Kim,
I guess I'll dip my oar in this stream.
I have a Finale document that I'm finally happy with. The score and
parts look fine.
The parts were troublesome and very time consuming Let's call that
"File A.". My question is this: can I somehow get the layout from
"File A" to my new file "File B."
It's not clear to me whether the "new" file B is a brand new file, or if
it is just a different pre-existing file.
If it is a brand new file, what I do is to open a new copy of the file,
[NB: what follows assumes 2k7; but the same features are present as back
as Fin 2k, though they may be in different places than specified here.]
under "edit", I choose "select all", and under the Mass mover tool, I
select "clear everything. I then select the staff tool, and clear all
staff and group names; and then the text tool, and clear all text
blocks, and then the lyrics tool and clear all lyrics. Also, if you
have designed custom shapes you are certain you will not want to use
generally, navigate to the shape library, and remove shapes you will not
use again. You might wish to not clear staff and group names, but be
careful, as it is possible (if I remember correctly) to remove a staff
name or group name with the text tool, and this used to cause unexpected
behavior. If the new score is for a dramatically different ensemble than
the earlier one, say the first was a string orchestra, and the second a
woodwind choir, you may want to prune the expression and articulation
libraries at this point, too. At this point, you should have a file
which contains the staves spaced as you want them, and the other
libraries set as you wish. Save this as a Finale Template.
Now, when you wish to use this set of spacings (and line thicknesses,
and other global spacings and preferences, they are there when you load
the template.
It is a bit more of a challenge if you are working with an existing
document; but I find it faster for stave layout, to open File A, and
File B, both in page or scroll view, and select the staff tool in both,
and use the "Staff usage" entry to manually type in the global values
for staff spacing, and in those places where the spacing needs different
values, such as on the first page, to highlight the handle of the
relevant system, and use "staff usage: to adjust those, too.
I have just about totally given up on using the score set-up wizard.
Too many of the things I do do not use the defaults, and once a template
is created, it is almost as easy to create from a template as it is from
the SSW. About the only time I use the score set-up wizard at the
moment is to check the preprogrammed transpositions built into Finale
for particular instruments.
YMMV
ns
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