To further discuss Doug's frustration -- My problem has been the fact
that for so many versions, Finale's changes have been more evolutionary,
minor changes from one version to the next so that anybody who had
upgraded regularly was never hit with a large re-learning curve. Even
when they introduced linked score/parts in 2007, it seemed much easier
to grasp since most of the interface had remained the same.
But with 2008, there have been such huge alterations including the total
removal of the mass-edit tool and the gutting and moving around of the
measure tool functions that it is a major overhaul of the whole thing,
and requires major rereadings of the manual, as if it were a brand new
program.
I plead guilty to having assumed (I know, the fault with this is mine
entirely) that this upgrade was like all the others I've encountered,
and that after an initial few bumps of transition, things would settle
down and become easier to figure out.
But 2008 is really like a whole new program, and for those I need a
printed manual. By that I mean a WELL printed manual, such as Sibelius
offers at extra cost. Not the "we'll print the pdf for you (and not too
well at that)" version that Finale offers for the same price. I'm
willing to pay the extra cost, I just want a book that's possible to
read and find things in!
I don't do well with on-screen manuals for anything more than brief
refresher reference, I hate reading books on my computer screen. And
I'm not about to trash a whole rain forest printing it out, nor will I
pay the silly fee that Finale charges for a bad printing job.
I guess I'll see if the available html conversion programs will make the
Finale OLD readable on my Sony PRS500 ebook reader.
David H. Bailey
Doug Walter wrote:
Thanks for your detailed reply, Darcy. Sadly, I DID spend quite a bit of
time with the manual when I started using 2k8, but obviously either not
enough time or not recently enough for me to have remembered that
particular point.
I always find it tricky to strike a balance between a) approaching each
new version as if it were brand new and trying to find and learn
everything about it that is either unfamiliar or changed, and b)
assuming that much of what I know from years of experience with the
program will still be useful and relevant. I'm fine with the idea that a
certain number of familiar habits and routines often have to be
relearned to accommodate changes in the user interface, and I'm the
first to admit that if it's in plain sight - i.e., in the manual - it's
up to me to find it and absorb it. This, unfortunately, was a case where
I had in fact found it once, but evidently didn't absorb it.
I don't know what I find more frustrating, though - the fact that I
didn't consult the manual when this happened to me, or the fact that the
tech support person I spoke with offered nothing remotely similar to
Darcy's explanation and basically provided a workaround, despite my
having described the problem to him exactly as I did here. But I realize
that's REALLY another topic . . .
Doug
On Apr 21, 2008, at 6:33 PM, Darcy James Argue wrote:
As I always remind people when this topic comes up: it is really in
your best interest to Read The Finale Manual, specifically the chapter
on linked parts, which is very informative and well-written. I cannot
recommend this enough. Linked parts are complicated and difficult to
figure out on your own, but if you just take five minutes to read the
relevant chapter, I guarantee that everything will make much more sense.
Cheers,
- Darcy
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David H. Bailey
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