The original version of this page can be found at : http://forum.makemusic.com/default.aspx?f=12&m=280633
| Posted By : Robert P. - 1/14/2010 6:37 AM | Hi Finalescripters!
Please use this thread to input Finalescript feature requests.
Your suggestions are always welcome, and very often taken into account!
Best,
Robert P.
2.4 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo MacBook Pro, 3GB RAM
Mac OS X 10.4.11 / 10.5 / [Win XP] |
| Posted By : Dave Hage - 1/14/2010 7:33 AM | Dear Robert,
Top of my list on the Mac side would be:
Complete control over the page setup dialog box.
Editing/Deleting/Creating of text blocks
Regards
David Hage
OS X 10.5.6
Dual G5 PPC 7GB Ram
Apogee Rosetta/Symphony PCI |
| Posted By : Jetcopy - 1/14/2010 1:24 PM | Hi Robert,
Thanks for asking for our input.
I like to see wildcard characters availabble in text search & replace.
There's been a lot of requests on this forum for more control over text blocks, being able to identify them, create, etc...
A bug that has cropped up in 2010, I use a script to batch print to PDF. Using the full Acrobat and Distiller as my printer. With 2010, whenever I run this script, FS prints each file twice before moving on to the next file in the folder. It's be great if you had time to look at that.
Thanks,
Jeff
G4 Powerbook, OSX 10.4.11, 1.67 GHz, 2 GB ram |
| Posted By : KennethKen - 1/14/2010 4:36 PM | Being able to change clefs for a few selected measures. Last I checked, Finalescript could not select clefs from the clef palette.
Ken
Windows XP, Finale 2010, Pentium 4, 3GHz, 2GB Ram
Brass music, Woodwind Music, Concert Band Music, CDs, etc.Post Edited (KennethKen) : 5/12/2010 11:53:52 AM (GMT-5) |
| Posted By : UCG Musician - 1/14/2010 9:30 PM | Robert,
At the top of the list for me is working with text boxes. With your help & suggestions from others I have developed workarounds that manipulate existing text boxes as long as they're selected or always in the same place on the page, but they're not very elegant! Specifically, if I know a text box is in a certain position, I can direct the mouse coordinates there to get it selected & then edit it. But it's all trial & error & doesn't always work because the position isn't exact & it requires the zoom to be consistent & the page to be in "home position" before it works. My scripts do some "hunting & pecking" to get those text boxes selected. Ideally FS would have methods to lasso text boxes and/or select them by their ID number. Additionally, creating text boxes from scratch is possible but cumbersome. I can only enter a new text box by positioning the mouse, double-clicking & then entering the entire text one character at a time (e.g., Press "f", Press "l", Press "u", Press "t", Press "e" to get "flute"). Some functionality along these lines would help.
Second, it would be nice if elements of the Instrument dialog box could be accessed through FS.
Third, you helped me with a script to select a bracket style by using mouse coordinates. This does work but it would be nice if it were a "real function," not a workaround.
Fourth, there may be ways to edit continuous data but I haven't found it. I'd like to select all notes & set their velocity to 85 or something.
Other items on my "wish list" include program controls (branching, subroutines, structured programming, nesting, etc.). "If...Then" statements would be wonderful!
Finally, I use FS to a very high degree & have literally hundreds of scripts, some with well over 100 lines of code. When I move a script to another folder, it resets the entire palette so that ALL scripts are listed, including those in folders & subfolders. As a result, I usually create a new script & copy & paste existing code into it rather than move it. Later I may or may not delete the original one. Occasionally the entire order of scripts gets screwed up when I try to move a script.
I guess that's it for now. Thanks for creating FS. I cannot image the work I'd have to do manually without it!
Randy |
| Posted By : SF - 1/14/2010 9:49 PM | Jeff,
The workaround to get FS 2010 to batch print one copy instead of two is...
process folder
selection tool
process all open docs
print
save
close
"Process folder" together with the "print" function is broken but for some reason "process all open docs" with the "print" function works. You need to throw any meaningless line of code in the second line. It will not work without this second line of code.
