Found it!

That's good.

What would be great is if you edit your second post to show how/where you found it. If it's a page in the user guide, just paste a link.

Then, if you could edit your original post by adding - Solved to the title, this helps others with the same problem find it easily in a search engine.

You don't have to, of course but since this is a users' forum, anything we can do to help each other, helps everyone (or something like that). 

http://www.specialmillwork.com/finale-tips-and-tricks/tuplets-with-simple-entry-2.pdf

@Mike H.:  Sorry, will do that next time (not quite solved yet - see my next comment).

@Mike R.: Thanks for your pdf! Your triplet method works like a charm if I start with an eighth note and then a quarter.

However, if I try to make a new triplet on the second quarter of the measure (I'm in 2/4) that starts with a quarter, nothing happens if I hit Alt9 (see image).

If I try to make a mixed triplet (first a quarter, then an eighth note) on the first beat of the next measure, I hit 5 to change into quarters - hit Alt9 to start the triplet notation and hit 4 to change into eighth notes. The whole measure apparently gets filled with a quarter triplet (see image).

What am I doing wrong?

It looks like you have the definition set as use current duration. That's why the second example is calling for a quarter note triplet. You need to set the triplet definition as 3 eighths in the space of 2 eighths, and save it as the default. On subsequent triplets, enter the first note, and then just tap the 9. You don't need the ALT key, unless you need to change the definition.

I need the first eighth note of a thee eights value triplet in the space of a quarter note to be broken into four 32nd notes.. Again...the first eighth will be four 32nds followed by two eighths in a three eighth note triplet in the space of two eighths or 1 quarter value.  

(The first beat has two eighths, of a similar three eighths in the space of 2, followed by a sixteenth and two 32nds.  Beat two is a regular quarter note.  The value to which my question pertains, above is the third beat in the measure.  The fourth beat is another quarter note.  I have turned off the check for extra notes box but I can neither get the triplets I desire nor avoid the the program telling me I have too many notes because it won't do the triplet I need.).

This is a trumpet descant part, baroque-ish in nature, requiring these intricate values.

Thank you for taking my question on.

Norma Hodge,

1) Welcome to the forum!

To give you the best possible help we need more info from you.

2) Are you using Windows Finale or Mac Finale?

3) Are you using the Speedy Entry Tool or the Simple Entry Tool?

I suppose that you have already studied Mike Rosen’s tips and tricks on

http://www.specialmillwork.com/finale-tips-and-tricks/