Finale libraries

Noteman says: Once a library has been loaded, its settings become part of the active document. In other words, the document does not rely on any external files: all settings are contained in the document itself.

1. Choose File > Load Library. The Open/Save File dialog box appears.

   You can also click Load Library in the Document Options dialog box.

2. Choose the library you want to load and click Open. The library's contents are added to the document.

   For example, if you load a chord suffix library, the chord suffixes are added to the Chord Suffix Selection dialog box, following any existing suffixes.

You can save all the settings configured in the Document Options dialog box in a library file, and then load the library file in another document.

1. Open a document containing the desired Document Options. Or, open a new document if you want to define the settings manually.
2. Choose Document > Document Options. The Document Options dialog box appears. Ensure the options are set up as desired. If you make any changes, click the Apply button.
3. Click the Save Library button. The Save Library dialog box appears. Document Options is selected automatically.
4. Click OK. Name the file and save it as “Custom Document Options” or another personalized name.

   You are prompted to save the file in the Finale 26/Libraries folder. See Finale Installation Details for specific folder locations on your computer. Do not replace the file “Document Options.LIB” which contains Finale’s Default settings unless you do not care to keep these settings readily available.

5. Open the destination document. You will be moving the settings to this document.
6. Choose Document > Document Options and click the Load Library button. When Finale warns you that all current settings will be reset, click Yes. The Load Library dialog box appears.
7. Choose the Document Options library you want to use and click Open. Choose the one you saved earlier to apply those settings. All of the parameters in the Document Options dialog box update to the library file’s settings.

To have more control over transporting and applying many settings, including Document Options, page format, and layout, use the FinaleScript plug-in. If there is a “house style” you need to apply to multiple documents, this is the method to use. Finale includes several preset scripts that allow you to transport these settings.

Tip: For a complete tutorial written for beginners through advanced users, see Using FinaleScript.

1. Move the source and destination files into the same folder. FinaleScript is capable of processing any number of files in a folder. All files in this folder will be processed.
2. Open the document containing the settings you want to transfer.
3. Choose Plug-ins > FinaleScript > FinaleScript Palette. The FinaleScript palette appears.
4. Scroll down and double-click Import House Style. The FinaleScript Editor dialog box appears. Here you can view and edit the commands. It is already set up to copy Document Options and Page Format (for score) from the active document and paste to all documents in the same folder.
5. Make any desired changes and click Save and Close. You return to the FinaleScript Palette.
6. Click the Play button in the FinaleScript palette. FinaleScript processes each document in the folder and applies settings from the source document. The source document is left unchanged.

This library contains a selection of single-character articulation marks that describe how a single note is to be played. Place them into the score with the Articulation tool .

Includes both text and shape expressions in a variety of categories.

This library contains a selection of text repeats—indications such as “D.S. al Coda” that are fully functional for playback. See Repeats (barlines and text indications) for a more complete discussion. The text repeats in this library are as follows:

• D.C. al Fine
• D.C. al Coda
• D.S. al Fine
• D.S. al Coda
• To Coda #
• Fine
• (coda)
• (segno)
• Go To Measure #

The number sign (#), when it appears in a text repeat, represents a temporary “stand-in” for some variable. For example, if you place the “To Coda #” marking in the score, Finale automatically substitutes the text of the target (“Mark” type) text repeat for the number sign, e.g. “To Coda ". If you place the “Go to Measure #” marking into the score, Finale replaces the number sign with the measure number to which you direct this marking’s playback, e.g. “Go to Measure 44".

These libraries contain the most commonly used chord suffixes and fretboards in the specified font. They also contain additional learned chords with an alternate bass note, such as F/G, Dmin/G, and Dmin7/G in the key of C.

Font	Example
Arial
Broadway Copyist
Finale Copyist
Jazz Text
JazzCord
Times

These libraries contain an expanded set of suffixes and multiple fretboards per suffix in the specified font.

This library provides a simple starting place for entering figured bass into your document using the Finale Numerics font. See Figured bass.

This library contains four fretboard styles, which define how Finale draws custom fretboard elements. The first three fretboard styles are the classic style (4, 5 & 6 frets); the last was created with Jazz Font characters for a hand-produced look.

These libraries contain Arial chord suffixes in a 14pt font that appear more substantial than the standard Arial chord suffixes.

These libraries contain common slash chords in the specified font; they do not add additional suffixes.

This library contains eighteen standard clefs.

This library contains the default font settings as found in Document Options - Fonts.

This library includes all the settings that are saved with your document, such as those in the Document Options dialog box and the Playback Controls.

This library contains the default Multimeasure Rest symbol.

This library contains default settings for the Page Format for Score dialog box and Page Format for Parts dialog box.

This library contains a basic selection of Staff Styles for use with the Staff tool.

