Finale can convert Encore 3.0 through 4.2.1 files and Rhapsody 1.0 files regardless of which platform they were created on. Finale will convert most items in your Encore file. The simpler the Encore file the less 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. More information on the items Finale will not convert, or modifies upon conversion is given in this section.
Finale will maintain the system and page placement of your Encore document, but will respace the measures in each system according to Finale’s Music Spacing. Music Spacing accounts for accidentals, clefs, seconds in different layers and spaces the notes according to engraving standards. Spacing will differ depending whether you are viewing your music in Scroll View or Page View, however, Page View represents the spacing Finale will use when printing your document. See Document Options-Music Spacing for more information.
Finale will not maintain Encore’s stem direction. Finale files will be easier to edit without freezing stems in a specific direction. Instead, Finale places stems according to music engraving standards. To change the stem direction individually use the Speedy Entry Tool (see To flip a stem). To globally change the stem direction of a layer see Document Options-Layers.
Rests
Rests are not controlled by a global Hide and Show command, but can be hidden individually. Hidden rests are converted from Encore. To show a hidden rest, or hide a note or rest, press H when in the Speedy Entry frame. See Rests (Speedy Entry).To globally change the position of rests in a layer see Document Options-Layers.
Emphasis has been placed on converting display information over MIDI information. MIDI pitch, key velocity and duration are converted, but some MIDI specific items such as MIDI patch indicators are not.
Finale supports 4 layers and 2 voices for each layer. Finale will manually convert the first four layers with notes. If you have used more than 4 layers, you must insert the additional notes using voices. Alternatively, if you do not have a large number of marks or text, you could import a MIDI file of the Encore document into Finale.
Finale places chords close to the note they are attached to. To globally change the baseline of all chord symbols, choose the Chord tool and confirm that Manual Input is checked under the Chord Menu. Four arrows will appear to the left of the staff system (if you do not see the arrows, choose the Hand Grabber tool and drag the page to the right).
Click and drag the left most arrow up. To individually change the position of a chord, choose the Chord tool and confirm that Manual Input is checked under the Chord Menu. Click on the note to which the chord is attached to display the handle, then click and drag the handle of the chord to position as desired.
Finale does not convert a reversed Dal Segno mark. However, Encore users can create a repeat using the Repeat Designer. See Repeat Designer dialog box.
Rounded rectangle graphical marks
Finale does not support a rounded rectangle graphic. These graphics will be imported as normal rectangles.
Parenthesis from Tools palette
Parenthesis are available to place around expressions, notes and accidentals using the Expression Tool for expressions, the Articulation Tool for notes, and Speedy Entry for accidentals.
Finale does not convert either type of pedal bracket marks. These marks can be created with the Smart Shape Tool.
Finale does not convert bend tools. However, you can use the Smart Shape Tool to create note-attached bends.
Slurs converted from Encore will be measure-attached slurs. Finale’s standard note-attached slurs are much easier to place, move with the notes even across systems, and allow you to easily flip slurs over and under the notes. See Slurs for more details.
Finale will convert Encore’s 3-point slurs into Finale’s Smart Shape slurs. These slurs are symmetrical. If you want your slurs to be asymmetrical see To move, reshape, or delete Smart Shape slurs.
Finale has one style of wavy line or trill. This is used in conversion regardless of the size of wavy line specified in Encore. Finale does offer a user-defined Smart Shape. See Smart Shape Palette.
Finale does not automatically convert beam that extend over barlines. To beam over barlines, use the Beam Over Barlines Plug-in.You can also manually beam over barlines using the Special Tools Tool. See Beaming across barlines.
Finale will not convert cross-staff beaming. 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.