Robert, can this be fixed?
Thanks,
SF |
| Posted By : Robert P. - 1/15/2010 4:43 AM | I will definitely look into it.
But please let us stay focused on the feature request for this thread!
Robert
2.4 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo MacBook Pro, 3GB RAM
Mac OS X 10.4.11 / 10.5 / [Win XP] |
| Posted By : Dr. Wiggy - 1/15/2010 10:06 AM | Condition testing would be fantastic.
For instance, I wanted to make a Finalescript that would toggle the Enharmonic setting between "Favor Sharps" and "Favor Flats". Obviously, it would need to know which one was currently selected in order to toggle the status.
Finale 2009c, 2Ghz iMac; 2Ghz MacBook, 10.6.1
Edirol FA-66; M-Audio Oxygen 61; Yamaha PSR-410
Ancient Groove Music
www.ancientgroove.co.uk |
| Posted By : Jetcopy - 1/15/2010 1:48 PM | I'm not sure if this is within the realm of FS, but I receive files from different writers and after bringing their file into my template I always swap out their articulations and dynamics with my own, since mine have my preferred placement settings.
So would it be possible for example, for FS to search for all mf's in a file, and replace them with the single mf expression that I specify?
Jeff
G4 Powerbook, OSX 10.4.11, 1.67 GHz, 2 GB ram |
| Posted By : gogreen - 1/18/2010 3:26 PM | Support and detailed tutorials are essential to making this feature usable.
Arthur J. Michaels
Finale 2000, 2001, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007c.r2 (using 2007c.r2)
P4, 3.00 GHz, 3.0 GB RAM, SB Audigy 2, Windows XP SP3, Garritan CoMB
www.myspace.com/arthurjmichaels |
| Posted By : Piotr Kolodziej - 1/20/2010 7:40 AM | I would like to have "or" in search function of FS2 (similar to GREP in Indesign CS4).
to script/search (within a single line) more than one possibility, e.g.:
search "flauto" or "flauti" replace ... (etc.)
In GREP (indesign CS4) is written: "flauto |flauti"
I don't know if this is possible?
Best,
Piotr
PIOTR KOLODZIEJ, musicologist, music editor • www.piotrkolodziej.com
www.facebook.com/studio.orfeo
SOFTWARE:
Finale 2008-2010b (PC, Mac) with: Medieval, TGTools (full), Patterson (full), Copyist Helper, JW Freeware plug-ins.
DOLET for Finale, DOLET for MAC
Sibelius 5.25, Sibelius 6.1 (PC, MAC),
Cubase 4, Philharmonik Miroslav, SonikSynth2, SampleTank 2XL,
Photoscore 6 Ultimate, Audioscore 6 Ultimate, SharpEye2, PDFtoMusic Pro 1.2
Adobe Creative Suite 4 (Design Standard, PC): Illustrator CS4, Indesign CS4, Photoshop CS4, Acrobat 9 Professional
HARDWARE:
PC Desktop: AMD Athlon X2 6000+ (2 x 3,1 GHz), 2 GB RAM, Win Vista HP SP1/Windows 7 HP, E-MU Tracker Pre, M-Audio Keystation 88es
Macbook: 2,4 GHz Core 2 Duo, 2 GB RAM, OS X 10.6.2
PRINTERS: HP Laserjet 3005dn (A4), Konica-Minolta Bizhub 162 (A3), Canon IP4300 (A4, inkjet)
SCANNERS: HP Scanjet G4010
TABLETT: Wacom Intuos4L |
| Posted By : Jari Williamsson - 1/26/2010 9:55 AM | A way to check the state of the document, most specifically I would like a way to check that there actually is a region selected before the script is run. For example, "require selection" at the start of the script would stop the script unless there is a region selected.
