also useless currently re: page numbers. Just when I wanted to remember how to insert them ;-)

David Toub,

It looks like you have caught an error in the manual’s Search function.

It seems like the Search function can not handle a search that includes the word ‘staff’ - or a search that includes the word ‘page’.

Thanks for confirming. Will report it to MM. 

Really? What bug?

It's an online only manual. If the MM server is down (has happened before) or if your ISP or network are having problems, this result can be expected. I got the following results opening the User Manual from 26.3 and 27.1 about 9pm PST Saturday, December 18, 2021.

Good for you. The online help is still crappy on my end:

This is not an issue with my connection. I have no problem connecting to other sites, and clearly no problem connecting to the Finale online help. Something is odd about its database. I've filed a BR so let's see what MM says in response.

Good for you. …  Something is odd about its database. 

No need to get snippy. I searched the same thing you did running the same MacOS with the same results in Safari, FireFox and Chrome. There are other variables such as browser extensions, firewalls and antivirus that can affect how you interact with MM's servers. You do want to try this again on Monday — they may have to reboot something.

The online help is still crappy on my end

That? I absolutely agree and do not like it at all. Unlike a searchable pdf, it takes way longer to find the information I need — and that's when it's working properly. But I raised those objections 5 years ago.

I wasn't being snippy. Glad it works for you but clearly it's not on my end. I don't have any antivirus software (haven't for decades) nor do I have a firewall. Unless there is something that is scrambling my search terms (which doesn't happen with any search engine on any other site I've ever used), then it's on MM's end. Not mine. 

And now it's all back. Nothing changed on my end. Guess MM had a database glitch. I did file a bug report. Glad it's back.

David despite what  MH said I have seen issues with it also. Most of the time it works. The bottom line is no matter the cause,  on our end or their end, we need a manual that works 100% of the time. How about a d/lable pdf manual MM?

Totally agree! I mean, I still have David Pogue's great hard copy manuals from Finale 3.2...

A PDF would be super helpful. Even Reason does that.