I’m sure that min7 is there, though. Use that one. SongWriter won’t let you create new suffixes. You would need the full Finale for that.

Nope.  Tried m7, min7, -7.  No luck.  Tried on Songwriter 2012.r3and Finale v26.2.2.494.  Tried on MANY different documents..  WILL NOT ACCEPT THE CHORD!!!   MakeMusic is obviously unaware of the existence of ONE OF THE MOST COMMON CHORDS EVER USED.  Can't believe more people are not asking about this.

Ron Campbell,

1) Chord suffixes are document specific, not program specific.

This means that different documents can have different chord suffixes available in the Chord Suffix Selection.

2) It sounds like you are entering the chord symbols via Type Into Score.

Type Into Score will only work if you type the characters used in the document’s suffix.

If you are using suffixes with the JazzCord font, then an entire suffix is a single font character, not a sequence of individual characters.

3) Instead of using Type Into Score, try the colon method:

To enter e. g. Am7, type A:0, and then hit Enter (or Return).

Finale will show the Chord Suffix Selection window where you can browse the document’s existing suffixes.

When you have found the m7 suffix (or perhaps min7, or -7), remember the suffix number (shown in the top left corner above the suffix).

In this example let us say that the m7 suffix is suffix number 67 in the Chord Suffix Selection.

From now on, enter Am7 as A:67.

Doesn't work.  When I type A:0 and hit enter, I get to browse through a list of 272 suffixes, none of which are even close to a minor 7th chord.

If chord suffixes are document specific, where does the document get its list of suffixes from?  All of my documents were created from scratch by me.

… When I type A:0 and hit enter, I get to browse through a list of 272 suffixes …

272 suffixes! That is quite a lot of suffixes.

What font is used for the chord suffixes?

… If chord suffixes are document specific, where does the document get its list of suffixes from? …

A new document is always created as a copy of a template document.

This means that the new document will contain the same suffixes as that very template.

With the “full Finale” you can create your own, custom suffixes.

In that way a document may contain more suffixes than the template it was created from.

In the file I was just working on, the chord font was Arial 10 plain.  But other files I've created use JazzCord 22 plain, or Times New Roman 12 plain.  The problem occurs no matter what the font is.

Most of my files are created from a template called Lead Sheet with Empty Measures.ftm.  How can I find out what suffixes are in this template?

Not sure what the "full Finale" is.  I have Finale SongWriter version 2012.r3 and Finale version 26.2.2.494. I seldom use this newer version, it's much harder to use than SongWriter - but when I do, the same problem occurs.

I guess my point is, why should I have to create a "custom suffix" for such a common chord?  Seems to me a minor 7th chord ought to have a pre-existing suffix there somewhere.  If I do create a custom suffix, will the chord still play back correctly?

It's possible your copy of SongWriter has been corrupted. Go to your account with MM, and download a fresh copy.

I guarantee the m7 is in the full Finale. Although the min7 is not there, it's easily added. Perhaps you should learn how to use the newer, full-featured product, since you bought it.

Downloaded and installed SongWriter again, didn't help.  I take your point about using the newer version - but feel I just don't have the time to spend learning it.  As a music teacher, I need to produce charts NOW.  Guess I'll just keep writing in the chords by hand ...

Anyway, thanks for your help.

Did you uninstall the old copy first? And restart the computer?

Finale is the same as SongWriter, only with a lot more features. You can use it exactly as you used SW.

Think of it as learning to drive on a Volkswagon, and then getting a Porsche.