Are you using the built-in XML export from the File Menu (assuming F2012 has that) or are you using the Dolet XML Plug-in (downloadable from MM) o import and export your XML? The plug-in is more capable and is worth installing and using if you have been using only the built-in version.

Thanks for mentioning the Dolet XML Plug-in. I was not aware of it and have searched the website and can't find a download. Can you give me a link please? 

http://www.musicxml.com/dolet-plugin/dolet-6-plugin-for-finale/ 

(It's on the MakeMusic web site in the XML section.)

Overloud GEMS EQ495

>I'm surprised Finale can't open it's own XML file.<

Of course it can. It can also export/import MusicXML files from/to any notation app that supports it. .xml files created in F-25 open in my copies of 2011 and 2003 (on my G4). I've tested it.

The degree of success depends on how well it's integrated into other applications and there can be a huge difference among apps.

What is your OS?

Do get the latest version of Dolet and follow the instructions. It adds functionality to the older versions of Finale that it supports.

Overloud GEMS EQ495

Win 10 doesn't tell anybody enough. 32 or 64 bit?

If there was a problem with Finale 2012, there would have been thousands of complaints over the last 5 years it's been out. People have been/are doing it successfully. The question is why can't you?

Overloud GEMS EQ495

Whoa... Finale 2012 requires 32bit Java for MusicXML to work properly (as do all 32bit versions of Finale). That may be the problem right there.

That issue appears on the Mac through F-2014.5. Since SUN was sold to Oracle, neither Apple nor Microsoft are allowed to bundle the 32bit JRE. It's still free but Oracle gets to make the rules.

Let us know what happens.

Overloud GEMS EQ495

I created a simple project, exported it as XML and then successfully imported it in Finale v25.3 Windows 7 (64-bit). I realize that is not the same as working with Finale 2012, but I no longer have 2012 on my machine.

As a way of learning more about your situation, let me ask why you want to do what you are doing, are you...

1. making an XML to transfer to another machine and want to test it first?
2. trying to strip unwanted MIDI data from the file?
3. repair a file that has been exhibiting problems?
4. something else?

If you can save the file under a different name (to avoid compromising your original), have you tried deleting the first measure (just in case that is the problem) and exporting the resulting file to see if that helps? It's a long shot, but it might work.

Other than that, you may want to use the "Submit a request" link above to contact MM Support directly. At that site you may be able to attach your file for their perusal.

Thanks for trying the export and import test. Maybe someone with 2012 and Win 10 can try it also. I'm testing the XML function, since I've never used it.

A new client wants the XML file as well as PDF and I think they may be also  sending me an XML file, so I can correct some mistakes with it. So I thought I'd try some exporting and importing. I've tried it on about 5 different types of MUS files I've created and also some that were included in Finale as examples. I tried deleting bar 1 and that don't work either.

Here's 2 XML files I created. See if you can import them. So we can determine if it's the export or import that's not working right

https://onedrive.live.com/?id=C256E2DAE26B22A5%21105&cid=C256E2DAE26B22A5

Don't know whether you'll like my answer or not. I had no problem importing either XML. Here's a cropped sample of one...

The rest of it looked fine as well. So you might see if your client can open the music while you (we? MM?) try to puzzle out why you cannot open your own Finale XML's.

Gerry Peters,

You wrote:

“… Maybe someone with 2012 and Win 10 can try it …”

J Adrian Verkouteren is using v25 and Win 7 - and had no problem importing either XML.

It looks like the XML files are fine.

But we still do not have an import attempt from a user with 2012 and Win 10.

Actually that's good news that the export is working fine. At least we're making progress.

 I'm a little unsure about the Java 32 bit. I think I have it installed correctly. It is in the Program Files x86. Java wants to install the 64 bit version and it's not clear about the 32 bit install. In fact I read some posts of others having to jump through some hoops to get Java 32 bit installed. I hope someone here has some experience with this.

I had no problem importing either file into Finale 2011 Win & Mac and 25 for Mac. I don't have Dolet installed on 2011. I've never had 2012.

My Win computer is not new enough for 64bit nor Windows 10 so I can't help with the Java issue beyond this link from Oracle that says you need both 32bit and 64bit versions — as you already know.

https://java.com/en/download/faq/java_win64bit.xml

Except for testing as I did just now, I have not had a need for a Windows machine in 10 years or so—My Lenovo is older than that.

Apple has been threatening to drop all 32bit support from the Mac OS for several years now but hasn't made good on it yet (except for the next build of iOS). When that happens, no version of Finale older than 25 will work. As it is, MM no longer supports Finale older than 2014. 

