be unchecked to cause the values specified in the text boxes Tuplet Number on Upstem Side of Note and Tuplet Number on Downstem Side of Note on the Music Options dialog box to affect the horizontal position of tuplet numbers as a function of stem direction. These settings on the Default Tuplet Visual Definition dialog box are used for all tuplets that are created without the use of metatools.

Alternatively, a metatool may be defined to specify default positions to be used for various placements of tuplets of a given ratio (e.g. 3 eighths in the time of 2 eighths). For example, by using this approach, one could define metatools for the following types of tuplet markings:

Metatool 1: Three eighths in the time of two eighths to be used for up-stemmed notes that are beamed together.

Metatool 2: Three eighths in the time of two eighths to be used for down-stemmed notes that are beamed together.

This feature could be implemented by adding a menu item called Tuplets to the Options>Document Settings submenu. This menu item would display a new dialog box called Tuplet Options that could contain the following controls:

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Tuplet Options Dialog Box

Default Position of Tuplet Numbers on Beams:

Above Beam: H: _____ V: _____
Below Beam: H: _____ V: _____

Position Numbers Relative to:
( ) Horizontal Center of Beam
( ) Durational Center of Tuplet
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These setting would be used under the conditions stated in the first paragraph of this suggestion. And, under these conditions the settings for Ignore Format Offset on the Tuplet Definition dialog box, and Tuplet Number on Upstem Side of Note and Tuplet Number on Downstem Side of Note on the Music Options dialog box would be ignored.

If the radio button Horizontal Center of Beam is selected, tuplet numbers would be positioned horizontally relative to the (graphic) horizontal center of the beam. In this case, the H and V settings for Above Beam and Below Beam would be displacements from this center position. If the radio button Durational Center of Tuplet is selected, tuplet numbers would be positioned horizontally relative to the durational center of the tuplet group. For example, for a tuplet of 5 eighths in the time of 4 eighths that consists of 4 sixteenths followed by 3 eighths, the tuplet number would be positioned horizontally relative to the first eighth note (or fifth note of the tuplet).

In all cases, tuplet numbers would be positioned vertically relative to the edge of the beam that is furthest from the noteheads.

Created: May 30, 2000
Last Updated: May 30, 2000
Version: Finale 2000b