30+ year Finale user here, gradually transitioning to Dorico. I have several publisher clients that I prepare music for, each with their own identifiable “look" i.e. fonts, styles, layout preferences, etc. For each, I have Finale templates conforming to their styles, and for some publishers multiple templates. In the past, I would take arranger/orchestrater/composer files (source files) —usually Finale files and often in rough shape—and import them into whatever Finale template was needed, then proceed with the layout and editing with the end goal of making them conform to the publisher’s overall look…publisher “ready.” Will I follow this same procedure now in Dorico? Do I need to make Dorico templates to replace each of these Finale templates, then simply import the data from the XML files into the specific Dorico template I will be using? OR is there a better, more efficient way? Trying to get a handle on the approach I need to take. Thinking I need to go about the task of setting up LOTS of templates for each of these publisher styles first. Yes? Can I save multiple templates for each of these publishers, say as “Publisher X SATB/Piano template”? This is a matter of importing the xml file into the template? Thanks much in advance.
Hi @Scherzo_Trading,
and welcome to the Forum!
I suggest first of all to look at the powerful functionalities of the Library Manager in case you are not aware of it:
Here the Manual:
And a video:
Regarding the templates question, I let someone more expert in that matter, to answer.
Yes, you can save project files as Project templates in the File menu; and then they will appear under “New from Project Template”.
Not a million miles away from Document Styles in the Setup Wizard.
The beauty of Dorico is that once you’ve set up your document, then just ‘pouring in’ the XML (or note entry) will then lay out the music according to your settings. I’d recommend checking the XML import preferences: by turning off the checkboxes for each type of notation, the imported music will follow Dorico’s Options.
Thank you! Sounds like that is the way to go!
ST