Text/Inserts submenu

Text inserts allow you to share the same text information on multiple pages, such as a title or part name, or easily add characters with special properties, like page numbers or musical symbols. An outline appears around an insert to remind you of its special function.

You can change character settings for inserts placed in text blocks (you might underline the date, for example). Simply select an insert you’ve placed in a text block (such as the date), then choose a font or other character setting in the Text menu. Finale changes the entire contents of the insert to the new setting. You cannot, however, select and change the text within inserts.

When you begin a new score with the Setup Wizard, Finale adds placeholder text inserts for Title, Subtitle, Composer, and Arranger if these items were not defined (the inserts that appear also depend on the Document Style used). In addition to being standard text on the first page of most scores, these items also constitute important file information shared with the File Info tab of the Score Manager. When undefined, these inserts are gray, indicating they will not print. You can use the Text tool to edit these text inserts like a regular text block. When you do so, you are actually updating the text insert definition. After editing, the text insert will be solid black, indicating it will print. In addition to editing directly in the score, you can also change the text in the File Info to change the information for the following inserts: Title, Composer, Arranger, Copyright, and Description.

• Sharp • Flat • Natural • Double Sharp • Double Flat. Choose from these commands to insert the corresponding accidental. To change the appearance of the accidentals, see Text Insert Symbols under Document Options - Text dialog box.
• Page Number • Total Pages. Choose these commands to insert a page number or the total number of pages. The current page number, assuming that the pages in the document are numbered consecutively from page one, appears at the current location of the cursor. Use the Text > Edit Page Offset command to display the Page Offset dialog box, where you can change the page number displayed in the selected Page Number insert.
• Title • Subtitle. Choose these commands to insert the document title or subtitle as specified in the Score Manager. If no information has been entered in the File Info tab, the word "Title" or "Subtitle" will appear instead as hidden (non-printing) text.
• Composer • Arranger • Lyricist. Choose these commands to insert the corresponding name as specified in the Score Manager. If no information has been entered in the File Info tab, the word "Composer", "Arranger", or "Lyricist" will appear instead as hidden (non-printing) text.
• Copyright Symbol (©) • Copyright Text. Choose these commands to insert a copyright symbol (©) or copyright text as specified in the Score Manager. If no information has been entered in the File Info tab, the word "Copyright" will appear instead as hidden (non-printing) text.
• Part/Score Name. Choose this command to insert the name of the current part (defined in the Manage Parts dialog box). If you are viewing the score, choose this option to insert the score name as specified in the File Info tab of the Score Manager.
• Performance Time. Choose this command to insert the total performance time of the document.
• Description. Choose this command to insert the document description as specified in the Score Manager. If no information has been entered in the File Info tab, the word "Description" will appear instead as hidden (non-printing) text.
• Filename. Choose this command to insert the filename as saved on your computer. If the file has not yet been saved, the word "Filename" will appear instead as hidden (non-printing) text.
• Current Date • File Date • Time. Choose from these commands to insert the current date, the date the file was last saved, or the current time. To change the date format or to include seconds in the time stamp, see Document Options - Text dialog box.
• Symbol. Choose this menu item to display the Symbol Selection dialog box, where you can see all the characters in the current font. When you select the item, it will be inserted into the current text block.
• Value Number • Controller Number • Pass Number. Choose from these commands to insert the MIDI value, MIDI CC, or pass number specified in the Playback tab in a text expression.