1 @c -*- coding: utf-8; mode: texinfo; -*-
4 Translation of GIT committish: FILL-IN-HEAD-COMMITTISH
6 When revising a translation, copy the HEAD committish of the
7 version that you are working on. For details, see the Contributors'
8 Guide, node Updating translation committishes..
16 Negative numbers are allowed:
17 > Are you sure? The following works well
19 > first-page-number = -2
21 > and prints page number -1 on the second page, for example.
24 In 5.2.1 the @refbugs (line 495 in spacing.itely on master) it
27 "@code{layout-set-staff-size} does not change the distance between
31 Could we add a sentence:
32 "Use instead the pair fontSize = #@var{N}
33 \override StaffSymbol #'staff-space = #(magstep
35 inside the Staff context to change the size of the font and the
37 staff lines accordingly."
39 Actually I found, that the @internalsref{StaffSymbol} at line 481
40 sends to an incomplete
41 documentation. The property staff-space is not explained here. I
42 thought Y-extent might be of
43 help, but it is in turn explained by x-space which again is
44 missing from the list. Who has the
45 knowledge to fix this?
49 http://code.google.com/p/lilypond/issues/detail?id=68
55 @chapter Spacing issues
57 The global paper layout is determined by three factors: the page layout, the
58 line breaks, and the spacing. These all influence each other. The
59 choice of spacing determines how densely each system of music is set.
60 This influences where line breaks are chosen, and thus ultimately, how
61 many pages a piece of music takes.
63 Globally speaking, this procedure happens in four steps: first,
64 flexible distances (@q{springs}) are chosen, based on durations. All
65 possible line breaking combinations are tried, and a @q{badness} score
66 is calculated for each. Then the height of each possible system is
67 estimated. Finally, a page breaking and line breaking combination is chosen
68 so that neither the horizontal nor the vertical spacing is too cramped
71 Settings which influence layout may be placed in two blocks.
72 The @code{\paper @{...@}} block is placed outside any
73 @code{\score @{...@}} blocks and contains settings that
74 relate to the entire document. The @code{\layout @{...@}}
75 block is placed within a @code{\score @{...@}} block and
76 contains settings for that particular score. If you have
77 only one @code{\score @{...@}} block the two have the same
78 effect. In general the commands shown in this chapter can
86 * Horizontal spacing::
87 * Fitting music onto fewer pages::
92 @section Paper and pages
94 This section deals with the boundaries that define the area
95 within which music can be printed.
104 @subsection Paper size
109 Two functions are available for changing the paper size:
110 @code{set-default-paper-size} and @code{set-paper-size}.
111 @code{set-default-paper-size} must be placed in the toplevel
112 scope, and @code{set-paper-size} must be placed in a @code{\paper}
116 #(set-default-paper-size "a4")
121 #(set-paper-size "a4")
126 @code{set-default-paper-size} sets the size of all pages, whereas
127 @code{set-paper-size} only sets the size of the pages that the
128 @code{\paper} block applies to. For example, if the @code{\paper}
129 block is at the top of the file, then it will apply the paper size
130 to all pages. If the @code{\paper} block is inside a
131 @code{\book}, then the paper size will only apply to that book.
133 Common paper sizes are available, including @code{a4},
134 @code{letter}, @code{legal}, and @code{11x17} (also known as
135 tabloid). Many more paper sizes are supported by default. For
136 details, see @file{scm/@/paper@/.scm}, and search for the
137 definition of @code{paper-alist}.
139 @c TODO add a new appendix for paper sizes (auto-generated) -pm
141 @warning{The default paper size is @code{a4}.}
143 Extra sizes may be added by editing the definition of
144 @code{paper-alist} in the initialization file
145 @file{scm/@/paper@/.scm}, however they will be overridden on a
151 If the symbol @code{'landscape} is supplied as an argument to
152 @code{set-default-paper-size}, pages will be rotated by 90
153 degrees, and wider line widths will be set accordingly.
