IWBNI it were possible to adjust the small opening width of a given disconnected smart shape hairpin segment independently of the large opening width. For a definition of the terms "disconnected hairpin segment", "connected hairpin segment", "small opening" and "large opening", see the following related suggestion: Suggestion 627: A Setting for the Small Opening Width of Hairpins at System Breaks.

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, both the large and small opening widths can be adjusted, but not independently. In all cases, the small opening width is constrained to be one third the size of the large (or normal) opening width. As the control point which is located in the upper middle region of the bounding rectangle of a hairpin segment (referred to here as the "opening-width control point") is dragged, the large opening and small opening are made smaller or larger while keeping the ratio between the two opening widths constant.

This feature could be implemented by adding a submenu called Opening-width Control Point to the SmartShape menu. This submenu could contain check menu items called Proportional Openings and Independent Openings. If the menu item Proportional Openings is checked, the opening-width control point would function as in the current version of Finale. Otherwise, the menu item Independent Openings would be checked and the open-width control point for a disconnected hairpin segment would function in the following way:

• To change the large opening width, one would drag the open-width control point.

 
• To change the small opening width, one would drag the open-width control point while pressing the Ctrl key.