There are several time-saving options when you work frequently with common document settings:
- Document Styles and ensembles. While you can create any kind of document using the Setup Wizard, you can make this process even faster by using a document style, which includes many different settings that you don't have to configure after a document is created. Additionally, if there is an instrumentation that you use frequently, you can reuse those instruments using an ensemble in the Setup Wizard. Finale includes several predefined Document Styles and ensembles.
- Templates. Templates are useful for situations that are not easily created through the Setup Wizard; for example, a certain musical genre may use specialized notational conventions, such as a 2-staff choral work combining Soprano/Alto and Tenor/Bass in staff names. Templates include document settings, existing elements like text blocks, and a specific instrumentation. Finale includes a number of preset templates organized into genre categories.
- Libraries. In cases where you only want to share certain document options and settings with other documents, use a library. You can specify exactly which elements from your existing document will be saved in a separate library file, which can then be imported into any document. Finale includes a wide variety of libraries for many different situations and many different fonts.
Finale also includes a Default document that can be edited. This document is only used in two very specific situations: when choosing File > New > Default Document and when importing a MusicXML file.
Document Styles
In Finale, you can reuse all document settings from any existing document by designating it as it as a Document StyleA Document Style is a model document with settings that can be inherited by new scores created with the Setup Wizard. Document Styles differ from templates in that you still need to specify which instruments appear in your score; you can also associate a Document Style with a particular Setup Wizard ensemble so that it is always used for that ensemble. Like templates, Document Styles can use the Finale Template File extension, .FTMX, or they can be regular MUSX files.. A Document Style is basically a model document with settings that can be duplicated while designing a new score in the Setup Wizard. When you designate a file as a Document Style, you are telling Finale you would like to use its articulations, expressions, fonts, Score Lists, staff styles, page layout and all other document options and libraries alongside the instrumentation and other settings you specify in the Setup Wizard. For a list of all document-specific settings, see Document Settings and Program Settings.
To use an existing Document Style
- Choose File > New > Document with Setup Wizard. The first page of the Setup Wizard appears.
- If you would like to begin with a preset ensemble, select it in the Select an Ensemble list box. Choose Create New Ensemble to design the instrumentation from scratch when you advance to the next page. The next page of the Setup Wizard also allows you to edit the ensemble chosen here and to save new custom ensembles.
- Choose the desired Document Style from the Select a Document Style list box. Note that an * (asterisk) appears next to the Document Style assigned to the ensemble you have selected. You can change an ensemble's default Document Style by selecting a different Document Style and clicking the Always Use This Document Style with This Ensemble button.
The Document Styles listed here include all files that appear in the Document Styles folder on your hard drive (see Finale Installation Details for specific folder locations on your computer). Finale already includes a variety of Document Styles to choose from. To create a customized Document Style, see "To create a Document Style" below.
- Complete the Setup Wizard. The new document opens based on your settings.
Once opened, a description of each document style included with Finale can be found in File Info (Score Manager). Here, you can reference the Document Style's libraries, text inserts, staff spacing, cover pages, and other distinctive settings. When you edit one of Finale's Document Styles you can log your changes here for future reference.
To create a Document Style
- Open a document that most closely matches the desired document settings. For example, you might use the Setup Wizard to begin with an existing Document Style or one provided with Finale. To begin with an empty document, choose File > New > Document Without Libraries.
If a file with music is used as a Document Style, the Setup Wizard strips out all of the musical information including staves and entries before generating the new document. Page-attached text and graphics, however, are retained as part of the Document Style.
- Load libraries and change any document-specific settings as desired (see Finale Libraries and Document Settings and Program Settings).
- Save the file in the Document Styles folder (see Finale Installation Details).
Ensembles
You can define a custom ensemble that can be selected whenever you begin a new score with the Setup Wizard. You might use this feature if, for example, you regularly compose for an ensemble that uses a unique instrumentation.
To create a document using an ensemble
- Choose File > New > Document with Setup Wizard. The first page of the Setup Wizard appears.
- Choose your custom Ensemble from the "Select an Ensemble" list.
- Click Next. The instrumentation of your custom Ensemble appears in the right column.
- Complete the Setup Wizard. The new document opens with your custom Ensemble's instrumentation.
To create a custom ensemble
- Choose File > New > Document with Setup Wizard. The first page of the Setup Wizard appears.
- Click Next. The "Add or Delete Instruments" page appears.
- Add the desired instruments and choose the score order.
- Click the Save as New Ensemble button. The Save Ensemble dialog box appears.
- Name the Ensemble and click OK.
- Complete the Setup Wizard. The new document opens based on your settings.