156 #(set-default-paper-size "a6" 'landscape)
159 Setting the paper size will adjust a number of @code{\paper}
160 variables, such as margins. To use a particular paper size with
161 altered @code{\paper} variables, set the paper size before setting
167 @file{scm/@/paper@/.scm}.
173 @node Page formatting
174 @subsection Page formatting
178 Margins, headers, and footers and other layout variables are
179 automatically set according to the paper size.
181 Default margin values are accessible in
182 @file{ly/@/paper@/-defaults@/-init@/.ly}. They apply to the default
183 paper size (a4, unless specified differently) and are scaled
184 accordingly for other paper sizes.
186 This section lists and describes a number of paper variables that
190 * Fixed vertical dimensions::
191 * Flexible vertical dimensions::
192 * Horizontal dimensions::
193 * Other layout variables::
197 @node Fixed vertical dimensions
198 @unnumberedsubsubsec Fixed vertical dimensions
202 @funindex paper-height
204 The height of the page. Default: the height of the current paper
205 size. For details, see @ref{Paper size}.
210 The margin between the top of the page and the top of the
211 printable area. Default: @code{5\mm}.
214 @funindex bottom-margin
216 The margin between the bottom of the printable area and the bottom
217 of the page. Default: @code{6\mm}.
221 @node Flexible vertical dimensions
222 @unnumberedsubsubsec Flexible vertical dimensions
224 In most cases, it is preferable for the vertical distances between
225 certain items (such as margins, titles, systems, and separate
226 scores) to be flexible, so that they stretch and compress nicely
227 according to each situation. A number of @code{\paper} variables
228 (listed below) are available to fine-tune the stretching behavior
231 Note that the @code{\paper} variables discussed in this section do
232 not control the spacing of staves within individual systems.
233 Within-system spacing is controlled by grob properties, with
234 settings typically entered inside a @code{\score} or @code{layout}
235 block, and not inside a @code{\paper} block. See
236 @ref{Flexible vertical spacing within systems}.
239 @subsubheading Structure of spacing alists for @code{\paper} variables
241 Each of these variables is an alist (association list) containing
245 @item @code{padding} -- the minimum required amount of
246 unobstructed vertical whitespace between two items, measured in
247 staff-spaces. This can be thought of as the minimum height of an
248 unobstructed (invisible) rectangle that extends from the leftmost
249 to the rightmost point of the combined items.
251 @item @code{space} -- the default vertical distance, measured in
252 staff-spaces, between the @emph{reference points} of the two
253 items, when no collisions would result, and no stretching or
254 compressing is in effect. The reference point of a (title or
255 top-level) markup is its highest point, and the reference point of
256 a system is the vertical center of the nearest @code{StaffSymbol}
257 -- even if a non-staff line (such as a @code{Lyrics} context) is
258 in the way. Values for @code{space} that are less than either
259 @code{padding} or @code{minimum-distance} are not meaningful,
260 since the resulting distance will never be less than either
261 @code{padding} or @code{minimum-distance}.
263 @item @code{minimum-distance} -- the minimum required vertical
264 distance, measured in staff-spaces, between the reference points
265 of the two items, when compressing is in effect. Values for
266 @code{minimum-distance} that are less than @code{padding} are not
267 meaningful, since the resulting distance will never be less than
270 @item @code{stretchability} -- a unitless measure of the
271 dimension's relative propensity to stretch. If zero, the distance
272 will not stretch (unless collisions would result). When positive,
273 the significance of a particular dimension's @code{stretchability}
274 value lies only in its relation to the @code{stretchability}
275 values of the other dimensions. For example, if one dimension has
276 twice the @code{stretchability} of another, it will stretch twice
277 as easily. Values should be non-negative and finite. The value
278 @code{+inf.0} triggers a @code{programming_error} and is ignored,
279 but @code{1.0e7} can be used for an almost infinitely stretchable
280 spring. If unset, the default value is set to @code{space}. Note
281 that the dimension's propensity to @emph{compress} cannot be
282 directly set by the user and is equal to
283 (@code{space}@tie{}@minus{}@tie{}@code{minimum-distance}).
