beaming policy

[lynndavidnewton]

Running latest Finale on Mac. Which I'm sure doesn't matter.

Isn't there a way to change default beaming policy, e.g. in 4/4 where eighth notes are often grouped in fours, but I'd like them in 2's?

I know any beam can be changed, i.e. broken, e.g. using Speedy Entry and the / character, but then I need to change a bunch. I've just been living with it. Besides, most of the time I do want beams grouped in fours. But on some scores I want 2's, and I'm thinking there's a way to change the default so they go in the way I want upon initial entry, but I've searched and been unable to find it.

Surely some wizard here knows. Thanks as always.

[motet]

[lynndavidnewton]

Outstanding! Exactly what I'm looking for.

One of my goals for 2023 is to do a complete review of Finale and to explore some of the corners I should know about but don't. I'd completely forgotten there was a whole document options page with a zillion things that can be set. I know I've seen and used it before.

[dtoub]

I actually didn't know about that option in Document Options (probably bc I don't go to that section of Document Options), but what I've always done is either:

• Utilities:Rebeam:Rebeam to Time Signature and change the time signature to make the beaming work (eg, 2/1)

• Patterson Plugins (commercial): Beam Selection

Of the two, since I purchased Patterson a year or more ago, I use that the most since it works fast and does what I need it to do. But for minor beaming changes, Speedy Edit "/" works well also.