bakx files opening in wrong version of Finale

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juliepiano
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Finale Version: 25
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Post by juliepiano » Fri Mar 02, 2018 9:06 pm

I'm running Finale 25.5 on Windows 10. My mus, musx, asv, and asvx files are all associated with Finale 25, but when I try to open a bakx file from File Explorer, it wants to open it in Finale 2014. I went to Windows settings and tried to change the file association but the only options Windows gives me are Finale 2014 or to choose an app from the app store. Any ideas? Is there a way to change the file association in Finale?
Julie Johnson
Owner, J. Johnson Music Publications
Author of Basics of Keyboard Theory, Ear Training Basics, and Guide to AP Music Theory


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motet
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Finale Version: 2014.5,2011,2005,27
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Post by motet » Fri Mar 02, 2018 9:18 pm

Hmm, for some reason, right-clicking on .bakx doesn't offer "Open with..."

There are third-party utilities that can make the association, but it might be easier just to lauch Finale and then open the file with Finale's Open dialog.

It's possible that if you delete your preferences file it may take you through the "associate with Finale 25?" business again, but honestly, I wouldn't bother for something that you'll probably rarely want to do.

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MikeHalloran
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Post by MikeHalloran » Sat Mar 03, 2018 12:24 am

It may have to do with the fact that F-25 is 64 bit only while all other versions are 32 bit.

Otherwise what Motet said. What is your time worth and how much do you want to dedicate to this?
Mike Halloran

Finale 27.3, SmartScore X2 Pro, GPO5 & World Instruments
MacOS Ventura 13.2.1; 2017 iMac Pro 18 Core, 128G RAM, 4TB; 2021 MBAir M1
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juliepiano
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Post by juliepiano » Sat Mar 03, 2018 12:58 am

What's my time worth? I suppose that depends on who you ask.

I not too worried about it, but it would be nice to have it fixed. I'll just need to remember to open Finale first then open the file if I need a backup.
Julie Johnson
Owner, J. Johnson Music Publications
Author of Basics of Keyboard Theory, Ear Training Basics, and Guide to AP Music Theory

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motet
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Post by motet » Sat Mar 03, 2018 2:49 am

The other option would be to rename them to .musx.

I don't think I've ever needed a .bakx file myself.

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MikeHalloran
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Post by MikeHalloran » Sat Mar 03, 2018 7:27 pm

motet wrote:The other option would be to rename them to .musx.
Or use Save as and create a new file in 25
motet wrote:I don't think I've ever needed a .bakx file myself.
Ditto
Mike Halloran

Finale 27.3, SmartScore X2 Pro, GPO5 & World Instruments
MacOS Ventura 13.2.1; 2017 iMac Pro 18 Core, 128G RAM, 4TB; 2021 MBAir M1
NotePerformer3, Dorico 4, Overture, Notion 6, DP 11, Logic Pro

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zuill
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Post by zuill » Sat Mar 03, 2018 7:32 pm

I have needed them in the past, but rarely. They open from within Finale, of course. However, if you want to change the file association, that can be done. If you right click the file you won't find Finale listed there as an option because Windows doesn't have a clue about it. However, there is an option to browse for the program. Do that and select Finale as the default program. You must do this for each of the 2 file types (.bak and .bakx).

Zuill
Windows 10, Finale 2011-v26.3.1
"When all is said and done, more is said than done."

juliepiano
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Post by juliepiano » Sat Mar 03, 2018 8:12 pm

Thank you for the reminder, Zuill. Apparently I tried everything to get it to work yesterday except for that procedure. Unfortunately, a very weird thing happens with the "open with" process. I right-clicked a bakx file, selected "open with" then "More apps," scrolled down to "Look for another app on this PC, went to the Finale folder, and found Finale.exe. The box that appears when you run the mouse over the name says that it's version 25.5.0.290 created on 11/2/17. When I select the link and open the file, it opens in 2014.5! Then a window pops up that asks me if I want to open my .mus and .musx folders in 2014.5, to which I say "no." Another window pops up telling me that there's a new version of 2014.5 (version 25), and asks if I want to download it. It opens the file in a separate Finale window, leaving the other files that I already have open in version 25 active on the computer screen. All I can figure is that there's a glitch in my software.

Like Mike says, it's probably not worth my time to figure it out, especially right now. I'm working on a major revision to my AP music theory book before I need to reprint it, so I need to focus on that instead. The files I'm accessing for the revision are old, some from the '90s, so I run into odd problems with them now and then (especially with Lyrics locking up the whole program). Occasionally I've used backups when things get really messed up. It is very weird, though, and stuff like that bugs me. Maybe after I'm finished with the revision maybe I'll try reloading the program.

Thanks to all of you for your suggestions. Some things are just mysteries.
Julie Johnson
Owner, J. Johnson Music Publications
Author of Basics of Keyboard Theory, Ear Training Basics, and Guide to AP Music Theory

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motet
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Post by motet » Sat Mar 03, 2018 8:24 pm

zuill wrote:However, there is an option to browse for the program. Do that and select Finale as the default program. You must do this for each of the 2 file types (.bak and .bakx).

Zuill
On Windows 7, anyway, there is no "Open with..." choice for .bakx files like there is for .musx files. I don't know why that is.

I actually think it's a good thing in a way. It's probably good policy to not change .bakx files, so this prevents you from clicking on the .bakx file instead of the .musx file by mistake, and forces you to think about it. I guess I would do what I do with .asvx files: open it, then immediately save it as a .musx file with a different name.

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zuill
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Post by zuill » Sat Mar 03, 2018 8:27 pm

What I described is on Windows. There's no open with in the context menu until you make the file association. Once the association is made, the option is there.

Zuill
Windows 10, Finale 2011-v26.3.1
"When all is said and done, more is said than done."

juliepiano
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Finale Version: 25
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Post by juliepiano » Sat Mar 03, 2018 8:33 pm

Maybe it's different on Windows 10. What I don't understand is that I chose Finale 25 to open the file, but it still opens with 2014.5. Even odder is that 2014.5 is in a different Program File folder on the computer ("Program File 86" or something like that).
Julie Johnson
Owner, J. Johnson Music Publications
Author of Basics of Keyboard Theory, Ear Training Basics, and Guide to AP Music Theory

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motet
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Post by motet » Sat Mar 03, 2018 9:05 pm

Perhaps Windows 10 puts 32-bit programs there.

There was some problem with file associations when 2014 came out. I think MM didn't do it right. You may be suffering from that. There is a solution involving third-party software, as I said, but I don't think it's worth it. If you insist, Google "FileTypesMan."
Last edited by motet on Sat Mar 03, 2018 9:16 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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motet
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Post by motet » Sat Mar 03, 2018 9:15 pm

zuill wrote:What I described is on Windows. There's no open with in the context menu until you make the file association. Once the association is made, the option is there.

Zuill
Gotcha.

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