Finale 2009a Interface Changes

Finale 2009a includes some interface changes related to expressions and font handling.

Score Lists for Expressions

Staff Lists for expressions have been renamed Score Lists. See Category designer dialog box. The number of available score lists has been increased from 4 to 8, and they can now be renamed. See Score List dialog box.

Staff Assignment for Expressions

Staff assignment functionality has been introduced for expressions not eligible for Score Lists. See Expression Selection dialog box and Assign to Staff dialog box. Keyboard shortcuts have been added to allow easy assignment to adjacent and/or all staves. See Keyboard Shortcuts - Expression Tool.

Font Utilities dialog box

Font-related commands under the Data Check submenu, including: "Check Document Fonts Against System Fonts," "Swap One Font for Another," Scale Fonts," and "Convert Text for Windows." have been consolidated into the new Font Utilities dialog box. Two new functions related to symbol fonts have been added: "Reset Symbol Fonts List to Default" and "Sync Document to Symbol Fonts List." See Font Utilities dialog box.

Finale 2009 Interface Changes

Finale 2009 includes some interface changes that provide a more intuitive workflow environment, particularly in areas related to expression entry and management.

Measure Expressions and Score Lists

(If you are not familiar with measure expressions and staff lists (now called Score Lists) in Finale 2008 and earlier, disregard this information and refer to Expressions and Score Lists.)

The definition of the Finale term "expression" has changed in Finale 2009 to facilitate organization, editing flexibility, and ease of entry.

In Finale 2008 and earlier, "measure expressions" were assigned and positioned relative to a measure. They always applied to all staves, and could be "turned off" in some staves using a Score List (or by selecting a radio button in the former Measure Expression Assignment dialog box). For example, the measure expression could have been set to "this staff only," or "all staves," or (in the Score List dialog box) "top staff only," and so on. Each measure expression essentially included its own Score List and positioning settings, and only one expression's settings could be changed at a time (e.g. the option to change the font of all dynamics was not an option). Furthermore, when the expression was copied across documents, its Score List would be copied with it, which could result in a multitude of Score Lists assigned in a document.

In Finale 2008 and earlier, "note expressions" were assigned and positioned relative to a single note. They had a completely different set of positioning options that could be used to change the positioning of the expression relative to the note. Like measure expressions, each note expression also included its own positioning settings, and only one could be changed at a time.

In Finale 2009, "note expressions" and "measure expressions" have been merged, and any expression can have properties of either. The major distinction between expression types is now based on their score function. Specifically, expressions have been separated into six categories, each with its own font, positioning, and Score List settings (see Expressions). Changes to these settings can be applied to all expressions in that category (both in the library and in the score). (These settings can also be assigned individually, independent from the category when required - see Expression Designer). Score List definitions are now defined for categories rather than individual expressions, and are only available in categories that benefit from their usage.

To understand the benefits of this new model, it is important to recognize that all expressions are classified in one of two ways:

• Expressions that apply to the entire score (all staves). These include tempo markings, tempo alterations, and rehearsal letters. These expressions will generally appear on all parts, but only once, or a few times, in the score.
• Expressions that apply to a single staff. These include dynamics, expressive text, style markings,and technique text. Although more than one staff/part may require the same expression at the same measure, each of these types of expressions apply to their respective staff only.

The first type includes all expressions that can possibly benefit from Score Lists because it is standard practice in scorewriting to assign certain types of markings (e.g. tempo marks) in a consistent fashion throughout the duration of the score (e.g. above the top staff of each instrumental section). Therefore, the need for many Score List definitions was replaced with four (Score List 1, Score List 2, etc.). You can make changes to these Score Lists in the Score List dialog box. Changes to a category's positioning, font, or Score Lists can be made in the Category Designer dialog box.

When you begin a new score with the Setup Wizard, Finale automatically assigns expressions to the Score List 1, which places expressions above the top staff and above the top staff in each instrumental section.

If, in previous Finale versions, you used measure expressions and Score Lists to add dynamic markings (and expressive/technique text), you may miss the ability to apply many dynamics at once. If this is the case, use metatools and "drag-apply" to enter dynamic expressions onto multiple staves quickly and easily. See To add an expression.

Expression Editing Changes

• An attachment indicator line displays each expression's attachment point. As you drag horizontally the attachment point adjusts by beat or measure.
• Hold down Alt to drag an expression without adjusting the attachment point.
• Drag an expression over a staff to snap the attachment point to that staff.
• Double-clicking an expression (or selecting its handle and pressing Enter) now opens the Expression Selection dialog box, where you can double-click to easily swap it for another expression, edit the expression, or move it to a different category.
• A single Expression Assignment dialog box replaces the Note Expression Assignment and Measure Expression Assignment dialog boxes. This dialog box does not appear automatically after entering an expression (as in Finale 2008). To access it, Shift-double-click an expression's handle. In addition to positioning and playback, you can use this dialog box to assign expressions to individual layers or only the score, only the parts, or both score and parts (for files converted from previous versions).
• An expression that is assigned to a Score List requires a stack selection to be copied.

