New to Dorico from Finale. How can you one customize string fingerings for method book/parts? I need to be able to add -1, -2, -3, -4, X1, X2, X4 quickly. I was able to change the graphic under “music symbols” to get some shortcuts, but it stopped at the number 7 as a quick input, so my changed characters for the numbers “8 and 9” did not work. The “/” within fingerings is clunky and does not have a consistent/clean look. Actually looks terrible as a fixed line that can’t be edited once on the page.
Also, what is the option for entering fingerings below? I used the lyric tool, but it would not all me to use “-” as an option. The minus just advanced me another note. I could use darn near every other symbol or character, just not what I needed. These seem like very reasonable fixes that need to happen for the flock of Finale users used to more customization of their workflow.
Overall, there are certainly easier formatting things and adding notation/symbols, but for my use, it’s still not there yet. Grateful for any assistance!
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String-focused engraver here!
I feel your pain!
Dorico’s stock fingering system is not yet armed enough for string fingerings needs—while it is for piano, guitar, and brass, possibly the target that could see more benefits from switching.
Here’s what I can suggest you, and I’m sure others will chime in to offer more help:
- create a paragraph style with the same settings as your Fingering Text Font (assuming you are using the Plain Font in Engraving Options > Fingerings, otherwise you are quite out of luck). Use that to insert anything you need such as “–1” or “x 2” and move it in place in Engrave Mode remembering to deactivate “Avoid collisions”
- for alternative fingerings, this is very cheesy since you need to duplicate all the notes in the beamed group that contains the notes requiring multiple sets; change voice, play with voice column index, … yes, it’s a pain. I’ve tried lyrics, they work to some extent, but you cannot insert the thumb sign.
- your method for substituting symbols is a good approach but, as you’ve seen, it’s limited.
Expansion on string fingering capability has been requested many times in the past, by me as well, so the team certainly has this on the radar.
Best of luck!
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Thank you. I’m working through some of this now. Frustrating. The ease of insert far exceeds Finale, the extreme lack of internal content and customization fails compared to Finale. I’ll have more questions as they arise.
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Well … Finale will remain the king of customisation long after its passing!
That feeling of … just do as I say is something I sorely miss when stuck in the other programs.
I played with the engraving options with the original clunky shift function (/) and was able to get the hyphen to look/resemble a formal shift if the notes went up. On the way down, it put the angled line UNDER the finger number. So frustrated!! Anyway, I adjusted my shortcuts to resemble x1, x2, x4 under #'s 5, 6, 7. That will work for now. The shifts down are still trash.
Wasn’t 100% successful with your suggestion. I changed to plain text and matched the fonts, but it still only allows me to do #'s 1,2,3,4,5,6,7, and no other characters. Not sure what I’m missing. My new shortcuts are not working for other numbers. Let me know. Thanks.
I feel your pain and I don’t even do string fingerings. But I have the same problem with piano fingering since I use some special indications. As a result I am forced to use Playing Techniques for many of the these since there are too many to use as Music Symbols that work in the fingering tool.
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how do you adapt the playing techniques? or customize them? Disregard. Figured it out. Similar to finale with expression tool where you create your own. Thank you.
@dschurger You sound like a very fast learner. You are going to do fine with Dorico. 
The only problem with the Playing Techniques is that they can wind up in a disorganized mess in the panel. So best to input them in the Playing Techniques popover with commands you devise. Unfortunately the Playing Techniques go in one by one, not in a stream as with the Fingering Popover.
John. Thanks. Yeah… I created my own popovers and had to adjust the spacing to match fingering formats. That seems to work…for now. super sluggish when I had been able to create shortcuts in Finale that allowed for WAY less clicking the mouse in different spots. Still frustrating. The spacing and configuration is better than Finale. I didn’t have to remember all the measurements. One up side… lol. Thank you1
You are very welcome. There are strengths and weaknesses on both sides. However the upside potential is much greater on the Dorico side. I’d say about 100% greater. 
I think that everyone is learning from this amazing transition and that probably includes the Dorico team, who never miss a learning experience. They are a fantastic team.
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