Finale Forum

Friends,
Right now I am on Windows 7 computer.
I have completely forgotten how I can map F-keys to different tools.
On Mac it is the system setting, but I remember on Windows it is Finale setting.
Latest time I used Finale on Win was 10 years ago.

I, too, am on a Mac.

But I seem to recall that the Windows version of TG Tools has a plug-in called something like “Menu Shortcuts”.

Unfortunately, there are issues with TG Tools Menu Shortcuts and v25. Maybe the problems are only with the Lite version. If you have earlier versions of Finale in which you used the shortcuts, it corrupts them. With 25 alone, it might be okay.

Zuill

It would be so easy for them to use a different registry key for V.25.

If you're using V.25 exclusively, then go for the TGTools Lite Menu Shortcuts, but otherwise, you're supposed to be able to press Shift+Fn to program it. It doesn't work for me, however; that could be because I have TGTools Full installed, or could be yet something else broken in recent versions. I know I used to use it long ago.

Just select the tool you want to program, and then press shift+F3 or whatever function key you want to program.
If you are on a laptop, make sure the function keys are set to "normal" f1-f12 instead of things like mute, volume, wireless etc.

Ah, thanks. It just silently does it, then?

Yes. You do not get any confirmation whatsoever, but it does work. Document-specific, though.

Oh yes, that was TGTools...

Thank you Harpsi, I didn't know that existed.

Unfortunately, my Widows machine just crashed, it is dead, completely...
Now back on Mac, but it is so slow.

Sorry your "widow"er-making machine crashed, OCTO. Have you ever used Keyboard Maestro on the Mac? I have all my tools and such programmed to function and other keys and it works beautifully without having to use the Mac System Preferences or whatever. And it works with different versions of Finale without having to reset anything.

OCTO wrote:... … …Now back on Mac, but it is so slow.

Mac slowness with F 25.5 seems fickle.

On my 12 inch slim MacBook, with 8 GB RAM, 500 GB SSD (less than half full), and retina display, running OS 10.13.6, I have no noticeable slowing. This is when connected to an external non-retina 24 inch portrait orienting display while working on a large vocal and orchestral score of 2,000 bars or so. My desktop MacMini with spinning HD, however, begins to become very slow if connected to the same monitor, unless I keep re-launching Finale 25 as often as practical (maybe hourly).

This is probably more than a little OT, but here is the most basic part of my Mac setup with Keyboard Maestro in case it would be helpful to anyone. The basic idea behind it is to group similar items mostly in groups of three for easier location and memory for fingers 4-3-2 in the left hand so the right hand can stay as much as possible with the mouse:

F01 Speedy Entry
F02 Articulation
F03 Expression

F04 Slur
F05 Crescendo Hairpin
F06 Diminuendo Hairpin

F07 Text
F08 Repitch
F09 Eraser

F10 Measure
F11 Staff
F12 Page Layout

F13 Note Position
F14 Accidental Mover
F15 Dot Tool

F16 Beam Angle
F17 Reverse Stem
F18 Stem Length
F19 Tie Tool

Forward Delete Clef
Page Down Time Signature
End Key Signature

Home Note Mover
Page Up Repeat

Caps Lock Layer 2
Shift-Caps Lock Layer 1
Option-Caps Lock Layer 3

I think we all set up our own, depending on what we use the most. Since most of my work is editing barbershop, which uses two staves with two layers, but 4 verses, I have, from F1 up:

Lyric tool
Type into Score
Edit Word Extension
Specify current lyric...
Layer 1
Layer 2
Show Active layer Only
(Simple Entry) Quarter note
Repitch tool
Slur
Articulation
Expression
Note Position tool