If you own the full version of TGTools this is already possible (at least on PC - don't know about Mac).

thank you Ronald

I am using both platforms, but currently I'm asking this for a MAC setup.  thx again.

I agree. Moving expressions up and down with arrows gets old fast.

And it would also be helpful to have a way to quickly sort through all the text expressions. I have made a library of most musical expressions that runs over the window many times, even with small icons. It would be a great time saver to be able to press a alphabetic key and have the window automatically scroll to the area with expressions that begin with that letter. 

Michael,

Thank you for responding to this urgently needed updated/request for text expressions.  It is long overdue.

Now that it has a FIN-4319 number, what happens next????

Randy Klein (been with Finale since Vers Windows 1.0

Hi Randy:

We have a database of work to be done, a backlog as some say. I mentioned the specific task in these posts to assist our team with cross-referencing material. 

Thanks for your use of Finale for all these years! Delighted to see you've been using Finale since v1. 

Cheers,

Michael Johnson

VP, Professional Notation

MakeMusic

How's this coming along?

Hi Michael,

Yes, a follow-up on this is due and the sorting feature Finale text expressions is way overdue for many updates.  Please advise to the progress of this all important feature.

Best,

Randy Klein

PS:  It has been two years since my original comment on this page.  Databases are part of every program.   Why is this so difficult to do?

AFAIK Michael no longer works for MakeMusic. Perhaps David will respond.

Great!  Does anyone at MakeMusic know the status of Documented as FIN-4319.

Please advise.  Come on MM.  Get it together!

Randy Kelin

Randy,

As Michael had mentioned before we do have a database, or backlog, of features (and updates and bugs) we have documented for structure and reference as we continue to work on Finale. We are continually making progress on the program on many fronts but speaking to the state of this particular update or ongoing work in general is not something that we typically put forth publicly. 

thank you for you immediate response.

The issue of not being able to sort Text Expressions is noted.  TG Tools has a plugin to get around it on the Windows platform.  Is there anything that exists for the Mac platform using Finale. 

Thank you,

Randy

I don't think this has changed since I started using Finale in the early 90's, v 1.9.3. 

It's a drag and drop world now, so this is probably more than a patch.

David,

I understand the corporate hesitance to make any promises. But you must be aware of the distress of many long-time users at the lack of  major improvements and fixes in the last couple of updates.

Many of us are concerned for the future of the program. We may be too old (or too lazy) to jump ship to Dorico, but the writing is on the wall. Even during development, there was a constant stream of blogging and discussion about the program. Can Finale not do the same? A certain amount of transparency is almost required, these days, to keep a sense of loyalty and anticipation. 

Yes, I agree - my point was only that this particular item is likely a lot harder than it looks. Those of us who produce scores for a living, rather than audio renderings, are keeping an eye open at the Dorico snowball, and its promising layout UI. It will be a new ballgame if they can deliver, and with Steinberg funding the discarded Sibelius bunch, there is a lot of motivation behind that project. 

David (Maurand),

Actually, my comment was directed at David Cusick! There is a lot to admire in Dorico, and they bear careful watching, lest Finale fade away completely.