When you open a MIDI file, Finale imports the MIDI data into a new Finale document, created from the Default Document.

What document are you using as Default Document?

To see what document is the Default Document, look in Preferences - New.

If no Default Document is specified, Finale will use Maestro Font Default*) as its Default Document.

*) Look in the folder Default Files.

If you need Finale to import MIDI into a specific document (containing the Percussion Layouts you need), move that document to the folder Default Files, and specify that document as the Default Document for Finale.

Fantastic. Thank you so much. That did the job. Really not not an easy way Finale have made for importing midi files with certain libraries , changing your default file.

Hans Henrik

Still a problem. I had the same problem of opening a MIDI file with there being no options in the PERCUSSION LAYOUT. I carefully followed the instructions above and was very excited to see lots of percussion options in the PERCUSSION LAYOUT box. I completed the rest of the dialogs, but when it opened the file, the drum staff was empty.... FYI, this is the same MIDI file I used in Protools for a sequence and importing without percussion layouts does the typical "nonsensical" import of drum notes..... so there is nothing wrong with the MIDI file.