Time Signature
The "Time Signature" tab of the "Measure(s)" dialog box allows you to first to set the time signature of every, individual measure of a score.The selected time signature and related options are applied to the measures entered in the fields marked "From measure" and "To measure".
If all the measures are selected, the contents of the tablature will be completely restructured to conform to the new signature. Thus, the total number of measures will be reduced if you select a smaller time signature (e.g. 4/4->3/4) or increased if the opposite is true.
On the other hand, if only certain measures are selected the tablature will retain the same total number of measures. Only the content of the selected measures will be modified either by amputation or by the addition of blank space at the end of each measure. There is one exception: if the "Reorganize" box has been checked and the new measure is exactly double (i.g. from 2/4 -> 4/4) or half (e.g. 3/4 ->3/8) of the preceding measure, TablEdit will redistribute the notes within the framework of the new measure. TablEdit is also able to reorganize simple measures (4/4) into compound measures (12/8) and vice versa.
Notes: Despite the fact that simple 3/4 and 4/4 rhythms are the most common, TablEdit can manage all rhythmic types (both simple and compound measures). The only restriction is that you can't enter a measure of a duration superior to 15/4.
You can open the "Time Signature" dialog box by clicking on any time signature displayed in the score or on the time signature displayed on the ruler for each bar.
You can also use the "Properties" tab of the dialog box to define certain attributes of the selected measures:
The "Free Bar" option tells TablEdit to ignore the beat values for the display of note beams within the selected measures. Use this when you want to change the style of note beaming. This option has two possible values. The "1/1" setting treats the entire measure as a single block. The "1/2" option splits it into two equal blocks and beams notes in groups of four rather than the default of two. "1/1" will beam all notes with a single beam. You can then insert beam breaks where necessary.
The "Don't Print" option instructs TablEdit not to print the measure type.
If the "Pick-up measure" (also known as anacrusis) feature is selected, TablEdit will not include the measure in the bar numbers on printouts. Any automatic rests contained in the measure will be hidden. If you have the option set to print a specific number of measures per line (see "Non-Proportional Measures" option) the pick-up measure will not be counted. The Pick-up measure flag also impacts the MIDI output.
The "Ad Lib" function inhibits the display of the closing bar of the measure concerned and TablEdit does not count it towards the display of measure numbers. The combination of a first bar ad lib followed by one or more bars not to be printed allows complex rhythmic constructions. In the example below, only one bar 5/8 will be printed because TablEdit adds the numerators of bar 2/8 and bar 3/8:
On the display, anacruses and ad lib measures are counted as normal measures for easy editing unless you press the [F2] key.
When the "Pick-up measure" attribute is applied to a measure, TablEdit displays the measure number on the ruler in purple. When another attribute is applied to to a measure, TablEdit displays the time signature on the ruler in a particular color.
The "Left margin" field is used to set the empty space between the opening bar and the first beat of the measure. The "Bar Line" options allow you to display a dotted bar or a half bar line.
[Apply] applies the modifications made to the measures without closing the dialog.
[Close] closes the dialog.
[OK] simply closes the dialog box.