1 @c -*- coding: utf-8; mode: texinfo; -*-
3 Translation of GIT committish: FILL-IN-HEAD-COMMITTISH
5 When revising a translation, copy the HEAD committish of the
6 version that you are working on. See TRANSLATION for details.
12 @divClass{heading-center}
13 @heading Documentation for LilyPond 2.12.2
17 @divClass{column-center-top}
18 @subheading Introduction
22 @item @ref{Text input}:
23 LilyPond is a @strong{text-based} music engraver. If you are not
24 familiar with this concept, please read this now!
27 a @qq{must-read} gentle introduction to LilyPond.
30 @emph{(optional reading)}
31 explains musical terms and gives translations for users unfamiliar
32 with English musical terms.
35 @emph{(optional reading)}
36 background information about the engraving process and the
37 aesthetics of 19th century music engraving.
44 @divClass{column-left-top}
45 @subheading Regular use
50 the main portion of the documentation; provides detailed
51 information about creating notation.
54 short tricks, tips, and examples.
57 discusses the actual programs and operating system-specific
65 @divClass{column-right-top}
66 @subheading Infrequent Use
71 links to the answers of Frequently Asked Questions.
74 updates since the last major version.
76 @item @ref{Internals}:
77 information about LilyPond's internal structures, which is
78 required for constructing tweaks.
85 @divClass{column-center-bottom}
86 @subheading Other material
90 @item @ref{Translated}:
91 translation status for non-English readers.
94 manuals for older versions and downloadable versions.
96 @item @ref{Development}:
97 manuals for the unstable version.
100 these manuals are published under the GNU Free Documentation
110 * Learning:: Learning.
111 * Glossary:: Glossary.
113 * Notation:: Reference.
115 * Snippets:: Snippets.
118 * Internals:: Internals.
119 * Translated:: Translation.
127 @c TRANSLATORS: most of the text in this file came from
128 @c LM 1.1 About the documentation (before this section was
129 @c removed in July 2009).
132 @unnumberedsec Learning
134 @divClass{column-left-top}
135 @subheading Learning manual
137 This book explains how to begin learning LilyPond, as well as
138 explaining some key concepts in easy terms. You should read these
139 chapters in a linear fashion.
141 There is a paragraph @strong{See also} at the end of each section,
142 which contains cross-references to other sections: you should not
143 follow these cross-references at first reading. When you have
144 read all of the manual, you may want to read some sections again
145 and follow those cross-references for more information.
148 @divClass{column-right-top}
149 @subheading Read it now
153 @item @rlearningnamed{Top,Learning}:
154 read this manual in the same format as this one.
159 @divClass{column-center-bottom}
160 @subheading Other formats
162 @divClass{keep-bullets}
165 @item @uref{../learning/index.html, Learning (split HTML)}:
166 the manual is split between many HTML pages.
167 @emph{(small download for each page)}
169 @item @uref{../learning-big-page.html, Learning (big HTML)}:
170 read this manual as one huge HTML page.
171 @emph{(large single download, around 10? Mb)}
173 @item @uref{../learning.pdf, learning.pdf}:
174 download as a PDF file.
175 @emph{(large single download, 2.8 Mb)}
177 @item @uref{FIXME, learning.info}:
178 GNU info format for documentation. FIXME, link broken.
189 @rlearning{Tutorial}: gives a gentle introduction to typesetting music.
190 First time users should start here.
193 @rlearning{Fundamental concepts}: explains some general concepts about
194 the LilyPond file format. If you are not certain where to place a
195 command, read this chapter!
198 @rlearning{Tweaking output}: shows how to change the default engraving
199 that LilyPond produces.
202 @rlearning{Working on LilyPond projects}: discusses practical uses of
203 LilyPond and how to avoid some common problems. Read this before
204 undertaking large projects!
208 The Learning also contains appendices which are not part of the
209 recommended linear reading. They may be useful for later
215 @rlearning{Templates}: shows ready-made templates of LilyPond pieces.
216 Just cut and paste a template into a file, add notes, and you're
220 @rlearning{Scheme tutorial}: presents a short introduction to Scheme,
221 the programming language that music functions use. This is
222 material for advanced tweaks; many users never touch Scheme at
230 @unnumberedsec Glossary
232 @rglosnamed{Top,Music glossary}
233 this explains musical terms, and includes translations to various
234 languages. If you are not familiar with music notation or music
235 terminology (especially if you are a non-native English speaker),
236 it is highly advisable to consult the glossary.
242 @divClass{column-left-top}
245 This book gives a brief history of music typography, followed by
246 an examination of LilyPond's engraving techniques. A comparison
247 between LilyPond and other music engraving systems is given.
251 @divClass{column-right-top}
252 @subheading Read it now
256 @item @ressaynamed{Top,Essay}:
257 read this manual in the same format as this one.
262 @divClass{column-center-bottom}
263 @subheading Other formats
265 @divClass{keep-bullets}
268 @item @uref{../essay/index.html, Essay (split HTML)}:
269 the manual is split between many HTML pages.
270 @emph{(small download for each page)}
272 @item @uref{../essay-big-page.html, Essay (big HTML)}:
273 read this manual as one huge HTML page.
274 @emph{(large single download, around FIXME? Mb)}
276 @item @uref{../essay.pdf, essay.pdf}:
277 download as a PDF file.