286 If a page has a ragged bottom, the resulting distance is the
291 @item @code{minimum-distance}, and
292 @item @code{padding} plus the smallest distance necessary to
293 eliminate collisions.
296 Specific methods for modifying alists are discussed in
297 @ref{Modifying alists}. The flexible vertical @code{\paper}
298 dimensions variables can only be set within a @code{\paper} block.
300 The following example demonstrates the two ways these alists can
301 be modified. The first declaration updates one key-value
302 individually, and the second complete re-defines the variable:
306 system-system-spacing #'space = #8
308 score-system-spacing =
311 (minimum-distance . 6)
312 (stretchability . 12))
316 The initialized default settings for these variables are defined
317 in @file{ly/paper-defaults-init.ly}.
320 @subsubheading Flexible vertical dimension @code{\paper} variables
322 The names of these variables follow the format
323 @code{@var{upper}-@var{lower}-spacing}, where @code{@var{upper}}
324 and @code{@var{lower}} are the items to be spaced. Each distance
325 is measured between the reference points of the two items (see the
326 description of the alist structure above). Note that in these
327 variable names, the term @q{@code{markup}} refers to both
328 @emph{title markups} (@code{bookTitleMarkup} or
329 @code{scoreTitleMarkup}) and @emph{top-level markups} (see
330 @ref{File structure}).
333 @item markup-system-spacing
334 @funindex markup-system-spacing
336 the distance between a (title or top-level) markup and the system
339 @item score-markup-spacing
340 @funindex score-markup-spacing
342 the distance between the last system of a score and the (title or
343 top-level) markup that follows it.
345 @item score-system-spacing
346 @funindex score-system-spacing
348 the distance between the last system of a score and the first
349 system of the score that follows it, when no (title or top-level)
350 markup exists between them.
352 @item system-system-spacing
353 @funindex system-system-spacing
355 the distance between two systems in the same score.
357 @item markup-markup-spacing
358 @funindex markup-markup-spacing
360 the distance between two (title or top-level) markups.
362 @item last-bottom-spacing
363 @funindex last-bottom-spacing
365 the distance from the last system or top-level markup on a page to
366 the bottom of the printable area (i.e. the top of the bottom
369 @item top-system-spacing
370 @funindex top-system-spacing
372 the distance from the top of the printable area (i.e. the bottom
373 of the top margin) to the first system on a page, when there is no
374 (title or top-level) markup between the two.
376 @item top-markup-spacing
377 @funindex top-markup-spacing
379 the distance from the top of the printable area (i.e. the bottom
380 of the top margin) to the first (title or top-level) markup on a
381 page, when there is no system between the two.
387 The header and footer are created by the functions
388 @code{make-footer} and @code{make-header}, defined in
389 @code{\paper}. The default implementations are in
390 @file{ly/paper-defaults.ly} and @file{ly/titling-init.ly}.
392 The page layout itself is done by two functions in the
393 @code{\paper} block, @code{page-music-height} and
394 @code{page-make-stencil}. The former tells the line-breaking
395 algorithm how much space can be spent on a page, the latter
396 creates the actual page given the system to put on it.
398 You can define @code{\paper} block values in Scheme. In that case
399 @code{mm}, @code{in}, @code{pt}, and @code{cm} are variables
400 defined in @file{paper-defaults.ly} with values in millimeters.
401 That is why the value @w{@code{2 cm}} must be multiplied in the
406 #(define bottom-margin (* 2 cm))
418 ragged-last-bottom = ##t
422 This second example centers page numbers at the bottom of every page.
426 print-page-number = ##t
427 print-first-page-number = ##t
428 oddHeaderMarkup = \markup \fill-line @{ " " @}
429 evenHeaderMarkup = \markup \fill-line @{ " " @}
430 oddFooterMarkup = \markup @{ \fill-line @{
431 \bold \fontsize #3 \on-the-fly #print-page-number-check-first
432 \fromproperty #'page:page-number-string @} @}
433 evenFooterMarkup = \markup @{ \fill-line @{
434 \bold \fontsize #3 \on-the-fly #print-page-number-check-first
435 \fromproperty #'page:page-number-string @} @}
441 @ref{Flexible vertical spacing within systems}.
