Free Text

Command Location: Insert Menu

Free Text items are rich text objects which can be edited directly in place on the score.  Font formatting is possible using the format toolbar which appears when editing a Free Text item.

Creating and Anchoring a Free Text Item

When created, a free text item must be anchored to the score in one of three ways.  Depending on the anchor type, the free text item will move with the score as it changes, or stay fixed to its original location.  Items can be cut, copied and pasted but their anchor type does not change.

1)  Anchored To Measure
The item will be anchored to the intersection of the insertion time and the highest visible staff in the measure.  This type of item will always be visible even if staves are hidden or measures are compressed and it will move if, for example, other measures are inserted or deleted earlier in the score.  Items anchored in this way appear in all views.

2)  Anchored To Page
The item will be anchored to the top left corner of the page on which it was created.  This type of item can only be created and will only be visible on the screen in Page View/Print View and when printed because page numbers are not meaningful in Window view or Scroll View (see Window View and Page View).  The page number of a page anchored item is fixed and it will not move relative to the notation as the score layout changes.

Example:  If a page anchored item is inserted on page 1 of a score, and a three pages worth of new measures are inserted at the start of the score, the item will still appear on page 1 of the score.

3)  Anchored To Measure & Staff
The item will be anchored to the intersection of the insertion time and a particular staff in the measure.  This type of item will not be visible if the anchor stave is hidden and it will move if, for example, other measures are inserted or deleted earlier in the score.  Items anchored in this way appear in all views.

Note that if you wish to have your text move relative to specific notation items such as notes or rests in a given measure and/or staff, you will get better results anchoring your Free Text items to the Measure & Staff .

Moving Free Text Items

When selected, a link between an anchored item and its anchor is displayed using dotted lines.  A single Free Text item can be selected and dragged with the mouse to a new position on the score.  Its new position is always considered relative to its anchor's position.  If the anchor moves, so will the item.

See also: Expressions.