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Attention Mac Users
Apple will release macOS 15 (Sequoia) on Monday, September 16, 2024.
Finale v27 is not compatible with Sequoia and will not be updated.

For more information:
macOS 15 Sequoia and Finale Notation Products
Disabling Automatic macOS Updates

Contents

 

Exporting Individual Finale Project Files To MusicXML

MusicXML is a standard open format for exchanging digital sheet music. MusicXML provides a solution for tasks such as publishing interactive musical scores on the Internet and collaborating with other musicians who use different music applications. With the announced sunset of MakeMusic's supported notation products (Finale, PrintMusic, and NotePad), it will be vital to export your Finale project files (.musx and .mus) into the MusicXML file format (.mxl, .musicxml and .xml) so you can continue to access your work in other music notation applications. To export a Finale project file into MusicXML, follow the steps below:

  1. Select File > Export > MusicXML. A Finder (Mac) or a File Explorer window (Windows) appears.
  2. Select a name and a destination for the MusicXML file that you can remember and click Save.  

Note: Like any file, MusicXML files are prone to corruption over time. Our team recommends that you save your files in multiple locations to avoid losing work.

Exporting Multiple Finale Project Files To MusicXML Using The Export Submenu (Finale v25, v26, and v27)

 

Newer versions of Finale allow users to batch export Finale project files (.musx and .mus) into MusicXML files using the Export submenu. To batch export your Finale project files using Finale’s Export submenu follow the steps below:

*Note: this process will not alter, erase, or otherwise affect the current versions of your Finale documents; this will create new instances of all documents

  1. Move the Finale project files you wish to convert (.musx and .mus) to a single folder.
    • If you Finale files are organized into subfolders, then you may choose File > Export > MusicXML Preferences and select Include subfolders under Export MusicXML to include them in the conversion. For information, see this user manual entry.
  2. Launch Finale and close the Launch Window when it appears.
  3. Choose File > Export > Translate Folder to MusicXML. A Finder (Mac) or a File Explorer window (Windows) appears.
  4. Select the folder containing the Finale project files you want to convert and click OK (Windows) or Open (Mac). A dialog box appears reading This will overwrite existing MusicXML files with the same name as the Finale Files. Do you want to continue?
  5. Click Yes. A progress bar will appear showing the progress of the MusicXML exports.

Once the files have completed, the progress bar will disappear and the new MusicXML files will be available in the folder you selected in Step 4. 

 

Exporting Finale Project Files Using The Dolet Plug-in (Finale 2014 and Previous)

Versions previous to Finale 2014.5 will require the use of an additional plug-in called Dolet to convert Finale project files (.musx and .mus) to MusicXML files (.mxl, .musicxml and .xml). For more information and access to the Dolet plug-in, click the link below:

 

External Resources

Our friend and Finale Poweruser Jason Loffredo details this process and other XML particulars in this video from his series Conquering Finale:

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