Linked
Parts
Note: View the Working with parts QuickStart Video for an overview.
A Linked Part is simply a representation
of one or more score staves arranged in a part layout that walks in-step
with notation and other changes you make to the score. Although their
basic purpose is to eliminate the need to make redundant changes to the
score and part separately, their integrated nature offers many other time
and labor-saving advantages:
Note: See Parts for a step-by-step tutorial on linked parts.
- Parts
are conveniently accessible within a single project file under the Document menu
(or by pressing key commands).
- You
can open up more than one window of your document (for example, with each
document window displaying a different part) by choosing New Window from
the Window menu.
- Parts
are customizable. A part can contain any combination of staves or groups
from the score. Parts can be created at any time; while setting up your
score or after the score is complete.
- Page
Layout changes in one part, such as system margin positioning and page
reduction, can be applied to other parts. See Page layout in linked parts.
- Changes
to the music spacing can be applied to multiple parts. See Music Spacing in linked parts.
- A
single voice in a multi-voice staff can be isolated for printing (while
the linked relationship remains intact). See Part Voicing.
- Linked
parts can be extracted into separate documents. See Extracting parts.
- Page
Layout changes in one part, such as system margin positioning and page
reduction, can be applied to other parts. See Page layout in linked parts.
- A
single voice in a multi-voice staff can be isolated for printing (while
the linked relationship remains intact). See Part Voicing.
- Linked
parts can be printed en masse from the main project file. See Print dialog box.
- Linked
parts were designed to be as intuitive as possible while offering the
greatest degree of flexibility. For example general page text, such as
the title, composer and copyright appears on each part automatically -
although you can reposition any of these elements on each part independently
if desired. The following general principles apply for all scores containing
linked parts:
- Changes
to pitches and rhythms in the part or score always apply to the other
respectively.
- Changes to the definition of markings (e.g. changing expressions from
to 
) in the part or score always apply to the other respectively.
- A
change to the positioning or shape of any marking in the score also applies
to that marking in the part respectively (unless the link has been broken).
- Manually
repositioning or altering the shape of a marking (dragging or nudging
and expression/articulation, or altering a smart shape, etc.) in a part ‘breaks’ the positioning relationship between that part
and its corresponding score marking. The change does not apply to the
score. That marking is now orange in the part indicating it has been broken.
It is also orange in the score indicating it has been broken in at least
one part.
This applies to all “intelligently linked” items (see Linking Details for Linked Parts).
- Any broken link can be relinked.
- Changing a marking’s show/hide setting in a part breaks
only its show/hide link with the score. Changing an item’s positioning
link state does not change its show/hide link state - they are autonomous.
- Removing manual positioning does not relink a marking. In fact, removing manual positioning can break the positioning link
for an item when done in a part.
- Page
layout changes to a part do not apply to any other part unless applied
to other parts deliberately. See Page layout in linked parts.
- As
noted above, the notation between a score staff and its corresponding
part staff is always linked. In contrast, the page formatting and measure
layout is independent and (by default) based on Finale’s automatic settings.
(Although page layout changes to one part can be applied to others. See Page layout in linked parts). Expressions, text, repeat markings, smart shapes, and
several other elements (or properties of elements) are said to be “intelligently
linked,” meaning the link can be broken if desired. For these items, edits
to positioning in a part apply to that part only and not the score. Furthermore,
future positioning changes to the corresponding score element will not
apply to the part. There are many different types of markings that can
be broken, and many ways to edit them. Some markings are unique in their
relationship between the score and part. (For example, slurs should always
connect the same notes, but their shape may differ between the part and
the score.) If any property of a marking is broken, it changes color (to
orange) to indicate it is no longer (entirely) linked.
- Additionally,
by repositioning an item such as an expression in the part, you have broken
only the positioning link - any further edits to the positioning
of this expression in the score will not affect that expression in the
part. The show/hide setting remains linked. At this point, if you were
to hide this expression in the score, it would also be hidden in the part,
even though the positioning link has been broken. (After an item has been
broken it can be relinked to the score - see Relinking part items to the score.)
This paradigm is the standard for every linked part item that can be broken
unless specified otherwise in this chapter.
To find out if an element is permanently
linked, independent, or intelligently linked, see Linking Details for Linked Parts.