Jari Williamsson
Windows XP, Pentium 4
2.40 GHz, 4 GB RAM
www.finaletips.nu - The Finaletips Productivity Tips site |
| Posted By : Dr. Wiggy - 1/29/2010 5:20 AM | The ability to record a user-generated sequence of commands. i.e. Hit <record>, then click on menu items, and FS would create a script.
Finale 2009c, 2Ghz iMac; 2Ghz MacBook, 10.6.1
Edirol FA-66; M-Audio Oxygen 61; Yamaha PSR-410
Ancient Groove Music
www.ancientgroove.co.uk |
| Posted By : KennethKen - 1/30/2010 11:15 PM | Wiggy said...
The ability to record a user-generated sequence of commands. i.e. Hit <record>, then click on menu items, and FS would create a script.
BINGO! Zero learning curve.
Windows XP, Finale 2010, Pentium 4, 3GHz, 2GB Ram
Brass music, Woodwind Music, Concert Band Music, CDs, etc. |
| Posted By : SF - 2/1/2010 1:50 PM | I'm editing a bunch of text blocks right now and would love the ability to write a script where you could specify a point in the text to change the font, size, and/or style from that point to the end of the text without specifying the exact text (pix attached if you need a visual). In the case attached I would specify the RETURN as the item to search for and replace it with a "space ~ space" applying the top line's font to this and the remaining text that would be brought up.
Also, it would be great if there was an easier way to deal with returns (or line breaks). I always have to go back to the documentation to figure out how to remove or replace a "return" in a block of text.
Thanks,
SF
MPB 17" 3Ghz, 4GB, 10.6.2Post Edited (SF) : 2/1/2010 12:56:15 PM (GMT-6) |
| Posted By : Jari Williamsson - 2/1/2010 4:00 PM | Wiggy said...
The ability to record a user-generated sequence of commands. i.e. Hit <record>, then click on menu items, and FS would create a script.
It the suggestion quoted above would be too complicated, perhaps a Wizard that auto-created scripts or script lines from the approach "What would you like to do?", where the user is guided through the Wizard?
Jari Williamsson
Windows XP, Pentium 4
2.40 GHz, 4 GB RAM
www.finaletips.nu - The Finaletips Productivity Tips site |
| Posted By : SF - 2/1/2010 4:45 PM | The ability to change the fonts as extensively as "Data Check" does. So that the user can choose to change fonts in 3 different ways:
1. SPECIFIC AREAS (lyrics, expressions, etc...as it currently works)
2. in the DOCUMENT (as it currently works).
3. GLOBALLY so it will change the Document Option Fonts also (New).
Thanks,
SF
MPB 17" 3Ghz, 4GB, 10.6.2 |
| Posted By : KennethKen - 2/1/2010 8:38 PM |
Jari Williamsson said...
Wiggy said...
The ability to record a user-generated sequence of commands. i.e. Hit <record>, then click on menu items, and FS would create a script. It the suggestion quoted above would be too complicated,... Too complicated for who? The user?
Windows XP, Finale 2010, Pentium 4, 3GHz, 2GB Ram
Brass music, Woodwind Music, Concert Band Music, CDs, etc. |
| Posted By : gogreen - 2/2/2010 9:36 AM | I second Wiggy and Jari's idea about a wizard--something like Microsoft Word's feature that records a macro from keystrokes.
Arthur J. Michaels
Finale 2000, 2001, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007c.r2 (using 2007c.r2)
P4, 3.00 GHz, 3.0 GB RAM, SB Audigy 2, Windows XP SP3, Garritan CoMB
www.myspace.com/arthurjmichaels |
| Posted By : KennethKen - 2/2/2010 3:42 PM |
Jari Williamsson said...
KennethKen said...
Too complicated for who? The user? The developers (from a resource point of view). Robert asked for suggestions. If I users held their tongue or dismissed thinks because they thought something would be too complicated for the developer to develop we'd still be engraving on metal plates. Let's let Robert determine what he can or cannot do.
