Finale Forum

Windows 7
Finale Printmusic 2014

Trying to find the alphanotes! Here is what I found online but can't actually find within the program I don't get the Education Template file option, it only opens to the available tempates themselves.

"Finale AlphaNotes font Created for use with beginning music students, the Finale AlphaNotes font places note names inside noteheads. Use one of the AlphaNotes templates (located in the Finale 2014/Music Files/Templates folder) to use these characters automatically.

To open an AlphaNotes template
Choose File > New > Document From Template.
Double-click the Education Templates folder.
Double-click either the Finale AlphaNotes Notenames or Finale AlphaNotes solfège templates.
Complete the Setup Wizard. Staves in these templates are automatically configured to use the proper AlphaNotes character for each pitch/staff position."

Are you using Finale or PrintMusic? Your signature says Finale, but you posted this in the PrintMusic forum.

I don’t think you can create Alpha Notes in PM. The user manual says PM users can read alphanote documents created in Finale.

I upgraded to Finale v.27 and can NOW use/notate alphanotes - yay!

Next question - can I change a file that isn't alphanotes, to become alphanotes? I have several I'd like to do that for, to make it easier for the duet partner. Thank you!

JoyfulPiano wrote: ↑

Tue Mar 21, 2023 6:10 pm

… can I change a file that isn't alphanotes, to become alphanotes? I have several I'd like to do that for, to make it easier for the duet partner …

Yes you can.

This is done with the Staff Tool.

You can apply a staff style, or you can change the Staff Attributes.

You can try the ready made staff style {Apply Finale AlphaNote Notenames} (which is what I would do).

Or you can do it yourself, by studying the ready made staff style.


General info:
The difference between a Staff Style and the Staff Attributes is that a Staff Style can be applied “locally” (= only in specific measures).

Staff Styles are document specific (not program specific).
You can save a document’s Staff Styles as a Library. (Look in the File menu)
You can load a Library into Finale documents. (Look in the File menu)

You can find the ready made staff style {Apply Finale AlphaNote Notenames} in the Default File.

Finale comes with some ready made Libraries you can Load into your documents.
Among these ready made Libraries is a Library with Staff Styles (the Library is located in the sub-folder Default Libraries).

Thanks for your prompt reply! So I checked out the Staff Style and Staff Attributes and there are a lot of options, but I am not sure what exactly to look for (I didn't see anything about alphanotes??)

Not sure where to find the Libraries you mentioned.

Thanks again - I can always rely on the Forum to help me out!!

JoyfulPiano wrote: ↑

Tue Mar 21, 2023 11:49 pm

… I checked out the Staff Style and Staff Attributes and there are a lot of options, but I am not sure what exactly to look for (I didn't see anything about alphanotes??) …

JoyfulPiano wrote: ↑

Tue Mar 21, 2023 11:49 pm

… Not sure where to find the Libraries you mentioned …

File menu > Load Library…

Thanks as I never would have found that option myself! I can't add an attachment to show you my screen, even a pdf ?! Weird...

Even with 'saving' the file, the notes don't change. What am I missing?

Also when I Load Library, what options in the dropdown box do I select? There are several options.

Thanks again so much! I have used Finale for years but only recently upgraded to v. 27, mainly for the alphanotes!

JoyfulPiano wrote: ↑

Wed Mar 22, 2023 6:01 pm

… I can't add an attachment to show you my screen, even a pdf ?! …

This forum does not allow attachments with the file name extension ‘.PDF’.
To attach a PDF file here you must first compress the PDF file as a ZIP file.

JoyfulPiano wrote: ↑

Wed Mar 22, 2023 6:01 pm

… Even with 'saving' the file, the notes don't change. What am I missing? …

I am afraid I do not understand.
What are your steps?

To apply a Staff Style:
Staff Tool.
Select the staff (e. g. by clicking to the left of the staff).
Staff menu > Apply Staff Style To > …

JoyfulPiano wrote: ↑

Wed Mar 22, 2023 6:01 pm

… when I Load Library, what options in the dropdown box do I select? There are several options …

What “dropdown box” are you talking about?

When I go to
File menu > Load Library…
I get a directory dialog box showing the folder Libraries.
To load the Library with Staff Styles, go to the sub-folder Default Libraries.

Perfect!! I was able to change to the alphanotes! I will check out the Library at another time, as my main problem has been solved. Thanks Peter!