Writing a book of short piano pieces - separate Finale files or one file?

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Andrew Harrison
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Post by Andrew Harrison » Fri May 26, 2023 4:52 am

Hi Finale people,

I've got a quick question. I'm planning on composing a book of short piano pieces (probably around 1 page each). Would it make more sense to do these as separate Finale files, or as one file?

Thanks,
Andrew Harrison
Andrew Harrison
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www.andrewharrison.com.au
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motet
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Post by motet » Fri May 26, 2023 5:19 am

I don't know that there's a right and wrong answer, but I guess I might do one file. I don't see a reason to split it up, and having everything in one place would likely be more convenient. Assuming you want to show measure numbers, you'll need a measure number region for each piece. Is there a limit to the number of measure regions?

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Peter Thomsen
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Post by Peter Thomsen » Fri May 26, 2023 9:36 am

motet wrote:
Fri May 26, 2023 5:19 am
… Is there a limit to the number of measure regions? …
I seem to recall some old reports about problems in a document with many, many measure number regions.

Once I created a document with 18 measure number regions, and that worked without problems.
Unfortunately I have never tried a higher number of measure number regions.

Depending on the number of pieces you might consider splitting up into two Finale documents, with first half and second half of the pieces.
Or three documents, with one third in each.
Or …
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Bill Stevens
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Post by Bill Stevens » Fri May 26, 2023 11:10 am

I have done both the Finale and PDF route, but found compiling PDF's into a booklet the approach I prefer.

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ebiggs1
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Post by ebiggs1 » Fri May 26, 2023 4:01 pm

Personally I would do a separate file for each. But I agree there is probably no right or wrong. I suspect you would have a easier road if they all were separate. You could make a master file and use it for each page if you want them all to look alike.
...but found compiling PDF's into a booklet the approach I prefer.
Me too! And one reason I think separate is best.
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motet
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Post by motet » Fri May 26, 2023 4:32 pm

I find as I go along I add expressions, articulations, make Document settings, page formatting, etc. If everything is together, then all pieces automatically benefit from that. If they're separate, then you have the chore of making the same changes in many places.

As far as my worry about too many measure number regions, how many pieces will you have? I guess I would proceed on the assumption that it's probably OK. If not, you can always break it into two files.

I do break up operas by acts, mainly because there are thousands of measures involved and the possibility of running into the frame limit of 32,767, but that's not a worry with piano (you'd have to have 16,000 measures).

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Andrew Harrison
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Post by Andrew Harrison » Fri May 26, 2023 11:47 pm

Thanks everyone. Motet, I tend to agree with you - I'm not keen on having to make multiple changes across different files if I can avoid it.

In terms of the number of pieces, I imagine there will be about 15 one page compositions. So that's 15 measure regions, I assume.

As people have stated, I can always break it into two separate files, if needs be.

Regards,
Andrew
Andrew Harrison
Composer/pianist
www.andrewharrison.com.au
Instagram: instagram.com/aharrisonmusic/
MacBook Air running 12.6.5, Finale 27.3.0.160, plus Finale 26 & 25

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