Karen Warner,

What you request, is already possible.

The attached example was done in Finale.

NB:

In your example the fret numbers are for diatonic frets.

I suppose that it is a mistake, and in my example I have created fret numbers for chromatic frets.

Thanks for your example! However I should have clarified further in my request:

Fiddle tab is not based on frets, since we're fretless. The numbers I entered were for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd fingers, and I can see now that what I'm looking for will likely not be possible at present since it would mean a whole different process for translating the staff notes into the corresponding fingers. 

e.g. 2nd space A# (or B flat) is referred to as low 1st finger, and notated as 1 with a downward arrow above it. 3rd line B is simply 1.

It's a commonly used system here of writing out traditional fiddle music - a quick and easy way of sharing tunes if not everyone reads staff notation. I'm just trying to juxtapose the two so my students who currently use only fiddle tab have an easier time of learning to read music. 

… Fiddle tab is not based on frets, since we're fretless. The numbers I entered were for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd fingers, and I can see now that what I'm looking for will likely not be possible at present since it would mean a whole different process for translating the staff notes into the corresponding fingers …

Then I suggest that you use “diatonic” frets. From your description it seems to me that “diatonic” frets translate beautifully into finger numbers:

… 2nd space A# (or B flat) is referred to as low 1st finger, and notated as 1 with a downward arrow above it …

Such “deviations” from the diatonic frets represent a problem, since they will not copy correctly from standard staff to TAB staff.

You will have to correct the TAB staff “manually”, and add the arrow as an articulation or expression, depending on where the arrow should be vertically positioned (in the space above, or outside the TAB staff?).

Also, the TAB staff will not play back correctly.

In the Finale document you can mute the TAB staff so that only the standard staff plays back.

Peter are you saying that the tab entries are put in manually 

… Peter are you saying that the tab entries are put in manually  …

No, not at all.

The notes in the upper staff (= the standard staff) are entered.

Then the music is copied into the TAB staff, and Finale automatically translates the notes into numbers.

Beautiful.... 

But to set this up would be a challenge for me cause I'm new at this..... 

Then I recommend that you begin by studying some Finale documents with {standard staff over TAB staff}.

Generally you can enter the music in the standard staff, and then copy the music to the TAB staff.

Finale will translate the notes from the standard staff into numbers on the TAB staff.

You will figure it out.

Excellent work, Peter!