… When I open an existing file that I had created in an earlier version of Finale, the Expression Selection dialog Box is empty, except for the "Show All" and "Miscellaneous" categories. However, the "Dynamics", "Tempo Marks" and others are empty …

This is what happens when a document created in Finale 2008 or earlier is opened in a newer Finale version.

Expression categories were added to Finale in Finale 2009.

Documents created in Finale 2008 or earlier do not have expression categories.

When a such document is opened in Finale 2009 or later, Finale puts all the expressions in the Miscellaneous category.

You could say that the Miscellaneous category is the “non-category” category.

… I have found responses to similar questions from the past, and have tried some of the solutions offered, such as selecting an item in the "Miscellaneous" box, then using the "Move To" drop-down menu to put it in the proper place …

You can also select multiple expressions, and move them all to another category “at one fell swoop”.

Also, when you have moved an expression to another category:

Via the pop up menu “Reset to Category” you can change a selected expression’s settings for Fonts and/or Positioning so that the expression uses the category’s default settings.

… I have also loaded libraries, and have created a new document with the newest version of Finale and "Saved" that library and then loaded it into the existing file, but to no avail …

When an expression library is loaded into a document, the new expressions are added below the already existing expressions.

To see the loaded expressions you must scroll down to the bottom of the Expression Selection.

… In addition, "Expressive Text," such as "cresc." do not work, and neither does the crescendo marking created with the "Smart Shape" function …

I suppose that you by your words “do not work” mean playback, right?

Since I do not know your “old” crescendi (from Finale 2008 or earlier), I can only guess.

My first guess is that the crescendi are not defined for playback.

As an easy solution, use Human Playback, and let Human Playback interpret them.

Hi Peter,

Thank you for your detailed response. It all makes sense, since many of the files are carry overs from much older versions of Finale.

Regarding the final part:

I suppose that you by your words “do not work” mean playback, right?
Since I do not know your “old” crescendi (from Finale 2008 or earlier), I can only guess.
My first guess is that the crescendi are not defined for playback.
As an easy solution, use Human Playback, and let Human Playback interpret them.

Yes, I mean playback.

With every file, I use Human Playback, usually the "Baroque" setting.
Perhaps if I used the "Reset to Categories" after moving them they would work, but otherwise they do not playback.

I have the same problem with harp pieces.
Perhaps I am remembering incorrectly, but I seem to remember chords automatically rolling if the instrument selected/assigned for playback is the harp, and Human Playback is turned on.

Perhaps not. It would be nice if you could clarify, though ;-)

Thank you,
:-)
Vanessa

Aha!

Hello, again,

Quite by accident, I discovered why the harp would roll chords in some pieces and not in others.
I had been selecting the Harp from the "Device" only, and not the "Instrument" category, as shown below, which does work.
However, I cannot find a way to change individual chords to be played "flat."
In the harp world, all chords are rolled out--that is the style of harp playing--unless otherwise indicated by a bracket.
Assigning a visual bracket is certainly possible in Finale (v25), but how do I get it to stop a rolled chord when necessitated?
Thank you, yet again,
:-)
Vanessa