Templates
Noteman says: If you do not want the Setup Wizard to be displayed when you use a template file, deselect Display Setup Wizard When Opening a Template in the Preferences - New dialog box.
When you open a template document, Finale opens the last two pages of the Setup Wizard where you can customize the template’s title, composer, time signature, key signature, and other settings. Upon finishing the Wizard, Finale opens a new untitled document based on your settings (so you don’t accidentally change the original). You’ll find more than 30 different kinds of blank scores (piano-vocal scores, choral setups, chamber orchestra scores, and so on.) Each of these templates, like the Maestro Font Default file, has a selection of libraries already loaded. These include the Chord Suffix, Articulations, Shape Expressions, Text Expressions, Text Repeats, Allotments (medium), Quarter Tone, and Executable Shapes libraries. Each has also been defined to have sequential measure numbers, page numbers, and a sample title. Staves for the transposing instruments (e.g., clarinets, horns) have been set up to transpose automatically (see Transposing instruments).
To create a new document from an existing template
Use this simple method to preserve a blank original template while opening a duplicate to work on.
- Choose File > New > Document from Template. The Open dialog box appears, allowing you to choose a template folder, then document.
- Double-click the template you want to open and finish the Setup Wizard. When the document comes to the screen, it’s called Untitled. This technique achieves the same result as the Save As technique: it preserves the original template for future use, and brings an untitled copy to the screen.
If you do not want the new document to appear as Untitled, deselect Open templates as "Untitled" in the Preferences - Open dialog box.
To create a new blank template
- Open any document and make the desired settings. If you're using an existing document, be sure to remove any actual notes and rests from the document (but don't overwrite the original file!).
For example, if you plan to compose a multi-movement flute piece, you might add some flute staves and create a flute quintet template.
- When you’ve set up your score, choose File > Save As.
- From the Files of Type drop-down menu, choose Finale Template File (*.FTMX).
- Name the file whatever you wish and save it to a memorable location, such as the Finale 2014/Music Files/Templates folder
- Use the "To preserve a blank original template while opening a duplicate to work on" instructions above any time you want to create a document from the new template.
Libraries
If you want to save a set of document options to apply to other documents, or move document options from one document to many, you have a couple options depending on your needs. You can transport the settings in the Document Options dialog box using a Document Options library. Or, to transport a collection of settings (or “house style”) including Document Options, page format and others, to many files at once, use the FinaleScript plug-in.
For information about the diverse collection of preset libraries included with Finale, see Finale libraries.
To save and load a custom Document Options library
You can save all the settings configured in the Document Options dialog box in a library file, and then load the library file in another document.
- Open a document containing the desired Document Options. Or, open a new document if you want to define the settings manually.
- Choose Document > Document Options. The Document Options dialog box appears. Ensure the options are setup as desired. If you make any changes, click the Apply button.
- Click the Save Library button. The Save Library dialog box appears. Document Options is selected automatically.
- Click OK. Name the file and save it as “Custom Document Options” or another personalized name.
You are prompted to save the file in the Finale 2014/Libraries folder. See Finale Installation Details for specific folder locations on your computer. Do not replace the file “Document Options.LIB” which contains Finale’s Default settings unless you do not care to keep these settings readily available.
- Open the destination document. You will be moving the settings to this document.
- Choose Document > Document Options and click the Load Library button. When Finale warns you all current settings will be reset, click Yes. The Load Library dialog box appears.
- Choose the Document Options library you want to use and click Open. Choose the one you saved earlier to apply those settings. All parameters in the Document Options dialog box update to the library file’s settings.
To apply a “house style” to documents with FinaleScript
To have more control over transporting and applying many settings, including Document Options, page format, and layout, use the FinaleScript plug-in. If there is a “house style” you need to apply to multiple documents, this is the method to use. Finale includes several preset scripts that allow you to transport these settings.
Tip: For a complete tutorial written for beginners through advanced users, see Using FinaleScript.
- Move the source and destination files into the same folder. FinaleScript is capable of processing any number of files in a folder. All files in this folder will be processed.
- Open the document containing the settings you want to transfer.
- Choose Plug-ins > FinaleScript > FinaleScript Palette. The FinaleScript palette appears.
- Scroll down and double-click Import House Style. The FinaleScript Editor dialog box appears. Here you can view and edit the commands. It is already setup to copy Document Options and Page Format (for score) from the active document and paste to all documents in the same folder.
- Make any desired changes and click Save and Close. You return to the FinaleScript Palette.
- Click the Play button in the FinaleScript palette. FinaleScript processes each document in the folder and applies settings from the source document. The source document is left unchanged.
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