Copying and pasting expressions across documents

When you copy a region of music including expressions of a category that does not exist in the target document, or if the same category contains different settings, Finale will create the new category in the target document automatically and insert the new expression into that category.

Finale 2009 Menu Reference Chart

Use the following key to identify any commands that have moved or changed names. (Commands that do not appear in this list have not changed since Finale 2008.) New commands, menus, and submenus are marked with an asterisk (*). "" means the menu item's name has not changed.

Commands and Dialog Boxed Removed in Finale 2009

• Measure Expression Assignment (replaced with Expression Assignment)
• Note Expression Assignbment (replaced with Expression Assignment)

Finale 2008 Interface Changes

Finale 2008 included several interface changes that provide a more intuitive and streamlined workflow environment. These changes included the consolidation of functions into fewer tools and menus, and as a result, some commands were moved, added, renamed, and/or moved to different locations. If you have upgraded from Finale 2007, use the information here to reference the new location of these commands.

The New Selection Tool  

The Selection Tool has inherited all functions previously encompassed by the Mass Edit Tool. Select regions of measures, copy, and edit music, apply plug-ins and make other changes to score regions (or the full score)with the Selection Tool. Most commands previously under the Mass Edit Menu have been moved to the Edit Menu and the new Utilities Menu. Others now also appear in the MIDI Menu (now called the MIDI/Audio Menu) and Mirror Menu. See the Finale 2008 Menu Reference Chart below for details.

There are some notable changes regarding selection, copying, and filtering:

The Select Partial Measures command has been removed

Finale always allows you to select full or partial measures without requiring a menu selection. See Selecting Music for more details.

• Double-click to expand a selection including partial measures to include full measures. Or, double click full measures or unselected measures to select a full measure stack (full measures, all staves).
• Hold down Shift and use the left and right arrow keys to expand or retract the selection note-by-note (or measure-by-measure for empty measures). Or, hold down Shift and click to expand/retract the selected region.
• Hold down Shift and press the End, Home, PageUp, or Page Down keys to expand selection to the end, beginning, top staff, or bottom staff of the score (respectfully).

Copy, paste, or insert measure settings by selecting a "stack"

In Finale 2007 and earlier a measure could be selected in, for example, four horn parts of an orchestral score. Inserting this music elsewhere would add the measure in all staves, filling only the target selection with the source horn music (the inserted measure in all other staves would be empty). Now, to insert full measures, the source and target must include full measures, and all staves, called stacks.

In a stack selection, highlighting extends between all staves (vertically) of a selected region. Double-click full measures to select the measure stack. For details, see Copying Music.

• Stacks can include extra measure information such as key signatures, measure widths, and barline styles. For a list of items that can only be copied with a stack selection, see Edit Filter dialog box.
• A stack selection is required to delete a full measure and all their attributes in all staves. Without a stack selected, the Delete key always clears music from the region.
• A stack selection is required to insert a full measure in all staves.
• A stack can only be inserted or pasted to another region that qualifies as a stack. Pasting always replaces existing music.
• Eligible regions to paste or insert a stack are indicated with a green border or insertion bar respectfully when drag-copying or drag-inserting.

Copy and Insert/Copy and Replace

In Finale 2007 and earlier, drag-copying either inserted or replaced entries depending on a setting under the Mass Edit Menu. Now, selected regions can be easily inserted or pasted (replacing entries) by dragging or using the clipboard (see Copying Music). All musical elements in a region, including measure-attached items, can be copied, pasted, and inserted with all methods of copying - within the same document or across documents.

• Clipboard-copying and pasting (e.g. Ctrl-C/Ctrl-V), clipboard inserting (Ctrl-I), drag-copying, and drag-inserting now always yield identical results.
• Clipboard-copying and pasting (e.g. Ctrl-C/Ctrl-V) now always yields identical results to drag-copying and pasting. Press Ctrl-I to insert material copied to the clipboard.
• Finale now always uses the "Copy and Replace" behavior (now called "Paste") when drag-copying unless the Insert modifier (Alt) is used.

Filtering

In Finale 2007, musical elements were excluded from target regions while pasting using the Items to Copy dialog box. Finale 2008's equivalent is the Edit Filter dialog box. The Measure Settings can be either inserted or pasted, but only if the source is a stack selection. Using the clipboard to copy, paste, and insert now always includes the same elements whether drag-copying, drag-pasting, and drag-inserting. In other words, the same mechanism is now used for clipboard-copying as drag-copying.

