Page Layout suddenly changes from one page to the other...

[carlvaud]

Hi there,
I looked it up and couldn't find any solution to make all pages have the same layout.
Now my page 1 to 7 have the perfect layout and the pages 8 and on have a totally different size, margins exceed the page size.
Anyone knows how to make all pages like page 1 for example?
Thanks,
Carl

[carlvaud]

BTW i already checked if there was a wrong resize on these pages that exceed the page size.
Carl

[ebiggs1]

You added measures or pages after you started? Finale doesn't honor page set-up very well so you must tell it what you want.

[carlvaud]

You added measures or pages after you started? Finale doesn't honor page set-up very well so you must tell it what you want.

I created a document from the setup wizard, than i copied the notes from another score into the newly created doc.
Do you have a suggestion for letting finale "know what i want"?

[N Grossingink]

Go to page 7, which is the last good layout. With the Resize Tool (%), click in the corner of the page and specify "Page 7 through Last Page". Click OK and things should look good. You'll notice there is a checkbox labeled "Update Page Format". If this is checked, any new pages will have the new, correct format.

This will work as long as there are no other formatting variables at play.

N.

[ebiggs1]

This will work as long as there are no other formatting variables at play.
N.

One would hope!

[carlvaud]

Go to page 7, which is the last good layout. With the Resize Tool (%), click in the corner of the page and specify "Page 7 through Last Page". Click OK and things should look good. You'll notice there is a checkbox labeled "Update Page Format". If this is checked, any new pages will have the new, correct format.

Nothing happens when i do what you suggest with the resize tool...

[N Grossingink]

OK - "variables at play".

Try this - again with the Resize Tool, go to page 7 and click in the middle of the system, not on a stave but on a white spot. The Resize System box comes up - specify "from System 7 to end of piece". Does that work?

N.

[carlvaud]

OK - "variables at play".

Try this - again with the Resize Tool, go to page 7 and click in the middle of the system, not on a stave but on a white spot. The Resize System box comes up - specify "from System 7 to end of piece". Does that work?

N.

You're a wizard. Thanks
It worked!

[motet]

You added measures or pages after you started? Finale doesn't honor page set-up very well so you must tell it what you want.

I'm not sure what that means--how can it honor something if you don't tell it? New pages use the Page Format settings on the Document menu. If you then change the format with the Page Layout tool, it only affects the pages you change, not future ones, unless you do what N. Grossingink suggests. This is so different pages can have a different format if you want. Seems like reasonable behavior to me.

[miker]

Motet,
I have to disagree. While having a different page layout may be desired in some cases, I should daresay the greater majority is for pages to resemble all of the previous ones. I think the priorities are reversed. Whatever you have set up on p. 2 (since page one often has a different layout) should be the default for all following pages.

[motet]

You may be right, and it does cause a lot of confusion, but if it happened automatically as you say, how could you have a "standard" setting? Notice that "Update page format for score" is a toggle. I haven't tried it, but that suggests that if the toggle is on, it will behave like you want it to.

[N Grossingink]

Whatever you have set up on p. 2 (since page one often has a different layout) should be the default for all following pages.

If we're talking about page and system sizing then, upon starting a project, go to the Page Layout Menu and check "Update Page Format for Score". Then, whatever changes you make with the Resize Tool will be applied to any added pages or systems. Be careful how you use this, though, because it can bite you in the arse if you're not thinking in a large enough sense. I think that's what Motet was alluding to.

N.

[miker]

I'll give that a try; thanks to you, both.

[ebiggs1]

You added measures or pages after you started? Finale doesn't honor page set-up very well so you must tell it what you want.

I'm not sure what that means--how can it honor something if you don't tell it?

Ah, but you did tell it what you wanted. Does it not seem more logical to have the new pages follow all the previous pages you have been writing? The chance you want or need a different set-up should not be the 'standard'. IMHO, of course. You would prefer it go back to some 'standard' that most likely you didn't want even to begin with. I see no logic in that.

[motet]

There's no logic in having the page format settings not be what you want to begin with, and there's an easy mechanism to change them as we've discussed. Often you want a new page to be like the last, but not always. Especially in an orchestra score, where you may have to reduce things on a busy page. People get confused by the way it works, it's true, but if as you want the page format settings were done away with, you would be losing functionality without gaining anything except easing confusion for those who are using the program without understanding how it works.

[Peter Thomsen]

NB:
Page Layout menu > Update Page Format for Score
is a program specific setting, not a document specific setting.
If you toggle "Update Page Format for Score" on, then it will be on in all documents you edit from now on, and until you toggle it off.

It is a good idea that you toggle "Update Page Format for Score" off, before you begin editing e. g. a Coda system.

[ebiggs1]

There's no logic in having the page format settings not be what you want to begin with, ...

How I set-up a score is exactly what I want. I want all the additional pages to be exactly like that and MOST, if not all, are. If I need a page that does not meet the layout I started with, I change it. Granted, I don't do orchestra scores mostly concert band but I do some Broadway stuff.
I go to and I suspect a lot of us go to some tedious work to set-up the score just like I/we want it. Only to have Finale default back to something that never worked as the default Finale layout is.

I want to set it up and forget it. Knowing this I usually overestimate my scores so I end up deleting the extra pages.

[motet]

You can change the default Finale page format for your piece from the Documents menu.

[Peter Thomsen]

There's no logic in having the page format settings not be what you want to begin with, ...

How I set-up a score is exactly what I want. I want all the additional pages to be exactly like that and MOST, if not all, are. If I need a page that does not meet the layout I started with, I change it. Granted, I don't do orchestra scores mostly concert band but I do some Broadway stuff.
I go to and I suspect a lot of us go to some tedious work to set-up the score just like I/we want it. Only to have Finale default back to something that never worked as the default Finale layout is.

I want to set it up and forget it. Knowing this I usually overestimate my scores so I end up deleting the extra pages.

In that case I suggest that you try the option “Update Page Format for Score” (in the Page Layout menu).

“Update Page Format for Score” means that Finale monitors, how you set up the score, and writes your formatting into the document (in the window “Page Format for Score”) so that all new systems/pages will be formatted, in the way you set up the score.
And every time you change the formatting, Finale will automatically update the settings in “Page Format for Score”.

PS
Changes in the settings “Page Format for Score” will only affect new systems/pages.
To update already existing systems/pages with the new settings, use the command “Redefine Pages” (in the Page Layout menu).

[motet]

Unfortunately, there doesn't seem to be "update page layout for parts."

[ebiggs1]

I am aware of how Finale is 'supposed' to work. Been at it too long and have realized not to trust it. I will continue to overestimate what I need and delete what I don't use.

[ebiggs1]

Another tip, save your work often !

[N Grossingink]

Another tip, save your work often !

And make regular backups, in a drive outboard of the computer. In fact, incremental backups might be the best route for longer, important projects where work spans days, weeks or even months. Better to lose 2-3 hours of work than 2-3 days.

N.

[ebiggs1]

Been there done that. Always sinks in much faster when you experience it. I will admit Finale is much more stable and reliable that it once was. Thank heaven!
The update page layout thingy still needs work, IMHO. Long time users always seem to find work-a-rounds for Finale's quirks.

Have a great music making day everybody. Gotta get to work.