IWBNI there were a setting that could be used to specify the default width of the small opening of disconnected smart shape hairpin segments. As it is now, there is no default setting for such small opening widths and the small opening width cannot be adjusted independently of the large opening width.

When a smart shape crescendo or decrescendo spans a system break, the hairpin is partitioned into two segments. Here, "disconnected smart shape hairpin segment", or more simply "disconnected hairpin segment" means the hairpin segment for which the two lines do not intersect. The other segment is said to be a "connected hairpin segment". The "small opening" of a given disconnected hairpin segment is that which is at the side from which the connected hairpin segment has been removed. The opening at the opposite side of a disconnected hairpin segments is called the "large opening".

A disconnected hairpin segment is shown in the following figure:

The small opening width is indicated by the red dimension arrows. As it is now, in all cases, the small opening width is one third the large (or normal) opening width.

Some would prefer to have such small openings be wider as shown in the following figure:

This could be implemented by adding the following controls to the Crescendo/Decrescendo section of the Smart Shape Options dialog box:

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Smart Shape Options Dialog Box

Crescendo/Decrescendo

Small Opening Width
( ) Percentage of Normal Opening Width: _____ %
( ) Fixed Width: _____ EVPUs
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If the radio button Percentage of Normal Opening Width is selected, the default width of the small opening of a disconnected hairpin segment would be determined as in the current version of Finale. Specifically, the default width of small openings would be calculated as a percentage of the default normal opening width that is specified by the Opening Width text box in the Crescendo/Decrescendo section of the Smart Shape Options dialog box. In the current version of Finale, the percentage 33% is used for this purpose and this could be the default value for this control.

If the radio button Fixed Width is selected, the default width of small openings would be a fixed value that is independent of (rather than proportional to) the normal opening width.

Note: In the current version of Finale, the opening width of a given hairpin is calculated as the distance between the points that are at the vertical center of the right (or left) end of the two lines that form the hairpin, as indicated by the red dimension arrows in the figures provided here. The opening width is not equal to the amount of white space between the two lines at the open end of the hairpin.

See also Suggestion 628: Allow the Small Opening Width of a Given Hairpin Segment to be Adjusted.

Created: July 4, 2000
Last Updated: July 4, 2000
Version: Finale 2000b