Cannot Open My MXL Files

Dorico
1

Two years ago, we exported all our Finale file to mxl files and they opened in Dorico 5. They were messy, but that wasn’t unexpected.

Life got in the way for the last two years, but now that we (my wife and I) have returned to our work, Dorico 5 is not opening these files.

The laptop I exported them from Finale on is a long-retired, corrupted mess and I would rather not go through that process again. Can anybody walk me through getting these mxl files open (or converted into files that will open without having to return to Finale)?

Thank you. I have pursued this topic to the best of my modest technical skills for the past week and not had success.

2

Others here will be able to help you with more specific information but there was this thread a few days ago.

Does Musescore (if you have it) open them? (So you can then export again to xml) then try import into Dorico.

3

Thanks, I just tried that, to no avail.

4

If the files previously opened in Dorico 5, there’s no reason that they shouldn’t do so now.

Can you upload one of the files, so someone can test?

5

You know, I just ran one of the files through Denigma, exporting it to a .musicxml file, and … it opened!

It opened kind of insanely, with all of the staves on the same page, but I suspect all the information is there, waiting to be cleaned up.

I’ll try another file and see how it renders.

6

That’s encouraging news! If you have problems, I presume Denigma would appreciate you contacting them at their github with the file to improve how it translates :slight_smile:

7

It appears that all of the systems were overlayed on top of each other because the file opened with several “Make Into Frame” overrides active. I had to find all of the signposts in the score and delete them one by one, but now my score is visible, and I just need to update some of the formatting from the Finale file.

Thanks for the help, all. This is a sweet reunion with my wife’s music.

8

You can also use the Reset Layout button in the left hand panel in Engrave mode to remove them all at once.

9

Generally doing this (unchecking every option for importing) gives a better result if you have not tried it yet.
Good to hear you have made progress :slight_smile:

10

What exactly happens? Are there any error messages? Have you tried opening them from Dorico itself, rather than opening them from the Finder/Explorer?