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help with 2nd ending bracket

Posted: Sat Nov 10, 2018 3:34 pm
by zopatow
Hi. I'm trying to add a "closed" 2nd ending bracket (i.e., with a vertical line at both ends) to the last measure of a piece. Even though I'm choosing the bracket that has the two vertical lines, it is continually showing up as an "open" bracket (with only a left vertical line). I've tried running the Retract Line Ends plug-in, which worked perfectly for me in a similar situation in the middle of the score, but is having no effect on this final measure - presumably because it's not attaching to the next measure, since there isn't one to attach to. Here's a screenshot:
Screen Shot 2018-11-10 at 10.06.28 AM.png
Screen Shot 2018-11-10 at 10.06.28 AM.png (71.56 KiB) Viewed 3854 times
thanks,
Mark

Re: help with 2nd ending bracket

Posted: Sun Nov 11, 2018 8:00 am
by MikeLyons
Temporariey add a bar to the end ([ctrl/cmd]b). Remove it when you have sorted the bracket. Why do you want a cloased bracket? it's not standard notation.

Re: help with 2nd ending bracket

Posted: Sun Nov 11, 2018 6:06 pm
by zopatow
Thanks, Mike. That worked! As to why...no grand reason, it just seemed odd that clicking a closed bracket would produce an open one. I was curious how to make it work.

I appreciate what you're saying about it not being standard notation. If that is the case (I'm actually looking at a Novello vocal score published in 1985 that has closed brackets at the endings), what is the standard usage of the closed bracket?

thanks,
Mark

Re: help with 2nd ending bracket

Posted: Sun Nov 11, 2018 9:15 pm
by MikeLyons
AFAIK, each publishing house has it's own quirks, but if an ending repeats it should be closed, but if it continues it should be open.

For example, I have just done an arrangement of an ABBA song with a 1st, 2nd and 3rd time bar The first and 2nd time lines are closed and the 3rd time one is open.

Re: help with 2nd ending bracket

Posted: Mon Nov 12, 2018 7:00 pm
by zopatow
Interesting, thanks. I need to get my hands on a good book which lays out best practices. It seems like Behind Bars by Elaine Gould is the current frontrunner. Thanks again for your help with the bracket.

best,
Mark

Re: help with 2nd ending bracket

Posted: Mon Nov 12, 2018 10:27 pm
by MikeLyons
I can recommend Behind Bars. it is well written and approachable and viewed by many as the definitive modern engraver's gospel. If you can afford it, get the printed version. The ebook version is not very well done!

Re: help with 2nd ending bracket

Posted: Tue Nov 13, 2018 3:12 pm
by andyg
Definitely worth the cost of the printed version of Behind Bars. It's a bit too big to lug around so for something that covers (more than) the basics very well, there's the pocket sized 'Guide to Music Notation' published by Alfred Publishing.