447 @node Horizontal dimensions
448 @unnumberedsubsubsec Horizontal dimensions
451 There are a few variables that determine the horizontal dimensions
457 @funindex binding-offset
459 The amount @code{inner-margin} is increased
460 to make sure nothing will be hidden by the binding.
461 Works only with @code{two-sided} set to true. Default:
464 @item horizontal-shift
465 @funindex horizontal-shift
467 The amount that all systems (including titles and system
468 separators) are shifted to the right. Default: @code{0.0}.
473 The level of indentation for the first system in a score.
474 Default: @code{15\mm}.
477 @funindex inner-margin
479 The margin all pages have at the inner side if they are part
480 of a book. Works only with @code{two-sided} set to true.
481 Default: @code{10\mm}.
484 @funindex left-margin
486 The margin between the left edge of the page and the beginning of
487 each system. Default: @code{10\mm}.
492 The width of music systems. Default: @code{paper-width} minus
493 @code{left-margin} and @code{right-margin}.
496 @funindex outer-margin
498 The margin all pages have at the outer side if they are part
499 of a book. Works only with @code{two-sided} set to true.
500 Default: @code{20\mm}.
503 @funindex paper-width
505 The width of the page. Default: the width of the current paper
506 size. For details, see @ref{Paper size}.
509 @funindex right-margin
511 The margin between the right edge of the page and the end of
512 each system. Default: @code{10\mm}.
515 @funindex short-indent
517 The level of indentation for all systems in a score besides the
518 first system. Default: @code{0}.
522 If some values are not set, defaults will be taken. Their exact
523 value is adjusted, depending on the paper size specified. Currently,
524 the following values are affected by this scaling:
527 @item @var{left-margin}
528 @item @var{right-margin}
529 @item @var{top-margin}
530 @item @var{bottom-margin}
532 @item @var{short-indent}
535 The settings for @code{line-width}, @code{left-margin},
536 @code{right-margin} and @code{paper-width} depend on
537 each other, but they do not have to be specified
546 In this example, only @code{left-margin} is set. The value for
547 @code{right-margin} will remain default, @code{line-width} is
548 calculated automatically.
556 Here @code{left-margin} and @code{right-margin} will be set
557 to the same value. Therefore, @code{line-width} is subtracted
558 from @code{paper-width} and divided by two. That means systems
559 are centered on the page, if only @code{line-width} is
562 Some checks occur to ensure the values are set correctly.
563 If the values do not match or systems would run off the page,
564 a warning is printed and default values are set.
575 These checks can be avoided by setting @code{check-consistency}
583 check-consistency = ##f
587 @warning{If @code{paper-width} is manually set, @code{line-width},
588 @code{left-margin}, @code{indent}, and @code{short-indent} may
589 have to be adjusted as well.}
597 @node Other layout variables
598 @unnumberedsubsubsec Other layout variables
600 These variables can be used to adjust page layout in general.
604 @item auto-first-page-number
605 @funindex auto-first-page-number
607 The page breaking algorithm is affected by the first page number
608 being odd or even. If set to true, the page breaking algorithm
609 will decide whether to start with an odd or even number. This
610 will result in the first page number remaining as is or being
611 increased by one. Default: @code{##f}.
