LE7:Score Layout:Global Format:Maximum Bars per Line - Line Break Bug!

Question

Hello
This problem occurs in Logic Express version 7.
(I am using MacOS version 10.4.2 on an eMac)
I am currently compiling and editing a large score for a big band composition consisting of 22 parts:
Flute 1
Flute 2
Clarinet 1
Clarinet 2
Alto Sax 1
Alto Sax 2
Tenor Sax 1
Tenor Sax 2
Baritone Sax
Trombone 1
Trombone 2
Trombone 3
Trombone 4
Trumpet 1
Trumpet 2
Trumpet 3
Trumpet 4
Guitar
Keyboard
Electric Bass
Percussion 1 (Kit)
Percussion 2 (Aux)
I am creating the score in a separate file, and I am combining parts into 1 stave each by instrument like this:
Flute 1 & 2
Clarinet 1 & 2
Alto Sax 1 & 2
Tenor Sax 1 & 2
Baritone Sax
Trombone 1 - 4
Trumpet 1 - 4
Guitar
Keyboard (2 staves)
Bass
Percussion
Each instrument, with the exception of keyboard which has 2 staves, consists of one stave, making up systems of twelve staves each. By sizing down each score style to 2,
I have managed to fit 2 systems onto each page, therefore significantly reducing the amount of paper needed.
The problem comes when organising the layout of my score,
in particular, the line breaks. Using layout:global format, I have limited the maximum number of bars per line to 8, both in the page edit and normal score mode.
I am trying to divide up my score so that there are 8 bars per system. Using the white arrow tool, I am dragging bars up and down in order to achieve this.
However, when I get 30 odd bars in, I discover a system with 12 bars crammed into it - and even printing it off, it is clear that the system could benefit with less bars; the notation is squashed up together and not very easy to read.
THIS IS THE ACTUAL PROBLEM:
So I tried using the white arrow to move the last 4 bars down onto the next system, and a bug occurs where I end up with about 20 bars on the system, oddly distorted, the first few bars of which are squashed up together at the beginning of the line, and the last bar of which is stretched far off the right hand side of the page out of view. Then the next 20 or so bars are no where to be seen (probably far off the right hand side of the page) before the system below.
If you dont know what I am talking about, I could provide a screenshot if you request.
I have tried everything to get 8 bars on that particular system; dragging the stretched bar downwards, dragging squashed bars downward, moving bars down 1 by 1, moving bars onto the system above, moving bars away from the system below (to make room for the 4 bars that I want to move from above), adding more bars and dragging them down, but none of these methods have worked. I am either stuck with 12 bars crammed onto one system and 4 bars on the next or an oddly distorted version of the system which cannot possibly be read. Even when I settle with the unsatistactory former, I encounter further problems on subsequent systems below, some systems of which are already distorted.
All I want is to have 8 bars per system, it should not be too much to ask! The layout:global format:maximum-bars-per-line calculation seems to be redundant, even when I reset the default line breaks - it just does not automatically set 8 bars per line, which it should do. Is there not an option to determine bars individually by number onto their respective lines, without having to use the white arrow graphic layout tool?
The problem is extremely frustrating, and it is preventing me from completing, presenting and handing in a score for my university music composition.
I have no other score producing software, and starting it
from scratch on paper is going to take me weeks, because it consists of 830 12/8 bars in 22 parts, and I need to get it ready by next term!
Any help would be extremely helpful and much appreciated, especially a patch or a useful way round. It could be related to memory, or hard drive space, as I have experienced similar problems in the past, where my score has been stretched off the page during a time when I have had little disk space...and this is a very large piece of music which might stretch the score capabilities of Logic.
If so, has anyone got any suggestions?
Thanks!
Rory
eMac   Mac OS X (10.4.2)  
eMac   Mac OS X (10.4.2)  

Answer 1

nope just cutting should work.
here are some things to try:
1. try assigning a different score style. for the regions. duplicate and then adjust the default ones if necessary.
2. try creating a new instrument set. in fact delete them and make a new one (use the key command: create instrument set from selected)
3. it may be a formatting problem so check:
in global layout constant spacing (try 8 or 9) and proportional spacing (try 45 or so). then try factory defaults.
4. try copying and pasting the midi into a brand new region and looking at the score for that.
5. try fiddling with the layout tool drqagging bars up or down.
normally simply cutting the region of just one object is enough to force a redraw. maybe try it on all of the regions. what happens when you double click on a region?