Christopher Saith:
"If Coda could supply more usable default files to start with..."
The default files got much improved in Finale 2003.
They most certainly did, and I acknowledged that, and we discussed it somewhat on the List. There is definite room for improvement still. Don't get me wrong, Finale is the single biggest improvement in my productivity since I learned how to play piano, but I have to teach it now, and there are some frustrating aspects to the program "out of the box". Improving those I think would greatly help Finale's marketability to schools.
"For example, almost everything in Sibelius plays back out correctly of the box. To set up Finale so that everything plays back in the same way is a week's work."
I'm not sure I follow. Could you be a bit more specific?
Scores created with the Setup Wizard don't use instrument assignments that work on our school computers. I don't know the reason for this, as I am a Mac type and can't delve into the inner workings of PCs. I have long since edited the one I use at home on my Mac, a few items at a time, (and have failed with the drum staves, I can't get 2003 to do things that worked OK in 2002. I'm sure it's pilot error, but I don't have time to muddle it out.)
Jazz chords are a complete mess. There was a much-improved library included in recent versions, but there are still many missing symbols and non-standard configurations, and to match these default ones, I have to make EVERY element a different font and point size, and manually adjust every one!
In the JazzCord font there are many non-standard chord symbols, many others are missing (and I'm sure you are aware how fussy the chord suffix editor is with the JazzFont, and no magnification available in the edit window! Argh!) and they play back very oddly. Type Into Score doesn't work in the same way with the JazzCord suffixes, unless you create new ones with individual elements (like the new library), which is a huge pain. Rich Sigler seems to be the one responsible, but he doesn't respond to emails, and doesn't seem to want to alter anything about the font at all. Darcy Argue and jef chippewa made a version of the JazzCord font that contains some more usable symbols (like smaller alterations and taller parentheses) but that means that ALL my students have to find that special font to get my chord suffixes to appear correctly.
Once again, I have altered MY chords, more or less to my liking, but am still making changes, and when I ask my students to spell altered dominants with a b13 instead of a #5, they find it very hard to do easily.
BTW, I asked all of you for input into this area last year...While I got a few good suggestions, I mostly got flamed. ;-)
I would like to make some suggestions, but I don't even KNOW everything I have altered in my JAzzFont default file over the years. I know I have (notably)
increased line thicknesses to .014 inches from .008 (in many different dialogue boxes! and I always seem to miss some),
altered the height and placement of repeat boxes,
removed the C) time sig abbreviation and replaced it with the C without the curved slash, because the slash collides with the first note,
I have increased the size of the numerals in the time signature,
I have changed articulation default placements (many!),
I have edited Slash Notation and Rhyhtmic Notation to let notes and attached items in other layers show (ESSENTIAL!),
I have changed numerous default fonts, mostly because JazzText is so illegible at small sizes,
I have changed the default placement of measure numbers to BELOW the staff (standard in jazz and show music)
I have increased the size of the boxed rehearsal letters by a couple of points,
I have altered the Drum Map to automatically show cymbals as X heads, and not as circled X heads, while the half note X head is corrected to be a diamond,
I have changed the margins in Part Extraction page size so that the left margin is the same size as the right (why is it 1 inch when all others are a half-inch?),
I have turned off Space Systems Evenly, which ALWAYS looks weirder than not using it,
I have added Custom Smart Shape lines which included Fill..... Even..... Double X Feel..... Swing..... Solo......, (Great new feature, by the way!)
I have removed the Gliss text from the glissando marking,
I have added MANY text espression that are commonly used and difficult to create in JazzText with the enclosures (but I haven't had time to make them all play back correctly!) including DS, DC, To Coda, and the associated signs (which move around incomprehensibly when I use the ones in the Repeat Tool)
Whew.
That's a start. I'll get back to you when I find some others.
The two biggest problems I deal with the most with my students (after altering the default file) are:
1) getting them to use the right tool to get text into the score. The Text Tool, the expression tool, the repeat tool, the chord tool, the lyric tool, they find them all very confusing, especially the expression tool. I love it (especially the context-sensitive staff or measure attachement option and the staff lists) but they find it hard to deal with. The only thing <I> would like is the ability to use my staff lists with Metatools.
2) Attaching two chords to a measure that only has a whole note. Going through the layers, and hiding items, and correcting the Blank Notation to let items attached to hidden notes show, is an enormous burden to newbies. Is there any reason why chords HAVE to be attached to items in the measure? Why can't they just be attached to beats? This would make life SO much easier, you can't imagine. It takes me as long to show them how to do this as it does to show Speedy Entry complete.
Thanks for asking.
Christopher _______________________________________________ Finale mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://mail.shsu.edu/mailman/listinfo/finale
