IWBNI it were possible to specify the time at which a given opaque object is drawn relative to other types of objects. As it is now, it is not possible to specify the order in which opaque objects are drawn.

For example, an opaque measure-attached expression (i.e. an expression for which the checkbox Opaque has been selected on the Enclosure Designer dialog box) is always drawn after bar lines and staff lines have been drawn, and before smart shape slurs and page-attached text blocks have been drawn. As a result, all opaque expressions mask the bar lines and staff lines, and smart shape slurs and page-attached text blocks are drawn on top of any opaque expressions.

For another example, consider imported graphics. Graphic objects are always drawn after bar lines, staff lines, smart shape slurs, and page-attached text blocks have been drawn, and as a result, graphics mask all of these types of objects.

This could be implemented by adding a menu item called Drawing Order to the Edit menu. This menu item would be enabled whenever a given opaque object is selected. For example, it would be enabled when an opaque expression or graphic object is selected. This menu item would display a new dialog box called Drawing Order that could contain the following controls:

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Drawing Order Dialog Box

( ) Default Drawing Order
( ) Draw Object After Drawing: |list box of object types in the order in which they are drawn|
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If the radio button Default Drawing Order is selected, the time at which the object is drawn, relative to other object types, would be the same as that in the current version of Finale.

If the radio button Draw Object After Drawing is selected, one could specify the time at which the object is to be drawn, relative to other object types. The list box of object types would be sorted in the order in which objects are drawn. This list box could include the following types of objects, among others, in the following order (Note: The actual order in which objects are drawn in Finale may differ from the list provided here.):

• Horizontal Guide Lines
• Vertical Guide Lines
• Barlines
• Staff Lines
• Clefs
• Time Signatures
• Key Signatures
• Staff Names
• Group Brackets
• Repeat Barlines
• Measure-Attached Expressions
• Repeat Brackets
• Note-Attached Expressions
• Notes
• Tuplet Markings
• Articulations
• Chord Symbols
• Measure-Attached Text Blocks
• Smart Shapes
• Page-Attached Text Blocks
• Graphics
• Ossia Measures

Or, one could specify that a given graphic be drawn after vertical guide lines have been drawn. With this setting, the graphic would serve as a background upon which all other objects are drawn.

Created: July 2, 2000 (based on comments by Juraj Bartos and Lasse Paasikko)
Last Updated: July 2, 2000
Version: Finale 2000b