Try www.recordare.com. They have a free plug-in that does enable conversion between the recent versions of Finale. They change the file to an XML format file when you export it, and your friend can...

I would like to add a vote for a notation shortcut for the basic elements of rudimental percussion. If I could enter a Flam as a single entity, and the slashed note of the roll in one step, tied...

There is now a plug-in that allows you to do this. It is free (at least for now) at www.Recordare.com I can finally stop doing initial music entry using Finale 98 so that friends can read my work...