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To open files from earlier versions of Finale or other MakeMusic products

From the File menu (or the Launch Window), choose Open. Navigate to the file. Double-click on the file. Finale opens and converts the older version’s document with a different name than the original file, keeping the older document as a backup. If you want to save the file using the same name, choose Save As from the File menu. For conversion issues, see below:

From Finale 2004 or earlier:

From Finale 2003 or earlier:

From Finale 2002 or earlier:

From Finale 2001 or earlier:

From Finale 98 or earlier:

From Finale 3.7 or earlier:

When converting text blocks, Finale will convert the text so it's unique for each text block. However, if the same shape is used, Finale will not duplicate the shape. Note that in Finale 2002, both the text and the shapes (Standard Frame or Custom Frame) are unique for each text block that you create.

The fonts selected in the Fonts portion of the Document Options dialog box for Text Blocks, Staff Names and Group Names will be used when the text block, or staff or group name is first created. Changing the font in Document Options-Fonts will no longer change the font used for all staff names in your document; nor will it change the first font used for text blocks in your document. To change a font, you must change the font in the document for text blocks created with the Text tool, or in the Edit Text window for staff and group names.

Text blocks are positioned differently starting with Finale 3.7. If you display the Frame Attributes dialog box, for a text block created in an older version of Finale, Position from Edge of Frame will be deselected. (This option is selected for text created with the new Text tool.) If you select this option for a converted text block, you will most likely need to adjust its position on the page.

Since titles are considered text blocks, Finale calculates the position of the title from the top of the name, using the specified font. Earlier versions (before 3.7) calculated the position from the baseline of the font. When converting files, Finale adjusts the values for the positioning of the titles to maintain their previous page positioning.

Since staff names are considered text blocks, Finale calculates the position of the name from the top of the name, using the font selected at the beginning of the name. Earlier versions (before 3.7) calculated the position from the baseline of the font.

When converting files, Finale recalculates the values for the default positioning of the staff names based on the font and point size selected in the Fonts portion of the Document Options dialog box. If alternate fonts or point sizes have been set for staff names, individual positioning for those staff names will be selected. This automatic calculation of positioning values, and the selection of individual positioning for names using the non-default font and point size, will maintain the correct position of staff names in your converted files.

From Finale 3.5 or earlier:

To fix "blank" notehead connections

    1. From the Document menu, choose Document Options and select Stems. Make sure that Use Stem Connections is selected.
    2. Click the Stem Connections button.
    3. Click Create to display the Stem Connection Editor to create a new setting.
    4. Click Select to display the Symbol Selection dialog box. Select slot number 32 (the space character created by pressing the SPACEBAR), then click Select.
    5. Enter a value of 24 EVPUs in the Upstem V: text box by typing "24 e" -- this automatically enters a value of 24 EVPUs regardless of the Measurement Units setting currently in use.
    6. Click OK, then click Done, then OK. Your blank noteheads should now display properly.

From Finale 3.0 or earlier:

From Finale 2.2 or earlier:

 

 

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