I would have no idea where you could download this manual. Looking through the MM archives, their manuals don't go back to 98.

In my opinion, you should not have an old computer refurbished. There are too many variables for me, which would make this a unwise decision. Yes, Finale has changed since 98. All software has changed since then. Each new version has something different to learn. I think you'll be better served by using a newer computer and a new version of notation software, whether it's Finale or something else.

Your brief description of your frustration with FInale 2014, changing a title. Titles are handled by ScoreManager, that's different than what you're familiar with. But you don't have to use the Score Manger for titles, you can make them the same way you did in 98. with the text tool, just double click where you want the title, and type it in.

Many of us share your frustration with the online Help files. Unfortunately, there is no searchable .pdf file anymore. You have to go through an insane hierarchy of web pages till you find what you need... or you have to learn how to search for it. You need to learn how to use the Search field and then it works. Like any document that is now 30 years old, some of it is outdated and wrong (not as bad as Logic Pro on the Mac but that’s no comfort). I still don’t like it but that’s what we have.

Long ago, you could print the pdf file. It looked like it would take a couple of reams of paper so I paid my $20 and ordered the paper manual (probably around 2003). It was horrible. About an inch and a half thick printed 4-up — that’s 4 pages to each side of an 8.5” x 11” piece of paper. Totally useless and I recycled it.

Nothing wrong with keeping an old Mac or PC to run a legacy app, IMO as long as you keep it off the internet where nothing will work anymore. I have Finale 1998, 2002 and a couple of other versions on an old G4 that I can dual boot into OS 9 or 10.4.11. I don’t use it for anything except accessing old album and cassette artwork that I did in Claris Works years ago and a game that has my daughters voices on it from when they were little but I could fire up those versions again... except that I never will. Finale has moved on and so have I. It will never go back to being what you knew in 1998.

But I am not you. There was a learning curve when you first used Finale 20+ (or 30+ for some of us) years ago and there’s one now. I find it easier to use now than I did back then. Learning new ways to do old things is part of the process.

I still think that Word 5.1a and Digital Performer 5.13 were the best versions ever (and still on my G4) but I do things in Office 2019 and DP 10.11 that weren’t possible in those versions.

Dear Bernard DI Gregorio ,

Did not you access this URL ?

books.google.co.jp › booksFinale: An Easy Guide to Music Notation

I found this afternoon, it could be provided you with useful information.

I hope, luck is on your side. Yours, TaffanelKuni (from Japan)

This isn’t the solution of course, but I do understand the frustration and still have the original box for my copy of Finale 3.2 from the early 90’s with the incredible set of printed manuals written largely by David Pogue. Amazing manuals and still what I think of as an example of great software support and education. Totally outdated now but still nice to look over at times. That said, I actually do like the online Help page but that is perhaps due to my being fine with reading anything and everything on my computer, iPad or iPhone. If I really preferred print, then this would not be optimal. 

Yes, Word 5.1 was the best. 

Is there a users manual for Finale music notation  software version 25?

It is an online "manual" accessible via the Help menu item. No printed or PDF manual, I am afraid (which is a bummer sometimes).

I still feel this is a MAJOR flaw with the program. Why was it decided years ago that this is a better situation? For many years I used my time working with Finale on the symphony bus- NO INTERNET CONNECTION! and it was fine because the old programs (it was FINALE 98 at the time) had what was called "online documentation". It wasn't what we consider "online" now-a-days. It was essentially a manual that came with the program and was part of it. One was able to access it anywhere because it was in your program. Now if there is not an internet connection it is impossible sometimes to figure things out or even remember everything with the program.

As you can see by some of my earlier comments I have written about this before. I still believe this is a major mistake and I have even considered wiping a very old computer I still have so I can go back to FINALE 98!

Well, to be honest, there are many more significant flaws with Finale that this really doesn't rise to the top in my mind. YMMV.

That said, most major software no longer comes with printed manuals. Haven't seen these in years. Part of it is practical-software tends to be downloaded rather than bought on a disk. Reason has a PDF you can open at your pleasure, and it's pretty complete. It would be great for Finale to have a PDF for its manual. Having to do a search in its online help site is not always useful or efficient. Many times I find it easier and more useful to just do a google search for the issue I'm having and that usually points me to a solution (which is outside of the Finale help pages/online manual). 

Pretty certain I first heard this around the time I got my Mac Plus (January 1986)

Q: What is the main purpose of a software manual?

A: To increase the shipping weight of the product.

>Well, to be honest, there are many more significant flaws with Finale that this really doesn't rise to the top in my mind. YMMV.<

No disagreement there. See my earlier post about actually having a printed manual in 2003. Worse than useless. I do consider the decision to do away with a searchable .pdf manual a flaw. Not a major flaw—I know how to search the Help files but that's a lot more time consuming.

>... I have even considered wiping a very old computer I still have so I can go back to FINALE 98!<

Well, if that's what ya gotta do, then do it. No one here will stop you. I still have 1998 loaded onto my G4 but, frankly, the last time I looked at it was 4 years ago to counter some wild nonsense someone posted about pdf files compared to 25.

Finale 2003: was that the package with three separate reference books included?

I think expecting a new manual concept is a lost cause. I do wish there were still a Mark Johnson to write a Finale Trailblazer's Guide when a new version came out.

Nothing in my mind, for any software program, will ever come close to the set of clear, well thought out and clever manuals for Finale 3.2 back in the early 90's. Some of it was written by David Pogue (who then went on to write for the NY Times). Extremely useful. But sadly no longer that applicable. I still have them since they're just so nicely done.

>Finale 2003: was that the package with three separate reference books included?<

Nope. It was the quick start guide, CD and the shortcuts card. You could order a printed manual for $20 as I did. It was over an inch thick and printed 4-up — that's four pages on each side of an 8"x11" sheet of paper. Absolutely useless.