615 TODO: this variable is used, but I don't know what it does. -pm
616 @item blank-after-score-page-force
617 @funindex blank-after-score-page-force
623 @item blank-last-page-force
624 @funindex blank-last-page-force
626 The penalty for ending the score on an odd-numbered page.
629 @item blank-page-force
630 @funindex blank-page-force
632 The penalty for having a blank page in the middle of a
633 score. This is not used by @code{ly:optimal-breaking} since it will
634 never consider blank pages in the middle of a score. Default:
637 @item check-consistency
638 @funindex check-consistency
640 If set to true, check whether @code{left-margin}, @code{right-margin} and
641 @code{line-width} fit each other. Also make sure that their combination
642 does not exceed the available @code{paper-width}. Default: @code{##t}.
644 @item first-page-number
645 @funindex first-page-number
647 The value of the page number on the first page. Default:
650 @item max-systems-per-page
651 @funindex max-systems-per-page
653 The maximum number of systems that will be placed on a page. This
654 is currently supported only by the @code{ly:optimal-breaking} algorithm.
657 @item min-systems-per-page
658 @funindex min-systems-per-page
660 The minimum number of systems that will be placed on a page. This
661 may cause pages to be overfilled if it is made too large. This is
662 currently supported only by the @code{ly:optimal-breaking} algorithm.
665 @item page-breaking-system-system-spacing
666 @funindex page-breaking-system-system-spacing
668 Tricks the page breaker into thinking that
669 @code{system-system-spacing} is set to something different than
670 it really is. For example, if
671 @code{page-breaking-system-system-spacing #'padding} is set to something
672 substantially larger than @code{system-system-spacing #'padding}, then the
673 page-breaker will put fewer systems on each page. Default: unset.
678 The number of pages to be used for a score. Default: unset.
680 @item page-spacing-weight
681 @funindex page-spacing-weight
683 The relative importance of page (vertical) spacing and line
684 (horizontal) spacing. High values will make page spacing more
685 important. Default: @code{#10}.
687 @item print-all-headers
688 @funindex print-all-headers
690 If set to true, this will print all headers for each \score in the
691 output. Normally only the piece and opus header variables are
692 printed. Default: @code{##f}.
694 @item print-first-page-number
695 @funindex print-first-page-number
697 If set to true, a page number is printed on the first page.
700 @item print-page-number
701 @funindex print-page-number
703 If set to false, page numbers are not printed. Default:
707 @funindex ragged-bottom
709 If set to true, systems will not spread vertically across the
710 page. This does not affect the last page. Default: @code{##f}.
712 This should be set to true for pieces that have only two or three
713 systems per page, for example orchestral scores.
716 @funindex ragged-last
718 If set to true, the last system in the score will not fill the
719 line width. Instead the last system ends at its natural
720 horizontal length. Default: @code{##f}.
722 @item ragged-last-bottom
723 @funindex ragged-last-bottom
725 If set to false, systems will spread vertically across the last
726 page. Default: @code{##t}.
728 Pieces that amply fill two pages or more should have this set to
731 It also affects the last page of book parts, ie parts of a book created
732 with @code{\bookpart} blocks.
735 @funindex ragged-right
737 If set to true, systems will not fill the line width. Instead,
738 systems end at their natural horizontal length. Default:
741 If the score has only one system, the default value is @code{##t}.
743 @item system-separator-markup
744 @funindex system-separator-markup
746 A markup object that is inserted between systems. This is often
747 used for orchestral scores. Default: unset.
749 The markup command @code{\slashSeparator} is provided as a sensible
752 @lilypond[quote,ragged-right]
753 #(set-default-paper-size "a6" 'landscape)
756 \relative c' { c1 \break c1 }
759 system-separator-markup = \slashSeparator
765 @funindex system-count
767 The number of systems to be used for a score.
770 @item systems-per-page
771 @funindex systems-per-page
773 The number of systems that should be placed on each page.
774 This is currently supported only by the @code{ly:optimal-breaking} algorithm.
781 @cindex binding gutter
783 If set to true, use @code{inner-margin}, @code{outer-margin} and
784 @code{binding-offset} to determine margins depending on whether
785 the page number is odd or even. This overrides @code{left-margin}
786 and @code{right-margin}. Default: @code{##f}.
