Expression Tool

Expressions are markings that tell the performer how to interpret (or express) a musical passage. In Finale, expressions are generally symbols or text placed above or below the staff (see Expressions). Dynamic markings, tempo indications, expressive text, technique text, and rehearsal letters are all generally added as expressions. Expressions have the ability to adjust according to spacing changes in the music. For example, when you apply music spacing changes, expressions will move to the appropriate position in the measure. Like chords and lyrics, all expressions can be set to snap to a baseline so they are aligned at the same distance above or below the staff.

Expressions can be added to the score quickly using metatools. For information on creating and using expression Metatools, see Metatools.

Double-click above, below, or on any measure to display the Expression Selection dialog box, from which you can select an expression to place in the score at the position you clicked.
Click and drag a box around multiple staves to add an expression to those staves. The Expression Selection dialog box appears where you can choose the desired expression. Hold down a Metatool key and drag a box around multiple staves to quickly apply the expression to those staves.
Click or shift-click expression handles to select one expression. Shift-click to add an expression to your selection. Or, drag-enclose to select multiple expressions.
Drag a selected handle to move all selected expressions; press delete, or control-click the handle and select Delete from the contextual menu to remove them.
Double-click the handle of a Shape Expression to show its eight bounding handles, or its reshaping handles (for curves and single lines) use these to drag or stretch the shape. If you double-click one of these handles, or control-click the expression handle and select Edit Shape Expression Graphically from the contextual menu, the shape’s control handles appear (for single, ungrouped shapes), which you can drag to reshape the marking itself.
Press Command-A to select all expressions on the page.
Double-click an expression handle (or select the handle and press retun) to open the Expression Selection dialog box where you can edit the expression or choose a new one. In the Expression Selection dialog box, to assign a metatool, select an expression and press Shift-(number or letter). See To use an expression metatool.
Option -click an expression handle, or control-click the handle and select Edit Expression Definition from the contextual menu to display the Expression Definition dialog box where you can edit the spelling, playback definition, font, and positioning of an Expression.
Shift–double-click an expression handle, control-click the handle and select Edit Expression Assignment from the contextual menu, or select a handle and press Shift-retun to display the Expression Assignment dialog box, where you can specify several positioning parameters for the expression whose handle you clicked.
Select an expression handle and press Clear to clear manual positioning changes.
Select an expression (or multiple expressions) and double-press a metatool key to change the expression’s definition to the expression assigned to the key pressed. This is called "QuickChange."
Option-click and drag or nudge an expression to move it without changing its attachment point.
Hold down ` (tilde) and drag/nudge a master expression to move it without moving the subsequent expressions in other score staves or in the corresponding parts. The master Score List expression.
[Non-Score List expressions] Select an expression handle and press Option-Up arrow or Option-Down arrow to add the expression to the staff above or below (respectively).
[Non-Score List expressions] Select an expression handle and press Option-Home or Option-End to add the expression to all staves above or below (respectively).
[Non-Score List expressions] Select an expression handle and press Command-Option- Return to add the expression to all staves.

Contextual menus are reached by control-clicking on the handle of an object. A contextual menu will be displayed where you can select various items. They will also state whether the expression is attached to a note or a measure.

Text expression handles

Menu item	What it does
Assign to All Staves	Adds the expression to every staff
Assign to Staves	Opens the Assign to Staves dialog box, where you can choose or define an Assignment List
Edit Expression Assignment	Display the Expression Assignment dialog box
Edit Text Expression Definition	Display the Text Expression Designer dialog box
Remove Manual Adjustments	Moves expression to default positioning
Show	Check this option to show, or uncheck to hide (on the printed page)
Relink to Score (parts only)	Restore the link to its corresponding score item
Unlink In All Parts (score only)	Break the link between the score and this item in all parts
Relink In All Parts (score only)	Restore the link to all corresponding items in parts
Delete	Removes selected expression

Shape expression handles

Menu item	What it does
Edit Expression Assignment	Display the Expression Assignment dialog box
Edit Shape Expression Definition	Display the Shape Expression Designer dialog box
Edit Shape Expression Graphically	Displays bounding box handles for graphically editing the shape expression
Remove Manual Adjustments	Moves expression to default positioning
Show	Check this option to show, or uncheck to hide (on the printed page)
Relink to Score (parts only)	Restore the link to its corresponding score item
Unlink In All Parts (score only)	Break the link between the score and this item in all parts
Relink In All Parts (score only)	Restore the link to all corresponding items in parts
Delete	Removes selected expression