These instructions assume you want to insert a false barline in the middle of an existing measure. This method lets you create a barline of any thickness, size, or shape—curved, dotted, triple, or anything you can think up. You can also use Maestro or Engraver font characters at 24 pt for barlines. The \ character is a normal barline and the OPTION+SHIFT+L character is a dashed barline in the Maestro font. The normal barline is the same in the Engraver font and the dashed line is the OPTION+SHIFT+\ character. The following instructions give measurements in points (1/72 inch). If you’ve been working in different units, choose Shape Designer > Rulers and Grid and select Points (with grid lines every 6 points).
- Choose the Expression tool
and double-click the measure to which the barline will be attached. The Expression Selection dialog box appears.
- Click Create. The Expression Designer dialog box appears.
- Select Shape and click Create. The Shape Designer appears.
If you want to change the thickness of the barline, use the Shape Designer > Line Thickness submenu. You can also specify the appearance of a dashed barline by choosing Shape Designer > Line Style > Dashed.
- Choose Shape Designer > Show > Grid and Staff Template.
- Choose the Line tool
. Begin drawing on the origin (the small white circle at point 0,0). While pressing SHIFT, drag in the drawing area, straight down, until the V: text box says -24. You’ve just drawn a vertical line that's exactly the height of a staff (the SHIFT key constrains your mouse to perfectly vertical or horizontal lines).
- Click OK to return to the Expression Designer.
- Deselect Allow Horizontal Stretching. This tells Finale that the Shape Expression you’ve just created should not be allowed to stretch horizontally along with the measures (when Finale widens measures slightly to make them flush with the page margins).
- Click OK, then Assign. The “barline” appears in the measure. Drag its handle to move it. Select its handle and press DELETE to remove it.