Ken
BTW - When you suggest a Wizard that asks questions (which is a good idea although limited by having to anticipate the user's questions), wouldn't that be harder to do than simply having an interface like TGTools' Key Assignment DBX which would then translate the command into Finalescript (with the necessary user data input fields, of course)? Now you've got me thinking like a developer. Damn you!
Windows XP, Finale 2010, Pentium 4, 3GHz, 2GB RamBrass music, Woodwind Music, Concert Band Music, CDs, etc. |
| Posted By : Jari Williamsson - 2/6/2010 7:03 AM | KennethKen said...
Let's let Robert determine what he can or cannot do.
And that's exactly what I do. 
I didn't disagree with the original idea about recording, just gave an additional alternative suggestion.
However, I now noticed that my original response was incorrectly spelled, it should be "If the suggestion quoted above would be too complicated..."
Jari Williamsson
Windows XP, Pentium 4
2.40 GHz, 4 GB RAM
www.finaletips.nu - The Finaletips Productivity Tips site |
| Posted By : Jetcopy - 2/28/2010 11:15 AM | Robert,
I'd like to be able to call up a contexual menu with FS. (Maybe this is already possible, but I'm not sure what terminology to use to get this)
JT
G4 Powerbook, OSX 10.4.11, 1.67 GHz, 2 GB ram |
| Posted By : rpmseattle - 5/4/2010 7:20 PM | I've not figured out a way to specify chromatic transposition for an instrument. I can transpose by key, but not chromatically. Perhaps I've missed something.
command in samples is
transpose instrument to F
thanks
Finale 2010, 2009 | Mac Pro 8 Core Xeon | OSX 10.5.8
www.musicprep.com/coda |
| Posted By : Mircea - 5/28/2010 4:05 AM | The ability to search replace text/part of text contextually
Search for abc1* replace with cba1*
Search for *abc1 replace with *cba2
"Wait for user imput" - inthe midle of the script allows me to make a specific change and once I close that window the script continues.
For example I'm compiling a book, and among others I am creating the page numbering and trough the script call up the "Edit Page Offset"
here the script pauses and waits for that window to be closed before resuming. I type the page offset and press OK, and the script resumes with the rest of the tasks.
©1999 - 2010 E tot ce va spun!
Finale 2010, Windows 7, and some more stuff...Post Edited (Mircea) : 5/28/2010 4:55:53 AM (GMT-5) |
| Posted By : chipzoller - 6/29/2010 12:46 PM | I'd like to see the Shortcut Editor window intercept any keystrokes sent before displaying to what they are currently assigned. I don't know if this is possible, but it is annoying testing possible key combinations and having them execute on the system or in Finale. Would it not be possible to simply have the window report the current assignment (if any) without having them trigger the assigned behavior?
Finale 2005, 2011 (Windows 7, 64-bit; Mac OS 10.6.4, 64-bit) |
| Posted By : Jeanne R - 7/8/2010 1:54 PM | Well, I'll port my request for help over to this thread... Please give me the ability to pass the name of the file into dialog boxes like those we get when we export audio or graphics. For me, in fact, if it's easier, the file's title field would be fine. I always use it because I have a lot of small files and print them. But clearly Finale knows both because both are available as inserts with the Text tool (altho the file name insert uses the full path which is less good).
As long as I'm writing, I'll add my vote for a "record keystrokes" macro.
Jeanne
Win XP Pro, Finale 2008a, GPO 3 |
| Posted By : Tikimon21 - 12/21/2010 2:27 PM | I'm having a hard time batch printing files to PDF on my Mac. I'm running OSX 10.5 and currently there are only 1-2 virtual printers available and I can't get them to install correctly. Is there are script that I'm missing that will let you use the in-Finale "Save As PDF" command, and if there isn't, then one would certainly be useful.
