MusicXML file from Finale cannot be opened in Dorico

[brandon96]

Hello Dorico Hivemind,

I am having significant problems with a certain XML file that I wrote in Finale a couple years ago. When I open in Dorico, it crashes. My other pieces open ok but this one seems to be an outlier.

I am quite concerned as this is a work which I have spent the better part of a year on (despite having the PDF of the draft, I now cannot make any changes unless I can open in Dorico). I attach the condensed XML format- the normal is too large to attach.
Torsades_Sketch_3,4.mxl (447.1 KB)

Any advice would be very much appreciated.

Thank you so much!
Brandon

[brandon96]

I also attach the error message when Dorico crashes:
Dorico_XML_Error_Torsades.pdf (51.7 KB)

[TonH]

I was able to import the XML in Finale 27.4 and export the XML again.
This I was able to open in Dorico.

Hope this helps
Untitled 4.musicxml.zip (308.0 KB)

[brandon96]

Wow! Thank you very much Ton! I’m not sure why I couldn’t open it as I also exported using Finale 27.4.1.146.

Unfortunately the XML file is very distorted on opening Dorico and there are so few note entries it is barely salvageable. Does anyone have further advice?

With much appreciation

[brandon96]

I have a further error message saying "MusicXML validation failed:

RROR - Element ‘duration’: [facet ‘minExclusive’] The value ‘-317’ must be greater than ‘0’.

At line 142844 of /Users/admin/Desktop/Music/Classical Music/Compositions/Finale_Documents/Torsades_de_Pointes_2022/Torsades_Sketches/Torsades_3,4.musicxml

ERROR - Element ‘duration’: ‘-317’ is not a valid value of the atomic type ‘positive-divisions’.

At line 142844 of /Users/admin/Desktop/Music/Classical Music/Compositions/Finale_Documents/Torsades_de_Pointes_2022/Torsades_Sketches/Torsades_3,4.musicxml

ERROR - Element ‘duration’: [facet ‘minExclusive’] The value ‘-171’ must be greater than ‘0’.

At line 165237 of /Users/admin/Desktop/Music/Classical Music/Compositions/Finale_Documents/Torsades_de_Pointes_2022/Torsades_Sketches/Torsades_3,4.musicxml

ERROR - Element ‘duration’: ‘-171’ is not a valid value of the atomic type ‘positive-divisions’.

[brandon96]

If there is no further way to improve the MusicXML file, perhaps running the PDF I have of the score to Scanscore or NotateMe would result in a better XML file, if anyone has any experience?

Thanks!

[TonH]

Do you still have the original Finale file?
If you could attach it here (zipped) I could try if exporting from the original would help

[brandon96]

Here it is, Ton! Thanks so much.
Torsades_Sketch_3,4.musx.zip (609.3 KB)

[jesele]

Here are two threads. You can also try to import it to MuseScore and export it again from there.

Jesper

Converting finale xml files with time signature grp to Dorico - ends up looking like spaghetti soup

In Finale, select all then run the Check Region for Durations plug-in. Fix any incomplete or overfull bars, then re-export the XML and try again in Dorico. If you have errors in your Finale file, then it’s obviously not going to import correctly, regardless of the fact that Finale will allow the metrical errors and it “looks fine in Finale.”

Problem importing XML from Finale

Hi. See the exact point in Dorico where the notes stop. Find the spot in FinaLe file. Check tuplets in Finale. This happens usually with wrongly defined tuplet. Fix in Finale, re export - import. Have had the same… Explained here too in multiple threads. Hopefully this helps!

[TonH]

I’m afraid the original looks strange in Finale too at my computer
Maybe missing fonts ?

I hope the leads @jesele gave you will help you better

[benwiggy]

Missing fonts shouldn’t matter in an XML export.

However, you need to make sure that the notes in your measures in Finale have got the right durations.

Finale (and most other apps) treat each bar as a separate unit, so any errors in the durations get ‘reset’ at a barline. However, in Dorico, any errors will ripple through the whole piece.

You could try the Check Durations plug-in, if it works.

[TonH]

@benwiggy

Missing fonts shouldn’t matter in an XML export.

I meant the original Finale file looked strange when I opened the file in Finale at my computer as shown in the screenshot.
I suspected a font problem, but maybe something else is wrong.

I’m not knowledgeable enough to help OP further, I’m afraid.

[odhot]

the font is november .. I had opened it, unfortunately Dorico crashed when opening the xml file
Musescore however able to open it perfectly

[arco]

@odhot

Musescore however able to open it perfectly

Did you then try exporting from Musescore as xml and import into Dorico as @jesele suggested? What happens?

[odhot]

there are some errors actually … however everything almost look fine. Just need a minor tweaking process. Dorico still unable to open xml file exported from MS4.5

[Puma0382]

@odhot

Dorico still unable to open xml file exported from MS4.5

Ok. But on its own, that statement doesn’t help move things forward any…

Of course, the team may know about a lot of this already and are actively working on solutions for D6 etc… However, it can’t do any harm to help support those efforts, with some ideas like preparing:-

1. a *.PDF of output from Musescore Studio 4.5
2. the MusicXML file exported from MS 4.5
3. a screenshot of your MusicXML import settings in Dorico
4. a *.pdf or screenshot from Dorico of the results after import
5. indication(s) of errors seen (however subtle)
6. the resulting *.dorico project file itself.

Attach or upload any/all of the above to a file-hosting website and PM a link to one of the mods.

Just saying…

[TonH]

Did you try @benwiggy 's suggestion? Which was also mentioned in the first link @jesele provided.
If there are errors in the Finale file, you can’t expect Dorico (or Musescore) to solve it.

You could try the Check Durations plug-in, if it works

[arco]

Finale tech support should still be there, ask them.

[odhot]

sorry, I just want to help to compare with other possibilities .. I think you should ask Finale’ support. instead.

[brandon96]

Hi everyone,

Thanks very much for your messages.
I’ll consider asking Finale Tech Support.
I suspect this will be an ongoing issue and it may be better to just have the score rewritten in to Dorico, unfortunately. Currently looking into funding for this…

If anyone has other ideas, please let me know.

Thanks very much!