Modeless Editing Commands

The following changes mean less switching tools and more universal controls.

New Utilities Menu

The Utilities Menu is Finale 2008's new unchanging menu and includes many commands that previously existed under Finale 2007's Mass Edit Menu and submenus. Commands that apply to the entire document, such as Update Layout, are always available. Editing commands that require a regional selection are available whenever any measure region is selected (with the Selection Tool or any other tool that supports regional selection). See Utilities Menu.

Copy and edit with any tool that allows regional selection

Right-click a measure region with the Selection Tool or Measure Tool selected to access a new expanded context menu. Now, to insert full measures, the source and target must include full measures, and all staves, called stacks.

Cut, copy, paste, insert, and apply any command under the Edit and Utilities Menus whenever a region is selected. The following tools allow regional selection:

• Selection Tool
• Staff Tool
• Measure Tool
• Key Signature Tool
• Time Signature Tool
• MIDI Tool
• Clef Tool
• Repeat Tool
• Mirror Tool

The Backspace and Delete keys now clears or deletes measures in the above tools. 

Staff Tool:

• To Clear Staff Styles, use the context menu (right-click) or the main menu, or click the Staff Style Bar and press Delete.
• To Delete Staves, the Staff handles must be selected and there must be no measure highlighting.

Repeat Tool:

• To Clear Repeats, highlight the handles only and press Delete or use the Repeat context menu.

MIDI Tool:

• With a measure region selected, use the "Clear" item in the MIDI Tool to delete the MIDI Data checked in the MIDI Tool menu.

Some commands are accessible in many tools

The following commands can be applied with any tool that allows regional measure selection. A single-key alternative is available for some of these commands if the Selection Tool is chosen. (These are similar to previous Mass Edit keyboard shortcuts). 

• Ctrl-4 = Apply Note Spacing (Selection tool = 4)
• Ctrl-5 = Apply Beat Spacing (Selection Tool = 5)
• Ctrl-6 thru 9 = applying transposition (Selection Tool = 6-9)
• Ctrl-Shift-6 thru 9 = redefining transpositions (was previously Shift+ 6-9)
• Ctrl-1,2 and 3 = Custom Zoom percentages (instead of fixed view percentages)
• Keystrokes for fixed view percentages (Ctrl-4 for 400%, Ctrl-5 for 50%, Ctrl-7 for 75%) have been removed (except for Ctrl-0 for "Other") in favor of user definable Custom Zoom Keystrokes: Ctrl-1, Ctrl-2 and Ctrl-3.
• Keystroke for Check Elapsed Time (5) has been removed.
• Ctrl-L to lock measures. Selection Tool = L)
• Ctrl-U to unlock measures. (Selection Tool = U)

• Edit Menu > Add Measures (previously required Measure Tool selection).
• Utilities Menu > Music Spacing > Apply Music Spacing (previously required Mass Edit Tool selection)
• Utilities Menu > Fit Measures (previously required Mass Edit Tool/Page Layout Tool selection)
• Edit Menu > Multimeasure Rests > Create for Parts/Score (previously required Measure Tool selection)
• Document Menu > Measure Numbers > Edit Regions (previously required Measure Tool selection)

Tool-specific changes

• The "Create a Movable Mid-Measure Clef" command has been removed from the Change Clef dialog box. The clef tool now accepts partial measure highlighting. To add a mid-measure clef, start the highlighting where you want the clef to appear in the measure. Double-click to open the Change Clef dialog where you can select the new clef.
• You can now call dialogs by pressing Enter in addition to double clicking. For example in the Staff Tool, highlight a measure and press Enter to open the Staff Attributes dialog box.
• Double clicking the Staff Tool now adds a blank staff to the bottom of the score.

Finale 2007 vs. 2009 Menu Reference Chart

Use the following key to identify any commands that have moved or changed names since Finale 2007. (Commands that do not appear in this list have not changed since Finale 2007 or are listed in the Finale 2009 Menu Reference Chart.) New commands, menus, and submenus (as of FInale 2008) are marked with an asterisk (*).

Commands Removed from Finale

• Edit/Select Partial Measures. Finale now offers partial measure selection at all times. See Selecting music.
• Mass Edit/Copy and Replace. Finale now always uses the "Copy and Replace" behavior (now called Paste) when drag-copying unless the Insert modifier (Alt) is used. This is identical to copying and pasting using the clipboard.
• Mass Edit/Copy and Insert. Finale now always uses the "Copy and Replace" behavior (now called Paste) when drag-copying unless the Insert modifier (Alt) is used. This is identical to copying and inserting using the clipboard.
• Home Position. The Home Position menu item has been removed. To easily navigate to the Home Position, press the Home key.
• Redraw Options. The Redraw Options menu command and Redraw Options dialog box have been removed. Recent technology and performance improvements have replaced a need for these options