cursor not drawing shapes or selecting notes for dynamics

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pmilsted
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Finale Version: 26
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Post by pmilsted » Wed Jul 03, 2019 2:23 am

FInale v26; Mac OS 10.14.5

When I double click and drag the cursor to draw any shape (cresc, gliss etc) there is a gray box with a dotted outline that extends from where I initially clicked until where I finish the drag, but the shape is not drawn and the box disappears when I release the mouse, leaving me unable to put in shapes.

When I select the dynamics tool, then double click on a note to insert a dynamic (or anything in the "mf" category), I can't select the note and insert anything.

The cursor looks like a plus sign with a down arrow when I hover over blank space and a quarter note in the upper right quadrant when I hover over a note.

I rebooted my computer and restarted finale. I tried selecting a different tool and going back to the original tool. No luck. I tried dragging the cursor back and forth several times until it shows an enlarged arrow, to reset the cursor. That didn't work either.

Did I somehow change the cursor and it is stuck in this - whatever "this" is. I have been using finale all afternoon and it was starting to act glitchy. It wouldn't select anything, or it would freeze. Then I would use the track pad for a few functions and the mouse would work again so thought it was my mouse causing the problems. But now I have a new mouse and the problem continues.

I can't seem to find this topic in any of the forums. Thanks for your help!

Patty


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motet
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Post by motet » Wed Jul 03, 2019 4:20 am

I'm assuming the mouse works as normal in other applications.

The cursor shapes you describe seem normal.

You could try resetting Finale's preferences file, where it stores other stuff in addition to preferences and seems to be a gathering spot for bugs:

https://makemusic.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/ ... inale-etc-

pmilsted
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Post by pmilsted » Wed Jul 03, 2019 12:53 pm

Update. I reset my preferences using these directions:

https://makemusic.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/ ... inale-etc-

I went back to my file and the first time I clicked on the MF to add a dynamic, it worked once and then stopped working. With the shape tool it worked a few times, but I had to do it several tries to get it to work each time, and now it doesn't work at all again.

One other thing I noticed: when I click on the MF to enter a dynamic, the box with the 4 triangles appear - the box that is for shifting the position of lyrics. I am not doing anything with lyrics in this file. It is a simple Bell part.

I went into a file I created last week and am having the same problems. So it's not the file. I believe it's a software glitch.

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N Grossingink
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Post by N Grossingink » Wed Jul 03, 2019 1:22 pm

The 4 positioning triangles are available in the Lyric, Expression and Chord tools and work the same way in all 3 tools. You can hide the triangles in the Expression Tool in the Expression Menu on the menu bar.

So far as the tools not working properly, I don't think it's a permanent software problem. You might want to try resetting the preferences again, making sure you're following the steps exactly.

N.
N. Grossingink
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pmilsted
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Post by pmilsted » Thu Jul 04, 2019 2:36 pm

i followed the instructions exactly and still no luck. Rebooting did not help either. Do I need to reinstall finale and see if that fixes it?

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N Grossingink
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Post by N Grossingink » Thu Jul 04, 2019 3:45 pm

Reinstalling Finale will probably not help. Next question:

Does this happen with all Finale files, or just this one? If just this one, the file may be corrupt. In that case, export the file as Music XML (File Menu > Export) and open the XML in Finale (File Menu > Import). That usually fixes bad files.

N.
N. Grossingink
Educational Band, Orchestra and Jazz Ensemble a specialty
Sample: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1pFF5OeJDeLFGHMRyXrubFqZWXBubErw4/view?usp=share_link


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Finale 2012c, 25.5, 26.3, 27.3

pmilsted
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Post by pmilsted » Mon Jul 08, 2019 9:30 pm

it happens with multiple finale files.

pmilsted
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Post by pmilsted » Mon Jul 08, 2019 9:42 pm

interestingly enough, when I open up an older file, I can select expressions and move them around. So finale is recognizing them, just not allowing me to create new ones.

articulations and everything else seems to be working.

