Settings for Extra spaces at staves

[zurekafido]

Hello everybody,

I have a question about the layout settings under the tab 'Staves'. Under the first item 'Layout' there are five different settings. However, when I try to change something in the three middle ones, nothing seems to change in the layout. The first and last changes the layout, even though I have not achieved what I would like to have.
Could someone tell me what the middle three options are for and what I need to do to make them work?

Best regards

[MikeLyons]

In order for them to take effect, you have to select your score and use Reset space above/below.

If you don't have a vocal staff you will not see any effect for the lyric spacing.

[zurekafido]

Can it be that the three middle settings only have an effect if you have more than one staff?

'Optimize' completely ignores these rules, right?

[MikeLyons]

Can it be that the three middle settings only have an effect if you have more than one staff?

Well, that would make sense! Having said that, if your line is a vocal line, the vocal spacing rule should affect its distance from the next system.

'Optimize' completely ignores these rules, right?

No. It uses the rules as a starting pointbut if they contradict the layout (too narrow etc) causing collisions then it will overturn them.

[zurekafido]

Well, that explains a lot. So far, I've assumed that the third preference option only works if lyrics are entered, but it only works if a suitable instrument, such as voice, has been chosen.

My only problem is that I would like to notate scores for a songbook. The chorus will then have one line of lyrics and the stanzas will have up to three lines of lyrics. Is there no way to set, that under the bottom lyrics line still 3 extra spaces be inserted?

[MikeLyons]

I'm afraid I can't help on this as I don't write much vocal music. Have you tried the Sibelius forum here: http://www.sibelius.com/cgi-bin/helpcen ... &groupid=3 There are many more helpers, many of whom write a lot of choral/vocal music.