Finale adding an "x" to part file names when printing to PDF
Moderators: Peter Thomsen, miker
Hi, I'm using Finale 25.4 on Windows 10 and I'm working on some big band arrangements and I'm in the process of editing and printing parts. In the past I extracted parts to separate files, but I'm trying linked parts for the first time. When I go to print parts to PDF, Finale defaults the PDF filename to "filenamex - instrumentname.pdf" I can't find an option anywhere to remove that "x" which isn't part of the original filename. It does this to all of my files consistently. Thanks!
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I do the same as Zuill. It seems unnecessary of course, and possibly a bug, but if you have a lot of parts to print to pdf, you soon get into the 'rhythm' of removing the xes.
Finale 26.3, 27.4.1
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- ebiggs1
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.. or they don't hurt anything if you leave them.
Finale 27.4.1 - Perfect Layout Silver - Note Performer 4.4 - SmartScore Pro 64 - Windows 11
President, The Shawnee Concert Band, Composer/Arranger, retired Music Teacher.
President, The Shawnee Concert Band, Composer/Arranger, retired Music Teacher.
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zuill wrote:I remove them manually, one at a time.
If only you guys had a machine that could perform repetitive tasks for you, based on a simple set of instructions!Anders Hedelin wrote:I do the same as Zuill. It seems unnecessary of course, and possibly a bug, but if you have a lot of parts to print to pdf, you soon get into the 'rhythm' of removing the xes.
Seriously, if I had to make this correction to more than a few files, regularly, I'd script it. Can't it be done in Windows with JavaScript, or DOS, or something?
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Thanks for your understanding, BuonTempi. But I really don't mind this bit of manual labour at the end of a lengthy project.
Flutes - done. (un-exed)
Oboes - done (un-exed)...
Flutes - done. (un-exed)
Oboes - done (un-exed)...
Finale 26.3, 27.4.1
Windows 10
Windows 10
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Then, I'm an absolute ignorant when it comes to scripts. If I tried, unwisely, in fx. an arrangement of a wellknown Handel opera, it would likely go like this - script: 'remove all exes' - result: "eres - Alto Saophone'.
Finale 26.3, 27.4.1
Windows 10
Windows 10
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Then you search for "x -" and replace with " -" (case sensitive).
If I showed you a time-saving tip in Finale, you'd use it. At the very least, there are free File Renaming utilities you can download to remove the x. There's absolutely no reason to perform tedious repetitive tasks on a computer, if you can possibly avoid it.
If I showed you a time-saving tip in Finale, you'd use it. At the very least, there are free File Renaming utilities you can download to remove the x. There's absolutely no reason to perform tedious repetitive tasks on a computer, if you can possibly avoid it.
- motet
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I don't have a Mac, but in UNIX one would do something like
hardly something that most people would have the chops to do. Or does the Mac somehow make this easier?
Code: Select all
ls -1 *.pdf | sed 's/\(.*\)x - \(.*\)/mv & \1 - \2/ | sh
Last edited by motet on Sat Sep 23, 2017 7:56 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Thanks for taking this seriously., BuonTempi. I was actually more or less serious myself.
Where, more exactly, could I search?
Where, more exactly, could I search?
Finale 26.3, 27.4.1
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Windows 10
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Thanks motet. I think I will leave this to others to brood over.
Finale 26.3, 27.4.1
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Windows 10
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As I say, you could start by using an app that does batch renaming, and use the terms I gave.Anders Hedelin wrote:Thanks for taking this seriously., BuonTempi. I was actually more or less serious myself.
Where, more exactly, could I search?
I just offer the possibility of making it easier for yourself. That's all.
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I am grateful that you try to make things easier for me, but sometimes I think programs, plug-ins or assisting apps shouldn't do all the work for you. Here is something that really inspires me in my attempt to be a music engraver, something very not-plug-in:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BvyoKdW-Big
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BvyoKdW-Big
Finale 26.3, 27.4.1
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Windows 10
- zuill
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As far as printing to pdf, I do the files one at a time, as Finale and Cute pdf don't batch print well. For each part, the print name appears with the x, I remove it, save, then go on to the next part.
the x is a result of bad programming. The programmers made it so the mus is removed. When they changed to musx format, they forgot to change the program to remove the x as well. That's my take on it, anyway. I may be wrong.
Zuill
the x is a result of bad programming. The programmers made it so the mus is removed. When they changed to musx format, they forgot to change the program to remove the x as well. That's my take on it, anyway. I may be wrong.
Zuill
Windows 10, Finale 2011-v26.3.1
"When all is said and done, more is said than done."
"When all is said and done, more is said than done."
- motet
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Hah! You're right!
I made a file called TeSt.musX and the resulting PDF was TeStX - Part 1. Since the X is uppercase in the Finale file name and the PDF file name, I think that proves your theory.
I made a file called TeSt.musX and the resulting PDF was TeStX - Part 1. Since the X is uppercase in the Finale file name and the PDF file name, I think that proves your theory.
- gogreen
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I do exactly the same thing as Zuill does. Not really a big deal, but MM should fix this.As far as printing to pdf, I do the files one at a time, as Finale and Cute pdf don't batch print well. For each part, the print name appears with the x, I remove it, save, then go on to the next part.
Art
Finale 27
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MacOS Ventura 13.6.6
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08BRHBTHT/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=%22Arthur+J.+Michaels%22&qid=1593016536&sr=8-2
Finale 27
NotePerformer, GPO5, COMB2
MacOS Ventura 13.6.6
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08BRHBTHT/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=%22Arthur+J.+Michaels%22&qid=1593016536&sr=8-2
I am on Windows and use a free utility called Rename-It! that works really well.
You just set up a filter to find and replace "x -" with " -".
Just google it and you will find it. I believe I downloaded it from Sourceforge.
You just set up a filter to find and replace "x -" with " -".
Just google it and you will find it. I believe I downloaded it from Sourceforge.
Finale 2014.5, Finale 25, Dorico 4, Musescore 4
Windows 11
Windows 11