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Word Extensions dialog box

How to get there

Choose Document > Document Options, and then select Lyrics.
Click Word Extensions.

What it does

In this dialog box, you can adjust the behavior of Smart Word Extensions, and well as their visual appearance.

Use Smart Word Extensions. Check this box to enable Smart Word Extensions. Smart Word Extensions appear automatically as lyrics are entered in the score, and can me modified using the options in this dialog box. With this box unchecked, word extensions act as they did in Finale version 2003 and earlier.
Only create on lyrics with underscores (_). To define word extensions on certain lyrics only, check this option, and then enter an underscore (_) after typing a syllable to specify a word extension on that syllable. When this option is unchecked Finale creates word extensions automatically when appropriate as lyrics are being entered.
Minimum Length. In this text box, you can specify the minimum length for word extensions. Finale will not create a word extension automatically in the score if there is not enough space between lyrics to accommodate the length entered here.
System Break Alignment: System Start • System End. Enter a value for System Start to adjust the alignment of the start of a word extension that extends over a system with the start of the system. Enter a value for System End to adjust the alignment of the end of a word extension that extends over a system with the end of the system.
Align to Notehead: Plain Notehead • Dotted Notehead. Enter a value for Plain Notehead to specify the distance between a non-dotted note and the word extension’s end point. Enter a value for Dotted Notehead to specify the distance between a dotted note and the word extension’s end point.
Stretch to Note Duration • Offset. Choose this option to extend word extensions for the duration of the note. Enter a value for Offset to adjust the extension’s endpoint relative to the endpoint of the note duration.
Lyric Alignment: Vertical Offset from Baseline • Horizontal Offset from Syllable. Enter a value for Vertical Offset from Baseline to adjust the vertical distance between the baseline of the lyrics and the word extension. Enter a value for Horizontal Offset from Syllable to adjust the horizontal space between the end of the syllable and the beginning of the word extension.
Line Thickness. This option sets the line thickness for word extensions in your score. Enter a value for the line thickness.
OK • Cancel. Click OK (or press enter) to confirm the settings you’ve made in this dialog box and return to Document Options - Lyrics. Click Cancel to tell Finale to ignore any changes you made in this dialog box and return to Document Options-Lyrics.