IWBNI, for all types of smart shapes, there were options to specify the default horizontal position of the start and end points of the segments of a smart shape that spans a system break.

As it is now, the default start and end points of the segments of smart shapes that are created with the slur tool, dashed curve tool, and bend tool may be specified by the System Start Adjustment and System End Adjustment text boxes in the Slur System Breaks section of the Smart Shape Options dialog box. The System End Adjustment text box specifies the position of the right end of slur and bend segments relative to the left edge of the rightmost barline of a system. The System Start Adjustment text box specifies the position of the left end of slur and bend segments relative to the horizontal position that is left of the left edge of the first note or accidental of a system by the distance specified in the Before Music text box in the Spacing section of the Music Options dialog box. This position is the same as that of the left edge of the rectangle that is drawn when the first measure of a system is selected.

As it is now, for all smart shapes other than those created with the slur tool, dashed curve tool, and bend tool, the default system start adjustment and system end adjustment is zero and these default values may not be changed.

This could be implemented by replacing the Slur System Breaks section of the Smart Shape Options dialog box with a button called System Breaks. This button would display a new dialog box called Smart Shape System Break Options that could contain the following controls:

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Smart Shape System Break Options
 

Smart Shape Type	System Start		System End
	Adjustment (EVPUs)	Relative to	Adjustment (EVPUs)
Slur	2	Music	-6
Dashed Slur	2	Music	-6
Crescendo	-9	First Notehead	-7
Decrescendo	-9	First Notehead	-7
Trill	6	Music	-7
Trill Extension	6	Music	-7
8va/8vb	6	Music	-7
15ma/15mb	6	Music	-7
Bracket	6	Music	-7
Dashed Bracket	6	Music	-7
Double-ended Bracket	6	Music	-7
Dashed Double-ended Bracket	6	Music	-7
Line	6	Music	-7
Dashed Line	6	Music	-7

Slurs and Bends:
Avoid Staff Lines by at Least: _____
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Each cell of the Relative to column would be a list box of the items First Notehead and Music. If Music is selected, the System Start Adjustment would be relative to the left edge of the rectangle that is drawn when the first measure of a system is selected (i.e. as slur and bend segments are positioned in the current version of Finale). If First Notehead is selected, the System Start Adjustment would be relative to the left edge of the first notehead in the system.

Also, the following controls could be added to the Smart Line Style dialog box:

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Smart Line Style Dialog Box

System Start Adjustment: _____ EVPUs
    Relative to: |list box of {First Notehead, Music}|

System End Adjustment: _____ EVPUs
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Created: July 5, 2000
Last Updated: July 5, 2000
Version: Finale 2000b