First of all, I would like to tell everyone who was involved in setting up this template what a great job you did and how much I appreciate your efforts.  Upon the release of the 5.2 template, I have been in the process of converting my scores for the use of the new soundset. In this process, I have found a a little shortcut to bypass some of the labor such as setting up the measures, time signatures, etc. I find it easier to hit ";command  + a"; (or ";control + a"; on windows) which automatically selects the titles, time signatures, key signatures, number of measures, and most of the things that would normally have to be edited separately. The first step in the process is create the correct number of staves in the new score. After that, just select the old score with one of the commands I mentioned earlier (depending on your operating system). Of course, there are still some formatting and layout things that will need to be fixed, but other than that, I have found this to be a huge timesaver and have yet to run into any difficulties. I hope this helps, but just because it worked for me doesn't mean it will work across the board. I'm sure everyone would benefit from other input on what works and what doesn't. 

Wow, this is a Twilight Zone moment. I was just about to send Jim the email below. Then I thought, ";I should probably check the forum to see if anyone has already discovered this...";
What a co-inky-dink!

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unsent email...
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Jim,

Thanks for doing all that work to get Sibelius 5.2 format working great with VDL 2.5!!!
I just finished watching the tutorial about converting old 2.5 scores to 5.2.

I have to do this almost daily because I write for several different bands who hire Finale-based wind arrangers with several different instrument configurations.
The pain of replicating scores was a bummer for me.

I recently found a way to copy the score format (i.e. rehearsal numbers, metronome markings, tempo changes and time signatures) with the actual notes with out having to go through and manually enter that information.

Here's the process:
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1. Make sure the staves and instrument names are matching from the old score to new.
2. Delete all but one measure from your new score.
3. Return to the old score and select all staves (as you do in your tutorial).
4. ****Hold down ";Shift"; and select the initial time signature in the first measure.
5. Now, the notes will turn a different color and the time signatures, keys, and playback/score text will be highlighted also.
6. Hit Apple ";C"; to Copy.
7. Paste into the first measure of the top staff of the new score.
8. Presto! All of the information has been copied to the new score.

Of course, there is still some cleaning up to do in Document Setup, but far, far less work. I just stumbled across this a few weeks ago and it has changed my life!

Thanks for all the good stuff you do.

Tony Lymon
Hattiesburg, MS

Hey guys,

Yes - John contacted me the other day to check on this, and I couldn't find any reason it wouldn't work. After spending not enough time testing the process, I'm kicking myself for all the extra time that those conversion videos took - particularly since my illustrated method is far more time consuming. Eventually, i'll try to update those videos and spare everyone the mind-numbing process of watching me rebuild a score. As we've probably all had those ";duh!"; genius revelations before, that was one of mine in full public display.

I'm going to sticky this topic in hopes that it will be widely utilized before wasting too much time doing it the other way.

Thanks for your expertise and insight guys!!

I was just cleaning up a few forum posts, unpinning older less-relevant topics, and loved coming across this post because John (the original poster) is now a solid, full-time member of the Tapspace team here in Portland and has been since this past June. Back then, I didn't know John personally. He was just here learning and contributing on the forum like a lot of others. Today, we sit next to each other and work together in the office every day. Pretty cool!

Six years isn't really that long in the grand scheme of life, but it's cool to see how far Virtual Drumline has come over the years. I'm feeling grateful for the culture and community that's evolved around VDL users. Happy New Year everyone!

Have a great 2015 Tapspace!