Default folder for saving files

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MAURIZIO ROSSETTO Posted January 23, 2021 22:03

Here is the scenario I'm having trouble with.

I'm working on a file and hit "ctrl s". That opens up a save dialog box but the default folder is always a previous folder I was working in. I add the correct information and save. All good. Later I come back to the same file and now I want to export a PDF version of the file. I hit export and the folder is again a previous folder I was working in. If I slow down and think carefully I'll enter the correct path and export/save but I can't count how many times, when I'm working quickly, that files get stored in wrong folders. Then, I have to search for them. Is there a way to make Finale save in the actual folder you are working in automatically including other file functions like export, import etc. So if I move away from the folder and come back to it, the Finale file remembers where to save/export?

More info:

If I open the file from within Finale through the open file dialog box, Finale remembers the folder and saves correctly but export still remembers a previous folder and you have to enter the file location details.
If I open the file from File Explorer in Windows 10 then Finale will not remember the file location and I have to enter all information for any file function I use.

Any help or clarification would be greatly appreciated.

3 comments

Date Votes

Michael M Edited January 24, 2021 16:57

Is there a way to make Finale save in the actual folder you are working in automatically

This may not work for you if you are switching folders all the time, but when I expect to continuously work on one project for some time, I always set Preferences / Folders / Music to the directory I will be working in. That way I never have the problem of saving into the wrong folder. No matter from where you open a file, even if you open one from File Explorer it will then be saved to your chosen default Music directory. This will also work with various Export functions, but apparently not when creating PDF files (neither via Export nor via the Graphics tool). I never use that function anyway, but prefer printing to a PDF printer, which (with PDF Creator anyway) will also remember the correct directory.

MAURIZIO ROSSETTO Posted January 24, 2021 20:42

Thanks for your help Michael,

My issue only happens if I open a file through Windows Explorer directly. If I open the file via Finale's open file dialog, everything works as expected although the export to PDF problem still exists which is more of a nuisance than anything else.

Try this:

Open file explorer in Windows and go to your Finale directory, if you have one, open a file that you haven't opened in a while. Then, after the file opens in Finale click "File - Save As" and look at the folder that the dialog box presents. Shouldn't it read as "x.musx" from the folder you originally you opened the file?

Michael M Posted January 24, 2021 21:49

Well, that would be nice, but that's just not how it works. When you open a file from inside Finale it will save it to the directory from where you opened it. If you open a file from outside Finale, from Windows Explorer, Finale obviously has no way of recognizing that, it will save it to the last used directory. I do that a lot as well, but I've just gotten used to paying attention, or only open files from inside Finale. I don't think there's much else you can do.

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