Thanks |
| Posted By : Motet - 12/22/2010 1:05 AM | Finalescript is very cool, but I would like to see better documentation.
Finale 2011b, 2005b, TGTools
Windows XP Professional, Service Pack 3
|
| Posted By : Jetcopy - 12/22/2010 8:49 AM | Tikimon21 said...
I'm having a hard time batch printing files to PDF on my Mac. I'm running OSX 10.5 and currently there are only 1-2 virtual printers available and I can't get them to install correctly. Is there are script that I'm missing that will let you use the in-Finale "Save As PDF" command, and if there isn't, then one would certainly be useful.
Thanks
Try using Quickeys instead, I think you'll have better luck.
Macbook Pro 10.6.4, 2.66GHz Intel Core i7, 4 GB |
| Posted By : Jeanne R - 12/22/2010 4:54 PM | This is related to my post in July. What I really need is more batch processing: exporting graphics and creating audio files. If there's a way, I haven't figured it out.
I'll also second Motet's request for better documentation. What is available really assumes you have time to hack around for fun. Wish I did have time, but I don't.
Jeanne
Win XP Pro, Finale 2008a, GPO 3 |
| Posted By : Motet - 12/22/2010 6:16 PM | It's really "documentation by rumor." There are examples of the commands available, but nothing describing the syntax or options, nor any organized list. It's such a wonderful thing that it deserves better documentation.
Finale 2011b, 2005b, TGTools
Windows XP Professional, Service Pack 3
|
| Posted By : gogreen - 12/22/2010 7:33 PM | In addition to documentation, tutorials would be useful.
Arthur J. Michaels
Finale 2000, 2001, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2011b.r2 (using 2011b.r2), Garritan CoMB
Core i7 860 @ 2.80 GHz, 8.0 GB RAM, Windows 7 Home Premium x64
Dell 2408 WFP, 1920x1200
M-Audio Delta Audiophile 2496, M-Audio Keystation 88es
www.myspace.com/arthurjmichaels |
| Posted By : Motet - 12/23/2010 2:32 AM | It would be nice if it were available to linked parts.
Finale 2011b, 2005b, TGTools
Windows XP Professional, Service Pack 3
|
| Posted By : Erik Van Geit - 2/23/2011 12:49 PM | Hi,
Perhaps you can take a look at the Visual Basic Editor in Office programs.
- You can step through the code line by line and see what it does
- You can set a breakpoint to stop the code
- There is intellissense (completing words you write)
- When writing code obvious errors are put in red
kind regards,
Erik
|
| Posted By : HaraldS - 5/11/2016 3:14 PM | Five years after the last post I in this thread, I would like to point everyone still interested in better scripting functions to JWLua. A lot of the discussed functions could be done more easily in JWLua than in Finalescript. Have a look and consider learning it, it opens amazing possibilities within Finale.
Harald
Finale 3.0-2014.5, german edition, Windows 7
lots of hardware synths/keys, Cubase 7 / trombonist, pianist, conductor / Recklinghausen, Germany |
| Posted By : Graeme Gilmore - 5/28/2016 7:13 PM | A help in learning Finalescript.
Make available a downloadable PDF of the Finale User Manual Finalescript pages that has been lightly edited so that it prints with intelligent pages breaks on 8.5 by 11 paper.
Background
When I first started working with Finalescript in 2008, I copied the help files to Word, adjusted the page breaks, and then printed it as a booklet. The ability to reference the print copy was a definite benefit in learning Finalescript.
Since then Microsoft lost permission to use XML and stripped it out of Word. Now, when the Finalescript pages are copied into word, some colors and other formatting elements are changed. So it is no longer possible to just copy and then adjust where the page breaks should come. Making a straight PDF of the webpage keeps the formatting, but the page breaks come where they may.
Graeme
Finale 2014d v/5030, Windows 7 64-bit Home Premium, GPO, TGTools, Patterson Plug-Ins, JW Plug-Ins |
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