Two questions: do you have real rests in the empty measures? These will prevent MM rests from being created. Also, why are you extracting the parts and not using linked parts? Perhaps you could post an example here of what you mean by 'screwed up in terms of spacing and layout'.

I did go back and put in real rests. Maybe I'll reopen Finale and see what happens. I used the Extract Parts function in the edit menu, as I have always done with previous Finale versions. I'm not sure what you mean by linked parts. I'll send an image later today. Thanks

… I used the Extract Parts function in the edit menu, as I have always done with previous Finale versions. I'm not sure what you mean by linked parts …

Finale has had linked parts since Finale 2007.

I suggest that you study linked parts, and give the feature a chance.

The basic idea with linked parts is that you have a single document containing both the score and the parts.

The parts are linked to the score.

Correct a wrong note in the score, and the note is automatically also corrected in the linked part.

To view/edit a linked part:

Document menu > Edit Part > …

Even if you do not want to use linked parts, you can not avoid linked parts since the extracted parts are created from the linked parts.