Nightly 3785: dynamics & slurs do not import from Finale-exported MusicXML

• Jan 7, 2011 - 03:08

This was true in 9.6.3 as well. MusicXML import works quite well in most respects - I get articulations, chord symbols, alternate note heads, text blocks, instrument names & transpositions, rehearsal letters, etc - but dynamics and slurs do not come through. The dynamic (but not the slurs) do import if the MusicXML file was exported by MuseScore, but not if it was created by Finale. I know the markings are there and at least sort of correct because Sibelius can import them just fine, but I don't speak MusicXML and can't say what might be different about about how Finale exports dynamics versus how MuseScore does.


Comments

Which version of finale are you using ? I just created the attached file with Finale 2009 and created the MusicXML file as well. The import in MuseScore is ok.

Attachment Size
SlurDyna.zip 49.83 KB

In reply to by [DELETED] 5

I have Finale 2008. But looking at your files suggested something to me that I decided to test. Apparently the issue with dynamics is only for *note-attached* expressions. Measure-attached expressions come through just fine from 2008.

Also, I tried importing the MusicXML file you generated. I got the dynamic fine (presumably it was measure-attached?), but no slur. Opening your MuseScore file directly did show me a slur between the last two notes. What version of MuseScore did you use to create that file?

I have attached my own .example here. Wondering what happens if you import my XML file, or if you you export your own XML from my Finale file?

Attachment Size
xml_test.zip 17.87 KB

In reply to by Marc Sabatella

I don't know finale enough to see the difference between a measure attached or note attached dynamic. In musescore, dynamics are attached to a chord or a rest.
I open the MusicXML file I created with MuseScore 0.9.6.3 on both windows and mac OSX and the slur is present.

If I open your MusicXML file with MuseScore 0.9.6.3 on Mac I don't see the dynamic indeed. MuseScore does not support dynamic in notations element but only in direction
Unfortunatly I don't have access to finale until Monday but I will try to convert your file to MusicXML asap but I guess it will be the same.

In reply to by [DELETED] 5

In Finale, dynamics and other expressions can be attached to a note or to a measure. Measure-attached expressions can be simultaneously applied to all staves and don't require any notes to be present. But they are basically interchangeable; you can use either type. I tend to use note-attached expressions for dynamics more because I often don't want the dynamic applied to all staves simultaneously. I gather that's what translates into the "notations" element as opposed to "direction".

As for slurs, I do see them in 0.9.6.3 - just not on the nightly. But note-attached dynamics don't come across in either.

In reply to by [DELETED] 5

Dynamics in notations are simply not implemented. I am not aware of any reason for that. The exporter simply writes all dynamics as staff-level direction/direction-type/dynamics elements. I assume both import and export can easily be improved.

Slurs used to work, but were broken due to the big redesign in the trunk. I am (slowly) working on fixing all MusicXML issues caused by the redesign, but haven't been able to fix the slurs yet. This is just a matter of time.

In reply to by Leon Vinken

OK, that makes sense. I guess then it's a feature request - MuseScore should be able to import dynamics in notations. I'm less concerned about how dynamics are exported. If they all show up as measured-attached dynamics in Finale (which apparently they do), that's fine. I just want to make sure that work done in Finale can be imported into MuseScore and vice versa. Obviously, one doesn't *expect* everything to come over, but dynamics are pretty fundamental.

As for fixing the trunk, no hurry on that. I posted this under the mistaken impression that since 1.0 was imminent, that meant the nightly builds should be stable. And it concerned me that this didn't seem to be the case. I now understand 1.0 is actually a branch not reflected in the nightlies.

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