Hi Ken,

I think that you may be able to achieve what you're looking to do with a Library. If you go under File > Save Library, you can choose the features from your own template that you like (Page format, expressions, etc.) and save them as their own Library. Then you can pull up the other document and load your library into that document. Redefine pages, and voila!, that should do the trick. 

Thanks for the response C.J. Garcia. Creating custom libraries and importing them into a different file is not a very efficient way to import your style preferences. First off, when you import an expression library for example, and import it into a new file, it doesn't affect the current expressions already contained within the file not to mention it clutters your Expression Selection dialogue box having multiple libraries of the same content. (Finale does not let you delete original libraries located in this section) Also, by using this function you would have to load many multiple libraries to attempt to achieve the same look and feel that you are accustomed to and it doesn't always work. Not very efficient. 

What I often miss when working on another person's file, is the ability to create a similar workflow. This would include for example, working with my custom "staff sets", and macros for dynamics and expressions. To take it one step further, it would be nice to take someone's file and import your own fonts, staff spacings, parts and score settings, etc. Right now, the only way I know how to do this is to copy and paste into a template or work with xml. With accuracy being so critically important in what I do, I don't want to risk leaving something out by importing data using these techniques. 

This is what I would love to be able to do in Finale. Recieve a file from a client, open it up, select a feature like "import house style", choose your own saved settings, and have all your favorite settings applied to the new file. Now the ugly file you just received has the same work flow, and customized look by basically selecting one feature "import house style". Wouldn't it be a cool it Finale was able to do this? Would make life so much easier for us copyists. Does anyone else agree? 

Basically, I would support your idea, thus you get my vote. But it would be very complicated to achieve a professional result as there are such a lot of different items to be changed and different opinions of what would belong to a "house style" and what not. I'm a bit into JWLua plugin development, so I would judge the whole thing from the perspective how Finale handles data internally.

I would think, a plugin with two controls would make sense: on top,you would select a source Finale file from which settings (the "house style") should be imported. Below, you would have a tree control in which you could mark/select the different items to be taken into your active document. Now: which items should appear in the tree control? You mention fonts, staff spacings, parts and score settings - but what, if the flute part in the source doc is "Flute 1+2" or "Flöten", but in your target doc it's "Flutes 1 and 2"? Should the plugin then make assumptions about from which to which part to copy part settings?

It would be feasible to unify line widths and fonts, everything which can be identified clearly.

But additionally, obviously it would make sense to delete identical expressions. Should the plugin unify "pizz", "pizz." and "pizzicato"? There are hundreds of issues like that, where a musician would have no problem to decide what to do, but it's far from obvious for an algorithm.

So I support your suggestion, but if you could shed a bit of light on some of the arising problems and their desired solutions, I'd appreciate it.

Harald

Hey Harald. I understand your concerns. You have the right idea though. Maybe some common ground on what can be saved in a "house style" and what couldn't. Maybe we could start with the easier elements. Such as Document Options settings, fonts (Both Text and Music), page size, page and score format, title, page number, and text placement, etc. Things like that. I know Finale has libraries you can import however it's quite cumbersome not to mention it does not cover all the items I mentioned above. If they were to consolidate this "house style" to the items above, and be able to click a button to import them into any file, that would be an awesome time saver. 

Also, I find myself always finding new things I want to adjust or tweak to accomplish a certain look. If Finale was able to add this "house style" feature, it would be cool to instantly add to it when you find new things to adjust. For example, while working in a score I find I want my bar number thickness to change. With this "house style" feature I could just go to the top menu, and select update house style  and if would instantly add this new feature to my current style. This way you don't have to open up an existing template to change it or save to a new library. Just click and it's saved for the next time you want to use it. 

Ken

I'm not sure I understand the problem with setting up a template containing a house style.

Hey J Adrian. Thanks for responding. You can already set up a template and import libraries to create a file in your own style. My problem is, when a client has sent me a file to work with that he already has been set up. Often times that file is a mess. My request would be to have a button I could push where all of my custom settings could be imported into a new file. Would save a lot of time and effort when working with someone else's file. Would you agree? 

Ken

Hi Ken - I totally get what you are looking for... You want EVERYTHING to be updated, including all positioning of existing items already placed in the score.  That would be an incredible time saver when "fixing" submitted scores or meeting publisher requirements.

In the mean time - try these two plugins from this site: http://www.finaletips.nu/index.php/download/category/10-plug-ins-for-mac?limitstart=0

1. JW Change, V 1.03

2. JW Copy Part Layout, V 1.04

Both of these plugins save me hours when editing submitted scores.  The JW Change plugin has over 200 items it can access and update - all with very few clicks.  JW Copy Part Layout is simply incredible. Format the top part, navigate to the next part, click ONCE  and your second part looks EXACTLY like your first part. All page layout adjustments, system breaks, page breaks, repeat locations, margins, etc. are duplicated in the visible part.

Good Luck!