Document Styles and Instrument Names

[daveclilverd]

Hello all,
I'm using Finale 26 (26.0.1.655) on Windows 10.

Ok, so I have created a Document Style file (saved as a .ftmx file in my user-level Document Styles folder) with some modified Instrument names (e.g. Flutes 1&2, Clarinets in Bb 1&2) etc..

If I reload that file directly into Finale, everything looks fine and the modified instrument names are present.

However, if I go through the Document Setup Wizard, select my desired ensemble and then the Document Style previously saved (as above), when the loading process is finished the instrument names have reverted to their defaults. Everything else from the Document Style seems to be correct.

I can't for the life of me work out what's going wrong - anyone got any ideas...?

Thanks for any help / suggestions.

Dave.

[N Grossingink]

I'd quit Finale and restart, if you haven't already. Some elements of Finale load each time you start up. Your new style may have to do this to take effect.

[daveclilverd]

Thanks for the quick reply - but I had already tried that (several times...!!). Doesn't appear to make any difference.
Cheers,
Dave.

[motet]

Probably using a document style doesn't include using staff names. I think a .ftmx file is identical to a .musx file, which is why your staff names are there when you open it directly. The different file extension is just to distinguish what the file is for and what to look for in the "open style" dialog. But when you use it as a document style, it mines the file for certain settings but not everything.

You might want to look at this instead:

http://usermanuals.finalemusic.com/Fina ... embles.htm

[zuill]

I believe, as Dave has discovered, that Finale culls the names from the file which stores the instrument info, not from the Ensemble or from the Document Style file. In the old days, the file which stored the names and instrument setup info was a text file, which we could edit. They now use a file type which we are not able to edit. Too bad.

Zuill

[motet]

It's possible to edit for the adventuresome. It's an SQLite database.

viewtopic.php?f=3&t=17865&p=68253

[N Grossingink]

The solution is to take the modified file (blank and unused) and save it as a template. Just make a copy of the template and use it for each new project. Most professional engravers don't use the Setup Wizard to start a new project. They use their custom templates which are formatted as they desire.

[motet]

I do something like that. I have all the instruments I commonly use, and delete the unwanted ones when starting a new piece.

[daveclilverd]

Thanks guys for all the input. I know my way round an SQLite database reasonably well, but I think I will follow the suggestion to start from a saved template rather than using the wizard.
Cheers,
Dave.

[Peter Thomsen]

… I think I will follow the suggestion to start from a saved template rather than using the wizard …

Preferences - New

Beware the option
Display Setup Wizard When Opening a Template

Consider whether you prefer to select it, or de-select it.