Staff Style	Example
Slash Notation
Rhythmic Notation
Blank Notation: Layer 1
Blank Notation: Layer 4
Blank Notation: All Layers
Normal Notation
One-Bar Repeat
Two-Bar Repeat
Standard 5-line Staff
1-line Staff: Full Barline
1-line Staff: Short Barline
Force Hide Staff (Cutaway)
Hide Staff (and Collapse)
Note Shapes
Stemless Notes
Lyrics and Chords Only
X-Noteheads
Blank Notation with Rests: Layer 1
Blank Notation with Rests: Layer 4

This library includes percussion note stem connections for multiple fonts, which are accessible in the Stem Connections dialog box via the Document Options - Stems dialog box. For instructions on using this stem connections, see Percussion: to adjust stem connections on noteheads.

This library, similar to the Maestro Articulation Library, has a number of Engraver symbols to be used for articulations. They are already adjusted to take advantage of Finale’s positioning settings.

The expressions in this library are the same as the usual dynamics, except they are set to Above Staff instead of Below Staff.

This library contains text expressions using the Engraver Font. Expressions such as dynamics and tempo indications are included.

This library contains a selection of text repeats—indications such as “D.S. al Coda” that are fully functional for playback. See Repeats (barlines and text indications) for a more complete discussion. The text repeats in this library are as follows:

• D.C. al Fine
• D.C. al Coda
• D.S. al Fine
• D.S. al Coda
• To Coda #
• Fine
• (coda)
• (segno)
• Go To Measure #

The number sign (#), when it appears in a text repeat, represents a temporary “stand-in” for some variable. For example, if you place the “To Coda #” marking in the score, Finale automatically substitutes the text of the target (“Mark” type) text repeat for the number sign, e.g. “To Coda ". If you place the “Go to Measure #” marking into the score, Finale replaces the number sign with the measure number to which you direct this marking’s playback, e.g. “Go to Measure 44".

This is the articulation library to be used with the Jazz Font. It contains items such as staccatos, accents, falls, and glissandi.

The expressions in this library are the same as the usual dynamics, except they are set to Above Staff instead of Below Staff.

This library contains eighteen jazz clefs.

This library contains the default font settings for the Jazz font, as found in the Document Options - Fonts.

This library changes items in the Document Options dialog box and the Playback Controls that are appropriate for use in the Jazz font, especially the alignment of notes with their stems and flags.

This library contains text expressions (dynamic markings, etc.) for the Jazz Font.

This library contains a multimeasure rest shape expression.

This library includes bracketed text expressions for brass mutes, listed in the Technique Text category.

This library contains text expression rehearsal letters from A-Z, all of which are enclosed in a box.

This library contains a basic selection of jazz Staff Styles.

This library contains text expression tempo indications in the Jazz font.

This library contains a selection of text repeats—indications such as “D.S. al Coda” that are fully functional for playback. See Repeats (barlines and text indications) for a more complete discussion. The text repeats in this library are contained in brackets and are as follows:

• D.C. al Fine
• D.C. al Coda
• D.S. al Fine
• D.S. al Coda
• To Coda # (unbracketed)
• Fine
• (coda)
• (segno)
• Fine (unbracketed)
• (coda, unbracketed)
• (segno, unbracketed)

The number sign (#), when it appears in a text repeat, represents a temporary “stand-in” for some variable. For example, if you place the “To Coda #” marking in the score, Finale automatically substitutes the text of the target (“Mark” type) text repeat for the number sign, e.g. “To Coda ". If you place the “Go to Measure #” marking into the score, Finale replaces the number sign with the measure number to which you direct this marking’s playback, e.g. “Go to Measure 44".

This library contains a selection of single-character articulation marks that describe how a single note is to be played.

The expressions in this library are the same as the usual dynamics, except they are set to Above Staff instead of Below Staff.

This library includes a number of expression and dynamic markings, many of which have been defined for playback. Each has also been defined for positioning. The dynamics always appear in Maestro music font, and the other expression markings appear in the Times New Roman italic font. This library also contains some sample rehearsal letters.

This library contains a selection of text repeats—indications such as “D.S. al Coda” that are fully functional for playback. See Repeats (barlines and text indications) for a more complete discussion. The text repeats in this library are as follows:

• D.C. al Fine
• D.C. al Coda
• D.S. al Fine
• D.S. al Coda
• To Coda #
• Fine
• (coda)
• (segno)
• Go To Measure #

The number sign (#), when it appears in a text repeat, represents a temporary “stand-in” for some variable. For example, if you place the “To Coda #” marking in the score, Finale automatically substitutes the text of the target (“Mark” type) text repeat for the number sign, e.g. “To Coda ". If you place the “Go to Measure #” marking into the score, Finale replaces the number sign with the measure number to which you direct this marking’s playback, e.g. “Go to Measure 44".

This is a Shape Expression Library containing the two parts of a harp pedal diagram, the “skeleton” and the “pedals”. For full instructions on placing and using this diagram, see Harp pedal diagrams.

This library includes a wide variety of full and abbreviated text expressions in the Expressive Text category, organized alphabetically.