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motet
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Post by motet » Mon Jul 08, 2019 9:54 pm

What happens when you try to place a new one?

pmilsted
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Post by pmilsted » Mon Jul 08, 2019 9:56 pm

I can copy expressions from other parts in the score and paste them into the new document, but I am unable to put in new ones.

I attached a copy of the file.

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motet
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Post by motet » Mon Jul 08, 2019 9:57 pm

Expressions work for me. Again, I ask: what happens when you try to place a new one?

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N Grossingink
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Post by N Grossingink » Mon Jul 08, 2019 10:24 pm

pmilsted wrote:FInale v26; Mac OS 10.14.5

When I double click and drag the cursor to draw any shape (cresc, gliss etc) there is a gray box with a dotted outline that extends from where I initially clicked until where I finish the drag, but the shape is not drawn and the box disappears when I release the mouse, leaving me unable to put in shapes
I think you might not be using the tool correctly. When you double click and drag to form a crescendo wedge, you actually hold the mouse button down on the second click then glide the mouse. So it's "Click - Click/Hold - Drag". The 2 Clicks should be rapid.

So far as dynamics, make sure you're using the Expression Tool, the tool with the "mf" icon - not the text tool with the "A" icon. Rapidly double click where you want the expression and the selection box should open. In this case, release the mouse button after the 2nd click - this is a normal double click.

N.
Last edited by N Grossingink on Mon Jul 08, 2019 10:42 pm, edited 1 time in total.
N. Grossingink
Educational Band, Orchestra and Jazz Ensemble a specialty
Sample: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1pFF5OeJDeLFGHMRyXrubFqZWXBubErw4/view?usp=share_link


Mac Mini 2014 2.6 Ghz, 8Gb RAM
OSX 10.15.7
Finale 2012c, 25.5, 26.3, 27.3

pmilsted
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Post by pmilsted » Mon Jul 08, 2019 10:25 pm

When I double click a note to add an expression (like a dynamic), nothing happens. When I double click and drag (as if adding a crescendo), I get at gray box with a dotted outline. When I release the mouse, the box disappears. At no time do I see any crescendo.

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zuill
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Post by zuill » Mon Jul 08, 2019 10:42 pm

I use Windows 7, so I can't really be of help. In the posted file, everything seems to work as needed. This might be something to do with settings Mac might have that Windows doesn't. Sometimes, with Windows on a laptop, there might be a conflict between the fingerpad and the mouse. Usually there is an option to disable the pad when a mouse is plugged in. Otherwise, I have no words of wisdom. Nothing wrong with the file, in my opinion.

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

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motet
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Post by motet » Mon Jul 08, 2019 10:48 pm

If you are getting the rectangle when you double-click and drag (holding the button down), it thinks you are single clicking. If double-clicking isn't working, that would also explain why you can't place an expression (which requires double-clicking) but can place an articulation (which requires single-clicking).

I don't know if the Macintosh has mouse settings, but see if there's a double-click speed (there is on Windows). It may be set faster than you can click.

Bill Stevens
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Post by Bill Stevens » Mon Jul 08, 2019 10:53 pm

Using the same Finale version and Mac OS that you have, I can't reproduce your problem using your sample file.

If you start from the default file or from a template, does the problem still happen?

::: Bill
Version 26.3 / 27.4 / Mac OS 10.15.5 Catalina
Finale user since the beginning of time.

pmilsted
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Post by pmilsted » Mon Jul 08, 2019 10:54 pm

yes. this happens with a default document.

pmilsted
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Post by pmilsted » Mon Jul 08, 2019 10:57 pm

Ok it is fixed now. The mouse speed was set to "fast". When I slowed the speed down in the system preferences, it fixed it.

THANK YOU!

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motet
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Post by motet » Mon Jul 08, 2019 11:00 pm

(Bowing.)

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