278 @emph{(large single download, FIXME? Mb)}
280 @item @uref{FIXME, essay.info}:
281 GNU info format for documentation. FIXME, link broken.
290 @unnumberedsec Notation
292 This book explains all the LilyPond commands which produce
295 @warning{The Notation assumes that the reader knows
296 basic material covered in the Learning and is familiar with
297 the English musical terms presented in the Musical Glossary.}
303 @ruser{Musical notation}:
304 discusses topics grouped by notation construct. This section
305 gives details about basic notation that will be useful in almost
306 any notation project.
309 @ruser{Specialist notation}:
310 discusses topics grouped by notation construct. This section
311 gives details about special notation that will only be useful for
312 particular instrument (or vocal) groups.
315 @ruser{General input and output}:
316 discusses general information about LilyPond input files and
320 @ruser{Spacing issues}:
321 discusses issues which affect the global output, such as selecting
322 paper size or specifying page breaks.
325 @ruser{Changing defaults}:
326 explains how to tweak LilyPond to produce exactly the notation you
330 @ruser{Interfaces for programmers}:
331 explains how to create music functions with scheme.
335 The Notation also contains appendices with useful
341 @ruser{Literature list}:
342 contains a set of useful reference books for those who wish to
343 know more on notation and engraving.
346 @ruser{Notation manual tables}:
347 are a set of tables showing the chord names, MIDI instruments, a
348 list of color names, and the Feta font.
352 is a handy reference of the most common LilyPond commands.
355 @ruser{LilyPond command index}:
356 an index of all LilyPond @code{\commands}.
359 @ruser{LilyPond index}:
369 This book explains how to execute the programs and how to integrate
370 LilyPond notation with other programs.
377 explains how to install LilyPond, including compilation if
382 describes how to configure your computer for optimum LilyPond
383 usage, such as using special environments for certain text
387 @rprogram{Running LilyPond}:
388 shows how to run LilyPond and its helper programs. In addition,
389 this section explains how to upgrade input files from previous
390 versions of LilyPond.
393 @rprogram{LilyPond-book}:
394 explains the details behind creating documents with in-line music
395 examples, like this manual.
398 @rprogram{Converting from other formats}:
399 explains how to run the conversion programs. These programs are
400 supplied with the LilyPond package, and convert a variety of music
401 formats to the @code{.ly} format.
408 @unnumberedsec Snippets
410 @rlsrnamed{Top,LilyPond Snippets}: this shows a
411 selected set of LilyPond snippets from the
412 @uref{http://lsr@/.dsi@/.unimi@/.it,LilyPond Snippet Repository}
413 (LSR). All the snippets are in the public domain.
415 Please note that this document is not an exact subset of LSR. LSR
416 is running a stable LilyPond version, so any snippet which
417 demonstrates new features of a development version must be added
418 separately. These are stored in @file{input/new/} in the LilyPond
421 The list of snippets for each subsection of the Notation are
422 also linked from the @strong{See also} portion.
428 @warning{to be moved into the actual Documentation/ in master)}
431 @subheading Where are the graphical canvas, menus, and toolbars?
433 LilyPond requires you to write music as text. Please read about
434 our @ref{Text input}.
437 @subheading There's a lot of documentation! Do I need to read it?
439 You need to read the @ref{Learning}. As for the rest of
440 documentation, you only need to read the sections which discuss
441 the notation that you wish to create.
444 @subheading That's still a lot of reading! Is it worth it?
446 Please decide for yourself; the reasons why you might want to use
447 LilyPond are given in the @ref{Introduction}.
450 @subheading Something isn't working! How do I fix it?
452 This is explained in @@ref@{FIXME LM or AU x.y@}.
455 @subheading Why do you change the syntax?
457 This is explained in @@ref@{FIXME AU x.y@}.
461 @unnumberedsec Changes
463 previous-named "NEWS" doc.
465 this is a summary of important changes
466 and new features in LilyPond since the previous version.
471 @unnumberedsec Internals
473 @rinternalsnamed{Top,Internals}: this is a set
474 of heavily cross linked HTML pages which document the nitty-gritty
475 details of each and every LilyPond class, object, and function.
476 It is produced directly from the formatting definitions in the
479 Almost all formatting functionality that is used internally is
480 available directly to the user. For example, most variables that
481 control thickness values, distances, etc., can be changed in input
482 files. There are a huge number of formatting options, and all of
483 them are described in this document. Each section of the Notation
484 Reference has a @b{See also} subsection, which refers to the
485 generated documentation. In the HTML document, these subsections
486 have clickable links.
491 @unnumberedsec Translated
499 @divClass{column-left-top}
500 @subheading Downloadable versions
502 FIXME: compare tarball vs. zip size, ask about windows users
503 dealing with tarballs (both gz and bz2), etc.
505 @divClass{keep-bullets}
514 @item info zip maybe?!?!
521 @divClass{column-right-top}
522 @subheading Previous stable versions
524 @divClass{keep-bullets}
527 @item @uref{http://lilypond.org/doc/v2.12/Documentation/,
528 LilyPond 2.12 Documentation}
530 @item @uref{http://lilypond.org/doc/v2.10/Documentation/,
531 LilyPond 2.10 Documentation}
533 @item @uref{http://lilypond.org/doc/v2.8/Documentation/,
534 LilyPond 2.8 Documentation}
547 @divClass{column-center-top}
548 @subheading Documentation license
550 The documentation for GNU LilyPond is published under the GNU Free
551 Documentation License. An introduction to this license, and our
552 reasons for choosing it, is given in @ref{Freedom}.
556 @divClass{column-center-bottom}
557 @subheading GNU Free Documentation License 1.1