… how can i change the default which is above the system in my finale …

The default dynamic positioning is document specific, not program specific.

To change the default for all new documents, edit the template you use for creating new documents:

Open the template, and go to

Document menu > Category Designer…

Select the category Dynamics, and edit the Positioning settings for Vertical Alignment.

You probably need the menu item

Below Staff Baseline or Entry

When you are done, all new dynamics will default to

Below Staff Baseline or Entry

You may need to update the document’s already existing dynamics:

In the Expression Selection, select all the dynamics, and use the pop up menu

Reset to Category

to

reset the Positioning.

Save the template, and you are done.

Dear Peter,

Sincerely thanks,

That did the trick!

YOurs

B

How does one "save the template"?  After changing the dynamics placement in the Category Designer window, I am only given the options to "Cancel", "Help", and "OK"--which is not okay.  When writing choral/vocal music, Finale puts the dynamics way too high above the staff.  I am weary of changing the dynamics placement to be closer to the staff--and closer to reality--each and every time I start a new document.  Is there a way to make it the default for all new documents of the template?

Welcome to the forum!

Are you using Windows Finale, v27?

… How does one "save the template"?  After changing the dynamics placement in the Category Designer window, I am only given the options to "Cancel", "Help", and "OK" …

The template is a Finale document.

Saving the document is not done in the Category Designer, but rather with

File menu > Save

When you have saved the Finale document, put it in the folder where you need it:

1) If you need to create new Finale documents via

File menu > New > Document From Template…

then you should put the new template in the folder Templates (or in a sub-folder inside the Templates folder).

The next time you choose

File menu > New > Document From Template…

Finale will display a directory dialog box of the Templates folder - and you should be able to find your new template somewhere in there.

Navigate to your template, and use the template to create a new document.

2) If you need to create new Finale documents via

File menu > New > Document With Setup Wizard…

then you should put the new template in the folder Document Styles (or in a sub-folder inside the Document Styles folder).

Thomas if I were you and what I do is set up my document style as I want everything. I mean everything and save it as a musx file not a template. Every font, every measure number, every expression or articulation every everything.   A template does not save everything but a musx file does. Just call this basic default file you made and rename it every time you compose. You can have several musx basic files for different applications. It is easy to make minor changes to each one as you compose as/if needed.