798 The default page header puts the page number and the @code{instrument}
799 field from the @code{\header} block on a line.
801 The titles (from the @code{\header@{@}} section) are treated as a
802 system, so @code{ragged-bottom} and @code{ragged-last-bottom} will
803 add space between the titles and the first system of the score.
807 @section Music layout
810 * Setting the staff size::
815 @node Setting the staff size
816 @subsection Setting the staff size
818 @cindex font size, setting
819 @cindex staff size, setting
820 @funindex layout file
822 The default @strong{staff size} is set to 20 points.
823 This may be changed in two ways:
825 To set the staff size globally for all scores in a file (or
826 in a @code{book} block, to be precise), use @code{set-global-staff-size}.
829 #(set-global-staff-size 14)
833 This sets the global default size to 14pt staff height and scales all
836 To set the staff size individually for each score, use
841 #(layout-set-staff-size 15)
846 The Feta font provides musical symbols at eight different
847 sizes. Each font is tuned for a different staff size: at a smaller size
848 the font becomes heavier, to match the relatively heavier staff lines.
849 The recommended font sizes are listed in the following table:
852 @multitable @columnfractions .15 .2 .22 .2
855 @tab @b{staff height (pt)}
856 @tab @b{staff height (mm)}
898 @c modern rental material?
903 These fonts are available in any sizes. The context property
904 @code{fontSize} and the layout property @code{staff-space} (in
905 @rinternals{StaffSymbol}) can be used to tune the size for individual
906 staves. The sizes of individual staves are relative to the global size.
911 @ref{Selecting notation font size}.
919 @code{layout-set-staff-size} does not change the distance between the
924 @subsection Score layout
928 While @code{\paper} contains settings that relate to the page formatting
929 of the whole document, @code{\layout} contains settings for score-specific
936 \override TextScript #'padding = #1.0
937 \override Glissando #'thickness = #3
945 @ref{Changing context default settings}.
957 * Optimal page breaking::
958 * Optimal page turning::
959 * Minimal page breaking::
961 * Using an extra voice for breaks::
966 @subsection Line breaking
969 @cindex breaking lines
971 Line breaks are normally determined automatically. They are chosen
972 so that lines look neither cramped nor loose, and consecutive
973 lines have similar density. Occasionally you might want to
974 override the automatic breaks; you can do this by specifying
975 @code{\break}. This will force a line break at this point. However,
976 line breaks can only occur at the end of @q{complete} bars, i.e.,
977 where there are no notes or tuplets left @q{hanging} over the bar
978 line. If you want to have a line break where there is no bar line,
979 you can force an invisible bar line by entering @code{\bar ""},
980 although again there must be no notes left hanging over in any of
981 the staves at this point, or it will be ignored.
983 The opposite command, @code{\noBreak}, forbids a line break at the
984 bar line where it is inserted.
986 The most basic settings influencing line spacing are @code{indent}
987 and @code{line-width}. They are set in the @code{\layout} block.
988 They control the indentation of the first line of music, and the
989 lengths of the lines.
991 If @code{ragged-right} is set to true in the @code{\layout} block,
992 then systems end at their natural horizontal length, instead of
993 being spread horizontally to fill the whole line. This is useful
994 for short fragments, and for checking how tight the natural
997 @c TODO Check and add para on default for ragged-right
999 The option @code{ragged-last} is similar to @code{ragged-right},
1000 but affects only the last line of the piece.
1012 @cindex regular line breaks
1013 @cindex four bar music.
1015 For line breaks at regular intervals use @code{\break} separated by
1016 skips and repeated with @code{\repeat}. For example, this would
1017 cause the following 28 measures (assuming 4/4 time) to be broken
1018 every 4 measures, and only there:
1021 << \repeat unfold 7 @{
1022 s1 \noBreak s1 \noBreak
1023 s1 \noBreak s1 \break @}
1024 @emph{the real music}
1029 A linebreaking configuration can be saved as a @code{.ly} file
1030 automatically. This allows vertical alignments to be stretched to
1031 fit pages in a second formatting run. This is fairly new and
1032 complicated. More details are available in
1045 Internals Reference:
1046 @rinternals{LineBreakEvent}.
