Arranging Big Band Charts with Score Editor

Ahhh, the score editor is so untuitive. The way it's programmed, so that you have to space the note just right to get the desired result. And sometimes ya gotta switch the notes and try again and then retry... Ayayayaya. Well, anyways, my question is: Is there a way I can prefrerize the score editor so that the notes/rests I select are put in, and that I can make my own ties (the ties are reallly frusturating). I'm arranging a chart for my big band, so.... go Logic!
Cheers!
-Tad-