Adding natural sign (accidental)

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surfinboy
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Post by surfinboy » Mon Jun 15, 2020 9:08 pm

I have a measure of music that has an F# (accidental) but later on in the measure I want to indicate an F natural. I can't find it in any of the menus. In older versions of Finale I recall there was a special accidental tool. I'm running 25.5.0.259 for Mac.
Screen Shot 2020-06-15 at 4.57.45 PM.png
Finale 25.5.0.259 for Mac OS 10.13.6


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David Ward
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Post by David Ward » Mon Jun 15, 2020 9:27 pm

One way is in Speedy Entry to place the cursor on the F and then press letter 'a' on the keyboard. That will reveal the accidental that would apply to the note if visible, which in this case is a natural. You can also press * (asterisk) but that can have unintended consequences, so safer to use the letter.
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motet
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Post by motet » Mon Jun 15, 2020 9:51 pm

.
Last edited by motet on Tue Jun 16, 2020 1:20 am, edited 1 time in total.

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miker
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Post by miker » Mon Jun 15, 2020 9:56 pm

Or the N key. Actually, it isn’t needed, as the previous sharp would not apply to the octave. But it’s a good idea, nonetheless.

You could also use the P key, which would show the natural in parentheses. Tap the P a second time, to remove the parentheses.
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motet
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Post by motet » Mon Jun 15, 2020 10:11 pm

I think the N key would make it natural if it wasn't, but won't show a cautionary accidental if it's already F natural.

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zuill
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Post by zuill » Mon Jun 15, 2020 11:01 pm

motet wrote:
Mon Jun 15, 2020 9:51 pm
* in Simple entry.
I use * in Speedy, but Ctrl+Shift+- in Simple. The OP uses Mac, so I guess that is slightly different.

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Last edited by zuill on Tue Jun 16, 2020 1:13 am, edited 1 time in total.
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miker
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Post by miker » Mon Jun 15, 2020 11:20 pm

motet wrote:
Mon Jun 15, 2020 10:11 pm
I think the N key would make it natural if it wasn't, but won't show a cautionary accidental if it's already F natural.
You are correct. The P key, then, twice. Or should it be in parentheses, since it is a reminder that the Natural is correct?
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motet
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Post by motet » Mon Jun 15, 2020 11:33 pm

I think what David is getting at is that * in Speedy will remove a legitimate accidental, whereas A won't, do A is safer for adding cautionaries unless you're removing a redundant accidental in a two-layer situation, for example.

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zuill
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Post by zuill » Tue Jun 16, 2020 1:18 am

I guess I was wondering why you said * in Simple. Speedy, yes, but not Simple.

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motet
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Post by motet » Tue Jun 16, 2020 1:20 am

My bad--don't know what I was thinking (not much of a Simple user). I will delete it.

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Post by Anders Hedelin » Tue Jun 16, 2020 10:10 am

At least when I use Speedy on Windows, the * toggles an accidental show/hide. This works for any accidental, those which are shown by default, and those which aren't. Unfortunately I can't remember what the equivalent key is on Mac, but I recall that it works the same way, toggling. (It's in the manual surely.)
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michelp
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Post by michelp » Tue Jun 16, 2020 10:26 am

I confirm that in Speedy, on the Mac, * works on the numeric keypad, but apparently not on the main keyboard.
"A "works, too (like David Ward said).
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Post by Anders Hedelin » Tue Jun 16, 2020 11:36 am

michelp wrote:
Tue Jun 16, 2020 10:26 am
I confirm that in Speedy, on the Mac, * works on the numeric keypad, but apparently not on the main keyboard.
"A "works, too (like David Ward said).
Yes, I remember that on my once Mac laptop there was no numeric keyboard so I had to use a macro program for the numeric *. (QuicKeys it was at the time, but that's now ten years ago.) Well, if the "a" works as well, this post is redundant.
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michelp
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Post by michelp » Tue Jun 16, 2020 2:39 pm

Those who have Keyboard Maestro and a Mac without a numeric keypad can define a keyboard shortcut (on the main keyboard) which triggers the missing keys (asterisk, tuplets, Clear key). See image :
 
asterisk.jpeg
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motet
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Post by motet » Tue Jun 16, 2020 3:58 pm

In Speedy on Windows, * on the top row (Shift-8) works for me. Odd that it doesn't on the Mac. But I really do think it's good to get in the habit of using A instead, for the reason stated above, and no macro needed.

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miker
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Post by miker » Tue Jun 16, 2020 7:18 pm

I use the P, as I said. Years ago, the P was a triple toggle: with parentheses, without, and remove accidental. They have removed the last, so I set up a keyboard shortcut of Ctrl-P to remove. Very handy when checking for accidentals carried (or not) across a barline, especially when I have come in through a scan.
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