Combining files without changing formatting

Dorico
1

Hello all,

I have several dorico projects with very particular formatting. The formatting in question is important and particular both within each flow and between flows in a single project. I would like to combine the projects in such a way that the formatting within each flow and between each flow is unaffected. Is there an easy way to do this?

I am aware of the “import flow” function, but, in my experience, this does not preserve formatting. I also have tried merging pdfs, but I would very much like to have one dorico project containing all the movements.

Many thanks for all help.

2

Hi @charlesnelson, these are the things to consider when importing existing flows into another project (probably there is more, and maybe I am wrong on something, but I just checked all the steps. Anyone please correct me if I am wrong):

  • Basically when you import a flow into an existing project, the Layout options and the Engraving options of the destination project will be used.

  • Notation options will be maintained (as they are flow specific).

  • You will loose all manual staff and note spacings (the ones with the red squares in Engrave mode).

  • Also if you have Page overrides in the flows that you are importing, those page overrides will be removed (together with the effects of the overrides, because the new created pages will follow the Default page template used by the destination project, so any frame modified or added directly into the layout in the source project will be reset or deleted).

  • Also Flow heading overrides will be removed.

  • System and Frame breaks will be maintained.

  • Note spacing changes will be removed, but you can easily copy them (selecting the signpost with Select More in the source project) and paste them in the corresponding destination flow.

  • Properties will be maintained.

If you would like for us to suggest the best workflow so that you loose less possible formatting, feel free to post a couple of Dorico files (1,2,3) where you want to import 2 and 3 into 1, and we can give precise advices on the best strategy. :wink:
(Or possibly someone else has better suggestions)