We’re still in the process of adding new terms like “Lace” to VDL, so in the meantime I created this effect using the effect editor. The full cake description is below. All you need to do is copy the text, then do Ctrl+G in Finale 3D to bring up the create effect dialog, then put the cursor in the input description field and press Ctrl+V to paste.   30mm 25 Shot Cake 40 Degrees (a) {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} + (b) {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} + (c) {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} + (d) {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} + (e) {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}, 5 Rows, Rows 1,3 (4.5/abcde/FNR/2.0), Rows 2,4 (4.5/edcba/FNL/2.0), Row 5 (4.5/abcde/FNR/0.4)

Hi Eric,   Here’s a video that demonstrates how to create ‘Touch of Gold’:   Here’s the full description for the cake. All you need to do is copy the text below, then do Ctrl+G in Finale 3D to bring up the create effect dialog, then put the cursor in the input description field and press Ctrl+V to paste.   20mm 119 Shot Cake (a) 30.0 HTM Gold Glittering Comet + (b) 35.0 HTM 1.5 DUR Very Big Gold Glittering Willow, 1 Row (30a56/23a/17a/10a/3a/-3a55/-10a/-17a/-23a/-30a2188/a56/-23a/-17a/-10a/-3a/3a55/10a/17a/23a/30a2406/a56/23a/17a/10a/3a/-3a55/-10a/-17a/-23a/-30a2042/-25b0/0b/25b3594/30a56/23a/17a/10a/3a/-3a55/-10a/-17a/-23a/-30a2529/a56/-23a/-17a/-10a/-3a/3a55/10a/17a/23a/30a2520/a56/23a/17a/10a/3a/-3a55/-10a/-17a/-23a/-30a2911/a56/-23a/-17a/-10a/-3a/3a55/10a/17a/23a/30a2669/-25b0/0b/25b3607/-30a56/-23a/-17a/-10a/-3a/3a55/10a/17a/23a/30a2520/a56/23a/17a/10a/3a/-3a55/-10a/-17a/-23a/-30a2270/a56/-23a/-17a/-10a/-3a/3a55/10a/17a/23a/30a2361/a56/23a/17a/10a/3a/-3a55/-10a/-17a/-23a/-30a1768/-25b0/0b/25b/CAK)

Here are the links.       Many thanks!

In tha last release Note you mentioned: “Added a warning dialog to detect and warn if the active collection has conflicting keybowrd shortcuts for effect macros.”   Would be great to have more than 3 saveable Collections Shortcuts. It think you planned it already to give us freedom with creating shortcuts for it and protect us for conflicts with system predefined shortcuts with the above improvement. But at the moment there are just 3 predefined Shortcut possible for collections. Is it part of an upcoming update? Wish to have more shortcuts. 😉

Hi Eric,   is it possible for you to post some video links of the cakes here  ? That would help others because these brands are not available in europe and so these people don’t know the effect and are not able to help you !   Dirk

I have a really good ability with VDL, for some reason I am having a heck of a time with 2 cakes.   1) Winda Lace Impulse — especially with the lace part, maybe time rain without the sound? how does that look in the input?   2) Dominator Touch of Gold, for whatever reason this one has 3 rows comets then 1 row of 3 palms, the 4 rows of comets the another row of palms then repeat that second part to finish. Everytime I do (a) + (b) etc… in VDL I can’t seem to get it right.   Any help appreciated.   Thanks Eric

For technical folks who want to get the most out of copy/paste between Finale and Excel, here is a documentation article that explains exactly how everything works:   Copy/paste   There is quite a lot going on behind the scenes when you copy an event from the script or 3D window, like whether the copy buffer contains the positions that the effect is shot from, or the definition of the effect from the effects window.  Since Finale uses the system clipboard for the copy buffer and uses simple CSV-style text for the data, you can always paste into NotePad or Excel to look at the data in the copy buffer, to understand what is going on.

Check out this video to learn how to create a 500g zipper cake in Finale 3D:  

Check out this video to learn how to create a 500g zipper cake in Finale 3D:  

Hi FOG fireworks + sfx GmbH, great request, thanks for posting. We plan to add this functionality in the future. We envision that you will be able to upload your custom blueprints to your online account and share them with other users in your company. We don’t have an estimated release date for this feature I will take your request as a vote to bump it up on the priority list!