Speedy menu

How to get there

Choose the Speedy Entry tool . The Speedy menu appears.

What it does

This menu contains settings that govern the music-entry operation of the Speedy Entry tool.

  • Speedy Options. Choose this command to display the Speedy Options dialog box, where you can control the size of the frame around a measure while editing with Speedy Entry. You can also determine how Finale accepts MIDI signals from your synthesizer to change durations, navigate and other commands.
  • Use MIDI Device for Input. Choose this command to enter notes in conjunction with a MIDI keyboard. When you press one of the number (rhythmic value) keys on the numeric keypad, Finale creates a rest of that value, unless you were pressing a key on the synthesizer at the time. In that case, Finale displays a note of that pitch (or a chord, if you were pressing more than one key).

    When Use MIDI Keyboard isn't selected, Finale enters a note of the specified rhythmic value when you press a number key - regardless of whether or not you were pressing a key on the synthesizer (if any). To create a rest, enter a single note of the desired rhythmic value and press BACKSPACE.

  • Playback. When this item is selected, every time you move a note up and down in Speedy Entry, you will hear the new pitch played through your MIDI device. You’ll also hear a note when you enter it without MIDI. Deselect this item to turn off playback of pitches.

    This command is linked to the Playback notes on entry option in the Simple Entry Options dialog box. If you change the selection here, it will also change in the Simple Entry tool.

  • Jump to Next Measure. When this command is selected (displays a check mark in the menu), Finale automatically moves the editing frame to the next measure as soon as there are enough notes to fill the current measure. Finale also displays the There Are Too Many Beats In This Measure dialog box immediately when you enter a note that puts the total rhythmic values in the measure over the limit allowed by the time signature.

    If this item isn't selected, Finale doesn't move the editing frame to the next measure when the current one is full; you must press the right bracket (]) key to advance to the next measure. Finale also waits until you exit the current measure before it displays the There Are Too Many Beats In This Measure dialog box.

  • Create New Measure. Choose this command to have Finale automatically create a new blank measure at the end the piece when you advance the editing frame beyond the last existing measure. In other words, if you're in the last measure of a piece and press the right bracket (]) key (or if "Jump to Next Measure" is selected and you fill the last measure to its rhythmic capacity), Finale adds a new blank measure and moves the editing frame to this new last measure.
  • Check Beaming. Choose this command to have Finale automatically beam eighth notes (and smaller notes) together as they’re created, according to the time signature. If this item isn’t selected, Finale doesn’t beam any notes together. See Time signatures for a full discussion of the ways in which the time signature affects beaming.
  • Check for Extra Notes. Choose this command to have Finale check for extra notes when you leave the measure. If you try to add too many notes to a measure, or extend the duration of an existing note beyond the maximum number of beats per measure, Finale displays the There Are Too Many Beats In This Measure dialog box when you leave the measure.

    When Check for Extra Notes is not selected, you can enter as many notes as you'd like in a measure, and Finale does not display the There Are Too Many Beats In This Measure dialog box. Any extra notes you enter will extend past the barline of the measure, unless you choose Position Notes Evenly Across Measure in the Measure Attributes dialog box.

  • Use Five Line Staff. Choose this command to display the standard five line staff in the editing frame even if the staff uses a different number of lines.

    If this item isn't selected, Finale displays the number of lines defined for the staff. For example, if you had a single line tablature or percussion staff, Finale would display only one staff line in the editing frame.

  • Edit TAB as Standard Notation. Choose this command to display the notes instead of fret numbers in the editing frame. This command only affects tablature staves.

    If this item isn't checked, Finale displays the fret numbers in the editing frame.

  • Noteman says: Remember to turn off this mode, by selecting the item again, when you’re done inserting.

  • Insert Notes or Rests. Choose this command to insert the note or rest to the left of the cursor. If Use MIDI Device for Input is selected and you are holding down a key on your MIDI keyboard, you will insert a note. Otherwise, you will insert a rest.

    If Use MIDI Device for Input is not selected, press CTRL+SHIFT+number (using the keyboard, not the number pad) representing the rest duration you are inserting. To toggle this insert mode on or off, press INSERT or SHIFT+0 (zero) on the number keypad.

  • Speedy Edit Commands. Use this submenu to edit the selected entry. See Speedy Edit Commands submenu.
  • Speedy Navigation. Use this submenu to move between notes and rests in your score. See Speedy Navigation submenu.
  • Tie Direction. Use this submenu to set the direction of the tie for the currently selected note. See Tie Direction submenu.

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