This is a single Text Expression in a library by itself. It consists of the words “pitch bend,” and has been defined to produce a single pitch bend. This pitch bend lasts for one quarter note. It moves the pitch wheel from its “at rest” position all the way to the top of its range of movement, then back down to its “at rest” position. For a full description of pitch wheel usage in Finale—including instructions for the creation of this particular pitch bend expression—see Pitch wheel.

This library contains a single key signature— namely, the key signature for a quarter-tone key system, where there are three chromatic steps between two diatonic steps (instead of a single step). If you set your piece in this key signature, bear in mind that one key on your MIDI keyboard corresponds to one chromatic step in the music. In other words, you won’t be able to play normally and still get an accurate transcription of your playing, because—for example—the C# key on your MIDI keyboard will correspond to a C-quarter sharp on the screen. See Nonstandard key signatures for more information.

This library contains a collection of text expressions that are predefined for SmartMusic Markers that can be added to the score to specify repeats, rehearsal marks, pauses, and other indications while creating a file intended to be saved as a SmartMusic Accompaniment. See SmartMusic® for details.

This library includes a wide variety of full and abbreviated text expressions in the Technique Text category, organized alphabetically.

This library is identical to the Fibonacci Spacing library, except the dots have been edited.

This library contains Fibonacci spacing widths, which is the default ratio of about 1 to 1.6. In other words, a quarter note will take up 1.6 times the space of an eighth note. For more information, see Document Options - Music Spacing dialog box.

This library contains spacing widths which are relatively wide. For more information, see Document Options - Music Spacing dialog box.

This library contains spacing widths that fall between loose and tight spacings. For more information, see Document Options - Music Spacing dialog box.

This library contains spacing widths which are relatively compact. For more information, see Document Options - Music Spacing dialog box.

This library contains a selection of single-character articulation marks that describe how a single note is to be played.

The expressions in this library are the same as the usual dynamics, except they are set to Above Staff instead of Below Staff.

This library includes a number of expression and dynamic markings, many of which have been defined for playback. Each has also been defined for positioning. The dynamics always appear in Petrucci music font, and the other expression markings appear in the Times New Roman italic font. This library also contains some sample rehearsal letters.

This library contains a selection of text repeats—indications such as “D.S. al Coda” that are fully functional for playback. See Repeats (barlines and text indications) for a more complete discussion. The text repeats in this library are as follows:

• D.C. al Fine
• D.C. al Coda
• D.S. al Fine
• D.S. al Coda
• To Coda #
• Fine
• (coda)
• (segno)
• Go To Measure #

The number sign (#), when it appears in a text repeat, represents a temporary “stand-in” for some variable. For example, if you place the “To Coda #” marking in the score, Finale automatically substitutes the text of the target (“Mark” type) text repeat for the number sign, e.g. “To Coda ". If you place the “Go to Measure #” marking into the score, Finale replaces the number sign with the measure number to which you direct this marking’s playback, e.g. “Go to Measure 44".

This library contains shapes to be used for articulations. You can create shapes to be used as articulations using the Shape Designer.

This library contains six predefined Executable Shapes, which can be used in the playback definitions for expressions. Each affects the specified playback parameter by 26 units. That is, if you construct an accel. marking based on one of these Executable Shapes, the marking will produce a tempo increase of 26 beats per minute. For full instructions, see To define an expression for playback. In the Executable Shape Selection dialog box, each of these shapes has three pairs of sloping lines. In each pair, the first shape produces an increase in the specified playback variable, and the second produces a corresponding decrease. The only difference between the three pairs is the amount of music affected by each: the change produced by the three pairs lasts for eight, four, and sixteen eighth notes, respectively.

This library includes four arrowhead shapes for piano pedaling, accessible in the Custom Arrowhead Selection dialog box via the Smart Line Designer dialog box. For more information, see Pedal markings.

This library contains a selection of shape expressions. While it does contain several phrase markings and hairpins (crescendo markings), remember that it’s far easier to create phrase markings and hairpins using the Smart Shape tool. The sole advantage to using these crescendo hairpins is that they have been defined for playback; they produce a volume change (key velocity) of 26 units in the time of a whole note. This library also contains a glissando line and tremolo marking, as described in Glissandos and Tremolos, respectively.

This library includes two additional styles for tablature staff clefs. To view them, in the Document Options - Clefs dialog box, click Clef Designer to display the Clef Designer dialog box. Choose Shape and click Select. The additional clefs will be the last entries in the Shape Selection dialog box.

This library contains a selection of single-character guitar-specific articulation marks that describe how a single note is to be played.

This library contains a selection of single-character lute-specific articulation marks that describe how a single note is to be played.

This library contains a number of shape expressions in the Miscellaneous category that are specific to lute notation.

This library contains a selection of single-character articulation marks in the Jazz font that describe how a single note is to be played.

This library adds two staff styles to a document: Stems Down Attached to Notes in TAB and Stems Up Attached to Notes in TAB.