Working with templates

It’s a good idea to build a score configuration exactly one time and to save that configuration as a template, with no music in it, so that you can open it the next time you need a similar system setup. Or, as an alternative to using templates, you can save a custom ensemble in the Setup Wizard; this allows you to choose a different Document Style whenever you start a new file using your custom ensemble.

When you open a template document, Finale opens the last two pages of the Setup Wizard where you can customize the template’s title, composer, time signature, key signature, and other settings. Upon finishing the Wizard, Finale opens a new untitled document based on your settings (so you don’t accidentally change the original). You’ll find more than 30 different kinds of blank scores (piano-vocal scores, choral setups, chamber orchestra scores, and so on.) Each of these templates, like the Maestro Font Default file, has a selection of libraries already loaded. These include the Chord Suffix, Articulations, Shape Expressions, Text Expressions, Text Repeats, Allotments (medium), Quarter Tone, and Executable Shapes libraries. Each has also been defined to have sequential measure numbers, page numbers, and a sample title. Staves for the transposing instruments (e.g., clarinets, horns) have been set up to transpose automatically (see Transposing instruments).

To preserve a blank original template while opening a duplicate to work on

1. From the File menu, choose New, then Document from Template. The Open dialog box appears, allowing you to choose a template folder, then document.
2. Double-click the template you want to open and finish the Setup Wizard. When the document comes to the screen, it’s called Untitled. This technique achieves the same result as the Save As technique: It preserves the original template for future use, and brings an untitled copy to the screen.

Saving new templates

Open any document and make the desired settings. For example, if you plan to compose a multi-movement flute piece, you might add some flute staves and create a flute quintet template. When you’ve set up your score, from the File menu, choose Save. Then, from the Files of Type drop-down list, choose Finale Template File *.FTMX. Name the file whatever you wish and save it to a memorable location, such as the Finale 2014/Music Files/Templates folder (which opens automatically when you choose File > New > Document From Template). Note that you can save the .FTMX file anywhere, and anytime you open it, Finale will create a duplicate copy and leave the original template alone.

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