J Adrian. I tried the "submit a request" and it appears that Finale 2012 no longer has tech support. Am I mistaken? Should I see if submit a request works? Or is it a futile attempt?

I would try it anyway. What's the worst that can happen? They say "no," and we're no worse off than we are now.

By now you presumably know about the Official XML page MakeMusic hosts at http://www.musicxml.com/ 

Regrettably it does not have a support forum where you might get more targeted support, but if you have not examined it, you might find further useful info there. I notice that the XML capabilities of Finale 25.3 have "additional" capabilities compared to the 32-bit Dolet implementations, so Mike H's mention that he can open your files in 2011 is significant (in a good way).

I have 2 computers on my home network. My main DAW computer is the one I've been trying to get this to work on. I have a 2nd Win 10 computer that used to be my main DAW computer and is now my internet computer. Yet it has Finale 2012 installed, but every time I'd open it I'd get a registration screen, so I assumed that I could only authorize 1 computer at a time to use Finale.

I opened Finale on my 2nd computer and used the File/Import xml file function, since I don't' have Dolet installed and it worked perfectly on the XML files I've created on my DAW. I then went through the authorization procedure and it's now authorized and able to save files. I closed Finale went to my main DAW, opened Finale and saved a file.

So I now have a solution to the XML file problem and I can always install Dolet if I'm importing from another program that's more finicky. This proves that Win 10 Is not the problem and neither is Java.

I now want to understand this authorization and whether I can have 2 computers using Finale without having to deauthorize and authorize each time I want to use one. So far both are working, but I’m not sure if it will continue. So can I use Finale on 2 computers?

As Far As I Know, you can have Finale authorized on two computers.

It has been like that for many years.

Well that's great news. It was authorized on my 2nd computer and when I got the new one I authorized it on that one and am not sure why the 2nd computer lost it's authorization. But maybe that's how it works, You have to reauthorize the 2nd computer

It is possible to use up two authorizations on one computer if you Boot from more than one drive — so pick one and deauthorize the other. 

>I tried the "submit a request" and it appears that Finale 2012 no longer has tech support. Am I mistaken?<

MM has responded to licensing / authorization requests but is unlikely to respond to tech suppport requests for a 5 year old version on an unsupported OS. I do not work for MM. worst case, they will ignore it or say no.

I suspect there may be something in your custom default document that the MusicXML importer isn't expecting that may be causing this problem. If you open a new document without libraries and then import the MusicXML file, do you still see the problem? If you don't, then this likely is an import issue involving your custom default document.

Would you be willing to download a trial version of Finale v25 and see if you still have the problem there? There's no separate Dolet plug-in for Finale v25; everything is built into the MusicXML features in the File menu. You can download the free trial at http://www.finalemusic.com/free-trial/.

To get the same behavior with your template as in Finale 2012, you will want to go the File menu, select Import, and then select MusicXML Preferences. In that dialog, check the "Use current document if empty" option, which also checks "Restrict MusicXML formatting" by default. Then you can open your custom default document and try importing the MusicXML file as before.

If you still see the problem there, could you please open a support case for Finale v25?

Gerry Peters,

You wrote:

“If someone has any ideas I'll try them, or I may just completing uninstall 2012 an reinstall it and redo my preferences from scratch. Any suggestions?”

Before you do that, have you tried, removing only the Preferences?

When Finale can not find any Preferences, it will build fresh (un-corrupted) Preferences from scratch.

Thanks Peter. I'd love to try your suggestion. How do I remove my preferences?

To the extent that Windows 10 is like Windows 7...

1. With Finale closed, open a folder, and in its title bar type  %appdata%/MakeMusic/Finale.
2. Look for a file called FINALE.INI
3. Drag it to your desktop and rename it something different, like oldFINALE.INI (that way you have a backup you can restore just in case).
4. You may need to restart your computer.
5. Open Finale. It should create a new FINALE.INI file in the MakeMusic/Finale folder.
6. If all is well after a week, you can trash the oldFINALE.INI file on your desktop.

Ha ha Peter, it worked! 

After a lot of experimenting I found out that if I only change one thing in my preferences the XML files work fine. I need to change the default document to Maestro Font Default.FTM   I currently have a custom default document that goes back to 1986 when I first started using Finale. I used Finale 2000 until I got FInale 2012. I have so many things in my default doc that I'm not sure if I want to redo it.

It turns out that when you import an XML file it definitely uses my default doc, because I found it did have my custom shortcuts and things in it. Can Dolet bypass this problem by not using my default doc?