Multiple open files across multiple monitors

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CHRISTOPHER PAINTER Posted April 05, 2017 09:19 Answered

It would be VERY useful to be able to open multiple files in independent windows (rather like in Word) so that each window could be displayed on a different monitor and easily switched between (and copied to/from) simply by using the mouse. I often have to produce arrangements of the same piece across multiple genres and life would be much easier if I could view, and work on, all versions simultaneously.

Windows 10

FInale v.25

11 comments

Date Votes

Official comment

MM_MICHAEL JOHNSON April 10, 2017 17:18

Hi Christopher:

Thank you for posting this feature request. I can confirm on Windows Finale is limited to 1 program window with 1 to many document windows within the program window/instance. You are asking for the functionality of 1 to many program windows at the same time. I have documented this on our roadmap as FIN-4759 to track the progress of the story. In the meantime, the only solution is to span the program window across all 3 monitors and then have each document show on a separate monitor. I acknowledge this is far for ideal and not conducive to your workflow or request. Thank you again for the request.

Cheers,
Michael Johnson
VP, Professional Notation
MakeMusic

JOHN RUGGERO Posted April 05, 2017 12:47

Perhaps I don't understand your request or it is an Windows issue only, but I often work with multiple open Finale files on two monitors and can copy from one file to the other. Finale 2014.5 on OS 10.8.5

CHRISTOPHER PAINTER Posted April 05, 2017 15:01

I have a three monitor set up but the only way I can simultaneously work on more than one file is to stretch the main Finale window across the screens and then cascade the individual file window and move each to a separate monitor. What i would like to be able to do, as in Word, is to open multiples files, each with its own window containing the menu bar and tools. I may well be being stupid and have missed a setting but I can't find a way to do this.

JOHN RUGGERO Posted April 05, 2017 15:51

Sounds like a Windows issue. On a Mac, each Finale file opens in its own Window, of which there can be any number and which can be moved anywhere. However, the menu bar is fixed at the top of one of the monitors and the tool palettes float. The Menu bar and the Tools work for whatever open file one is working in at the moment.

MARY POTTRATZ Posted March 25, 2018 15:25

I see this thread is from 1 year ago. Any progress on making Finale more usable on more than one (Windows) monitor without stretching the window across two screens?

CHRISTOPHER PAINTER Posted March 25, 2018 21:24

Still no news on a fix - very frustrating when I can easily do it with MS Office and Sibelius files. Have both Finale and Sibelius, prefer Finale but this issue is pushing me towards using Sibelius full-time.

TIMM LYONS Posted February 14, 2023 03:52

This isn't a good solution for multiple monitors, but Finale does have a keyboard shortcut similar to Alt-Tab: Ctrl-Tab, which switches between Finale open documents or windows.

MIKE HALLORAN Edited February 15, 2023 16:21

As has been pointed out, this is not a problem on the Mac — or shouldn’t be unless Multiple Displays are not configured correctly in /Displays.

Has anyone sent this to Support lately? What is the response? In other words: Why is this still a thing?

GREG JORDAN Posted April 05, 2023 21:40

I submitted this again today. I would think that this would be resolved by now.

Valencio Jackson Posted September 27, 2023 19:57

We've had multiple upgrades of finale over time. Does anyone know if there is any fix for this in the pipeline? It's ridiculous that having multiple window displays works fine for Mac but not for Windows. Yes, I understand why it works for Mac, but for the non-Mac users who just want to work under a single account name at a time... any thoughts?

MIKE HALLORAN Edited September 28, 2023 02:25

This may be related to the Floating (Mac) vs Docked (Win) palettes issue—see other threads on that. My guess is that, to solve this, the other needs to be addressed.

I’ve no idea why either is still a thing.

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