1) We can see that the shapes are not visible in the Expression Selection, but the slots are there.

It may be a display problem in the Expression Selection.

What happens if you select one of the expressions (e. g. #44), and click the button {Edit…} ?

Can you edit the expression ?

Can you go to the Shape Designer - and edit the shape ?

2) You tell that you “just opened the file back up, and all of those shapes are gone”.

Perhaps the shapes are there, but positioned way down below the bottom of the page.

I would

- check the positioning parameters for the Sax Fingerings category,

- check the positioning parameters for each Sax Fingerings expression - is it set to use the category’s settings ?

- check the expression assignment for each expression - clear the manual positioning, to move the expression back to its default positioning.

I’d agree with Peter, that the shapes are there, just not showing in the frame. I’ve had that happen when I created a large shape expression. The window seems to pick it up from a corner, not the center.

Hey guys,

Thanks for the feedback!  When I go into the expression and open the shape designer, there's nothing there, even when I zoom out to 25% or so and pan around to try and find it.

Positioning parameters for the Sax Fingerings category are: 

And I am using the category's settings.  When I remove manual adjustments on the expressions, the handles go to the center of the measure, but there's nothing attached to them.  I'm thinking that since the shapes are not in the shape designer, they're probably gone, but I don't know why or how to avoid that happening in the future.

I really appreciate your responses!

-John

What happens if you select one of those “blank” expressions? Does it show up in the score?

It places something, but it just looks blank.  There's a handle where I can move it around, and if I go in and mess with the positioning parameters, the handle moves, but there's nothing (at least that I can see) attached to it.

… When I go into the expression and open the shape designer, there's nothing there, even when I zoom out to 25% or so and pan around to try and find it …

Something to try:

In the Shape Designer, click its Selection Tool.

Can you select anything in the Shape Designer window?

It may be just a blank box you select, but at least you should see a highlighting around the selected.

You can also try to select via the keyboard shortcut ⌘A (= Select All).

Hey Peter,

Yes, something shows up, but when I try to manipulate that bounding box to move it around or scale it, it turns into just one handle and eventually I can't select it anymore.

… Yes, something shows up, but when I try to manipulate that bounding box to move it around or scale it, it turns into just one handle and eventually I can't select it anymore …

In what sub-tool(s) was this “something” created?

In the Shape Designer there are the sub-tools

- Text Tool

- Line Tool

- Rectangle Tool

- Ellipse Tool

- Curve Tool

- Slur Tool

- Multiline Tool

- Polygon Tool

- Bracket Tool

- Graphics Tool

Hi,

I've just ran into the same problem. I created all my expressions, used shape designer and the graphic files I imported to do so did not move. Everything is gone. I'm also using Finale 26 with a Mojave Mac. Help ! =(

Are your fingering symbols really part of the Times New Roman font set?

It's worth checking if the diagrams are organized as a font.

Try Shape Designer - ungroup, and see if there are elements in there you can select.

Glenn,

You do realize this thread is nine months old, right?

I certainly hope John and Murielle have found a solution by now.

Yes, but I see no solution in this thread. I've been searching for tips to a similar problem.

You act as if you are proposing a solution.

If you have a problem we can help you solve, please describe what you have tried and why it has not worked.

Knowing what version of Finale you are using and what operating system and version would be important.

https://makemusic.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/community/posts/215729367-General-Discussion-House-Rules 

Coming even later to this thread…!

Have been having the same problem (hence landing here) and I note that no actual solution has been posted. From my own experiences of the last couple of days, it appears imported graphics are not saved to the expressions library. No problem with those created within shape designer. Saving a new custom library seems to solve the issue.

Just posting in case anyone else stumbles across the same problem.

Saving a new custom library seems to solve the issue.

I believe that's how it's supposed to work. I don't see any issue to resolve,

I always appreciate it when a thread includes the solution (in this case, saving a new custom library).

It is frustrating to find threads that don't include the solution — especially older threads — because then it looks like there is no solution. So please don't discourage someone adding the solution to a thread. 

Thanks! 🙂

What a wildly unhelpful and unnecessary contribution to this thread, Mike.

Imagine my surprise, upon waking this morning, to see that this several years-old thread had received new action. And, imagine how nice it was to see that somebody who had faced a similar problem to me (which, reading the comments, I think we can all agree was not a simple solve), had worked out a solution he believes works. How nice it must be for somebody googling this problem to have the solution spelled out for them!

And then, for some reason, you, who to date had had no interaction with this question whatsoever, felt the need to chime in that the issue which, years ago, occupied a week of my time, and, it appears, continues to occupy others’ time, was “not really an issue.”

Joe, THANK YOU for seeing this thread and offering your help. I no longer use Finale, and the program I have migrated to takes a much kinder stance towards those who are attempting to accomplish tasks in their workspace, but I truly appreciate your input for those who might need it.

Mike, perhaps you have a level of knowledge about Finale that makes these issues pedestrian for you, but they are not for many. It does you absolutely no harm to allow them to ask for help.

Yikes.

I stand by what I posted which to clarify that the "solution to an issue" proposed by another user is how it's supposed to be done — which was not otherwise made clear.  Why you took offense and chose to post a personal attack is something I do not understand and certainly doesn't help anyone with anything.

I'm a volunteer trying to help other users and nothing more. I hope that your post and this response to it are removed from this thread.