MeasureMap is a web prototype. The full version is coming to the Mac App Store. Back to ryanblihovde.com
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MeasureMap

Open a PDF of sheet music to begin adding measure numbers.

Open a PDF or project to get started.
Piece Details
BPM
/ Common:
Measure Sequence
Enter labels in order, separated by commas or spaces. Supports numbers, letters, or any combination: 1, 2, 2a, 2b, 3  or  1, 2, A, B, C, 3
Preview
Export Settings
Text Annotations
Annotations will appear as text above the measure where they were placed.
Add Note
Export Staff Paper
Blank staff paper with your bars, rehearsal marks, and signatures laid out — ready to handwrite a chart.

MeasureMap

Web prototype

Why It's Useful

Setting up a score by hand — counting measures, entering every meter, key, and tempo change, placing rehearsal marks — is slow, error-prone busywork. MeasureMap turns a PDF of any chart into that setup in minutes: click through the bars once, and export ready-to-use files.

And when there's no time for notation software at all, the staff-paper PDF gets you a printable template with the bars, rehearsal marks, and signatures already in place — so you can handwrite a part on the spot. Need a quick single-staff line or chord chart for the rhythm section from a piano-vocal? Print the template and pen it in minutes, knowing every barline and rehearsal mark matches the score.

How To Use It

1.  Open a PDF of sheet music and enter the tempo, time signature, and key.

2.  Click the start of each measure in order — shift-click where you want a boxed rehearsal mark.

3.  Use Change Time/Key Sig for any mid-piece changes.

4.  Export: MusicXML that opens in Finale or Dorico fully formatted (about 4 bars per line, rehearsal marks starting each line), an annotated PDF, or printable blank staff paper (single staff, grand staff, or a full orchestra sketch) for handwriting a chart in a pinch.

The Help button in the toolbar has the full guide.

© 2026 Ryan Blihovde.  Music fonts: Bravura © Steinberg Media Technologies and Leland © MuseScore BVBA, both under the SIL Open Font License 1.1.  Built with pdf.js and pdf-lib.

MeasureMap

A step-by-step guide

Getting Started
1
Click Open PDF
Choose any PDF of sheet music from your computer.
2
Review the score
The PDF opens so you can look it over before entering details.
3
Enter piece details
Fill in tempo, time signature, and key in the dialog.
4
Click Continue
The score is ready for marking.
Placing Measure Numbers
5
Click at the start of each measure
Numbers are placed in sequence automatically. Click left to right, page by page.
6
Shift+click for a rehearsal mark
The number gets a box. In the exported file it becomes a boxed rehearsal mark with a double barline, and it starts a new line. Two marks on back-to-back bars share a line — a bar is never left alone on its own line.
7
Ctrl+Z to undo
Removes the last number placed.
Tempo, Key, or Time Signature Changes
8
Click Change Time/Key Sig
Use any time the piece changes key, tempo, or time signature.
9
Fill in what changed, leave the rest
Only the fields you change will be updated. The Common menu has quick picks like 2/2 (Cut time). Click Apply.
10
Place the next measure number normally
The change takes effect from that measure onward.
Saving and Exporting
11
Save your project (Ctrl+S)
Saves a .mpsa file you can reopen later.
12
Export XML
Opens in Finale or Dorico with correct tempo, key, time signature, measures, and rehearsal marks — laid out about 4 bars per line (never fewer than 3 or more than 6), with rehearsal marks starting a new line.
13
Export Annotated PDF (optional)
Creates a copy of your PDF with measure numbers printed on it.
14
Export Staff Paper (optional)
Prints blank staff paper with your bars, rehearsal marks, signatures, tempos, and title already laid out, plus an Inst: line to pencil in a name — so you can handwrite a chart in a pinch. Three formats:

Single staff — one staff per line, 3–6 bars each, with your choice of treble, bass, or alto (viola) clef.

Grand staff — braced piano staves, at most 4 bars per line for two-handed writing.

Full orchestra sketch — one big system per page: 10 blank staves with room to pencil in instrument names on the left, plus a bracketed treble/bass string reduction at the bottom. At most 4 bars per page, measure numbers repeated under each bar, and the current key named in the top-left corner of every page.

Note: Finale honors the line breaks automatically. In Dorico, turn on Preferences → MusicXML Import → System breaks so the 4-bar lines are kept on import.

Shortcuts
ClickPlace next measure number
Shift + clickPlace rehearsal mark
Ctrl+ZUndo last number
Ctrl+SSave project
Ctrl+scrollZoom in / out
Ctrl+0Fit page to window