Use (or Create) an expression category with a (new) score list and define it to show the expression on the top staff (or any you wish) in the score and in all the parts.

I called my category "Swing" and my new score list "Swing List," but then I'm the wild, iconoclastic type. :-)

Thanks, Adrian,

Unfortunately, for some mysterious reason, the normal symbol (1/8 note + 1/8 note = triplet) can NOT be applied to ALL staves.  The "apply to" button is blue, and the drop down box will not open.

This sure looks like a bug to me.

However, the verbal cue "SWING" does have a drop down box, and the "apply to all staves" option is available there.

This is what I did. It worked.

OK, now i understand what you mean.   Thanks so much.   That is very cool!

I'm still stuck.  How do you create a new category in the category designer?  All I see is a button to "duplicate" one.

Okay....after I sent that message I figured out how to do what you're showing. But after that, how do I assign an expression that changes it from swing to straight?  This is driving me insane!

This conversation sounds like we are trying to work around a bug in Finale.  When would you ever want to have only one staff swing?  In all the charts I have ever seen, either the entire band swings, or no one does.

Craig,

I can envision a situation where I might want one part (the lead) to swing over a straight accomp; but I agree that the default should have all staves swing.

David,

To create a new category, you duplicate one with the characteristics you want (not all have the Score List option needed for Swing/Straight, for example) and then you change the name of the Category and edit it. You can Move items (or duplicates of items) from category to category, which gives one the option to assign the new Category defaults to the items imported.