Finale has the ability to import files created in Score, a notation program created by the San Andreas Press. Like importing Encore and Rhapsody files, the simpler the Score file, the fewer conversion issues you will have. If your file is more involved, it will take more time to convert and you may have more conversion issues. Though you can batch-open as many Score files as you like, it is recommended to limit batch conversion to twenty. If you choose to open twenty or more files at once, you will see the following warning:
Click Yes to continue with conversion or No to dismiss the dialog box. For more information on importing Score files, see To import Score files.
After importing one or several Score files, Finale will generate a list of changed or lost data you can use as a guide to make corrections in the resulting Finale document. This list will be saved as a text file to the Finale folder with the extension *.log. The name as the log file will be the same as the imported Score file.
Here are some known issues specific to documents converted from Score files and how to resolve them in Finale.
Note Durations
Finale will read the precise note durations as they were entered in the Score file. Finale will not evaluate beam extensions and other figures that change the visual representation of the note duration in the Score file. See Simple Entry or Speedy Entry for information on editing note durations.
Layers
You may find the converted file contains notes in several layers. See Document Options-Layers, Simple Entry and Speedy Entry for information regarding layers and how to edit notes in different layers.
Optimized Systems
While importing multiple files, instruments that return after being optimized out can appear on the wrong staff. To avoid this problem, import the Score files individually.
Slurs
You may find slurs across system breaks do not import properly, or at all. To add or edit slurs, use the Slur Smart Shape. See Slurs.
Tuplets
Sometimes, tuplets brackets and definitions will be lost or changed in Score conversion. Use the Tuplet Tool to edit or create tuplet definitions. See Tuplets.
Beaming
You may find beaming problems in the generated Finale document. These include missing beams over rests, missing secondary beam breaks and vertical placement of beams in cross-staff notation. To edit beaming, use the appropriate tool in the Special Tools Palette. See Special Tools Tool.
Chord Fretboards
Finale will not convert fretboard diagrams from a score file. Enter fretboards to your score with the Chord Tool. See Fretboard diagrams.
Clefs
Finale will not import forced clefs (clefs that appear after an identical clef without a clef change in between). To add a forced clef, click the Clef Tool and click the measure to open the Change Clef dialog box. Choose the clef, select Always in the Show Clef section, and click OK. For more information, see Change Clef dialog box.
Hairpins
Hairpins may import off the right side of the page or simply misplaced. To edit hairpins, use the SmartShape Tool. See Smart Shape Tool.
Cross-Staff Notation
Cross-staff notation may not import properly into Finale from a Score document. To easily create cross-staff notation, use the Cross Staff plug-in. Or, you can use the NoteMover and Special Tools Tool manually create cross-staff notation. See Cross-staff notes for more information.
Articulations
You may find some misplaced and colliding articulations in the imported Score file. For information on editing articulations, see Articulation Tool.
Staff Names
Sometimes, staff names can import as text blocks. Create and edit staff names with the Staff Tool. See Staff Attributes dialog box.
Time Signatures
To add missing or remove extra cautionary time signatures see Document Options-Time Signatures. Composite time signatures also may not import properly (specifically, if p12=1 in the original Score document, Finale interprets the time signature as not being composite and ignores p8 and p9). Use the Time Signature Tool to edit any incorrect time signature definitions. See Time Signature Tool.
Key Signatures
Nonstandard key signatures will not import from a Score file. For information on creating nonstandard key signatures, see Nonstandard key signatures.
Text
Text enclosures will not import from a Score file. For information on adding enclosures to a text block, see Custom Frame dialog box. You can also create an enclosed expression in place of the text. Make sure to use expressions for any rehearsal letter/number indications. See Expression Designer dialog box.
Expressions
Expressions sometimes collide with notes and articulations in imported Score files. Use the Expression Tool to edit the positioning of Expressions. See Expressions.
Repeats
You may find that some repeat barlines extend over extra staves after Score conversion. Use Break Repeat Barlines Between Staves in the Staff Attributes dialog box to fix this problem in your score. You may also find the repeat text is too small. You can edit the size of repeat text in the Repeat Selection dialog box.
Trills
Trills with alterations (sharp, flat or natural) appear as regular (unmarked) trills after Score conversion. You can choose the appropriate trill figure in the Smart Line Selection dialog box.
Tremolos
Unbeamed tremolos import as full note values. For example, a two-half note tremolo should take up two beats, but it takes up four after conversion. For information on entering tremolos, see Easy Tremolos Plug-in.
Blank Pages
If one of the score files in a group does not contain any music, Finale will ignore the blank page. Use the Page Layout Tool to enter blank pages after importing score files. See Insert Blank Pages dialog box.
Page Order
If you let Finale choose the file order, there is a chance the page order will not be correct. If this is the case, choose to Specify the File Order in the Import Score File Options dialog box while importing multiple Score files.
Fonts
In the converted Finale file, text may appear in the default system font instead of the font specified in the Score file. To change any font, from the Document Menu, choose Data Check, then Font Utilities. See Font Utilities dialog box.
