Importing XML generated in Finale
I am in the process of changing from Finale to Musescore, since sometime in 2021. What I do is creating a XML file in Finale and import that in Musescore. When I did that in version 3.6.2 then I still had to edit things. Sometimes minor sometimes more depending on the complexity of the score (all scores are for windband/concertband). Now I tried this in Musescore 4 and the edits still have to be done. That is not the main problem. But I can't get the parts that have to be generated look like I want them. Somehow some changes in the score aren't duplicated in the parts. Some part names aren't named properly. And when I make changes to either the part or the score, they somehow get lost when I save the file, close it and open it again.
Today I started again on the score I used to test this with, from the xml file. What I now tried is opening the xml in Musescore 3.6.2. I then check the existing parts, their names and their transpositions. And save that file. I then copy that file to Musescore 4 and continue the editing of parts and adding parts in other transpositions or with other cleffs. But again I have problems: Changes to the layout of parts get lost after saving and reopening. And from parts that I added (for instance Horns in E-flat) the names I gave to that part get changed back to the names they got when I added them. For instance: I add horns in E-flat for horns 1-3 and horns 2-4. They get generic names (horn in Eb and horn in Eb (2)). I change that to horn 1-3 (Eb) and horn 2-4 (Eb) but after reopening they are named back to horn in Eb and horn in Eb (2). I guess I will keep doings this in Musescore 3.6.2 but I wanted to mention it overhere. I will try this again in Musescore 4 when the first update arrives.
Comments
Getting .XML into MS is challenging. I've also got Finale scores, and had various experiences just in MS3. Never tried into MS4. I think at one point I found - maybe it was a plug-in or add-on to Finale - to allow it to export to .MXL format. Somebody suggested this as a better file-type to import into MS3. But from what I remember, even .MXL format was not 100% smooth-going. If you have some time, check into adding .MXL exporter for your Finale.
In reply to Getting .XML into MS is… by Are Jayem
There's no real difference between .XML (or .musicxml) and .Mal, except for the latter to be a ZIP archive (containing a .xml)
There's the Dolet plugin for Finale and Sibelius, it is supposed to generate better XML exports
I am also switching from Finale to Musescore 3.
I just tried exporting from Finale in xml format, and Musescore can open it, it looks successful. It plays OK on Musescore with all the correct instruments. But if I save it (without making any changes), close and re-open it, it has changed - it now plays all on piano. Maybe other things have changed that I haven't noticed. So the export/import was successful but musescore has then dropped something.
In reply to I am also switching from… by Norman McNorris
Did you try saving keeping changes? Sure you didn't make any changes yourself, but MuswScore made plenty of changes just to display the score.
In reply to I am also switching from… by Norman McNorris
I've had similar scenarios with .XML brought in from Finale -- where all things switch to piano. I think I found that making sure to save with MS3 instrument choices, not only after the initial load-up of the .XML, but after some changes have been made inside MS3. The reversion to all piano pretty much goes away.