1054 Line breaks can only occur if there is a @q{proper} bar line. A note
1055 which is hanging over a bar line is not proper, such as
1057 @lilypond[quote,ragged-right,relative=2,verbatim]
1058 c4 c2 << c2 {s4 \break } >> % this does nothing
1059 c2 c4 | % a break here would work
1060 c4 c2 c4 ~ \break % as does this break
1064 This can be avoided by removing the @code{Forbid_line_break_engraver}.
1065 Note that manually forced line breaks have to be added in parallel
1068 @lilypond[quote,ragged-right,verbatim]
1070 \remove Forbid_line_break_engraver
1072 c4 c2 << c2 {s4 \break } >> % now the break is allowed
1077 Similarly, line breaks are normally forbidden when beams cross bar
1078 lines. This behavior can be changed by setting
1079 @code{\override Beam #'breakable = ##t}.
1083 @subsection Page breaking
1085 The default page breaking may be overridden by inserting
1086 @code{\pageBreak} or @code{\noPageBreak} commands. These commands are
1087 analogous to @code{\break} and @code{\noBreak}. They should be
1088 inserted at a bar line. These commands force and forbid a page-break
1089 from happening. Of course, the @code{\pageBreak} command also forces
1092 The @code{\pageBreak} and @code{\noPageBreak} commands may also be
1093 inserted at top-level, between scores and top-level markups.
1095 There are also analogous settings to @code{ragged-right} and
1096 @code{ragged-last} which have the same effect on vertical spacing:
1097 @code{ragged-bottom} and @code{ragged-last-bottom}. If set to
1098 @code{##t} the systems on all pages or just the last page
1099 respectively will not be justified vertically.
1101 For more details see @ref{Vertical spacing}.
1103 Page breaks are computed by the @code{page-breaking} function. LilyPond
1104 provides three algorithms for computing page breaks,
1105 @code{ly:optimal-breaking}, @code{ly:page-turn-breaking} and
1106 @code{ly:minimal-breaking}. The default is @code{ly:optimal-breaking},
1107 but the value can be changed in the @code{\paper} block:
1111 #(define page-breaking ly:page-turn-breaking)
1117 When a book has many scores and pages, the page breaking problem may be
1118 difficult to solve, requiring large processing time and memory. To ease
1119 the page breaking process, @code{\bookpart} blocks are used to divide
1120 the book into several parts: the page breaking occurs separately on each
1121 part. Different page breaking functions may also be used in different
1127 subtitle = "Preface"
1130 %% In a part consisting mostly of text,
1131 %% ly:minimal-breaking may be preferred
1132 #(define page-breaking ly:minimal-breaking)
1134 \markup @{ @dots{} @}
1138 %% In this part, consisting of music, the default optimal
1139 %% page breaking function is used.
1141 subtitle = "First movement"
1143 \score @{ @dots{} @}
1150 @funindex \pageBreak
1152 @funindex \noPageBreak
1153 @code{\noPageBreak}.
1162 @node Optimal page breaking
1163 @subsection Optimal page breaking
1165 @funindex ly:optimal-breaking
1167 The @code{ly:optimal-breaking} function is LilyPond's default method of
1168 determining page breaks. It attempts to find a page breaking that minimizes
1169 cramping and stretching, both horizontally and vertically. Unlike
1170 @code{ly:page-turn-breaking}, it has no concept of page turns.
1178 @node Optimal page turning
1179 @subsection Optimal page turning
1181 @funindex ly:page-turn-breaking
1183 Often it is necessary to find a page breaking configuration so that there is
1184 a rest at the end of every second page. This way, the musician can turn the
1185 page without having to miss notes. The @code{ly:page-turn-breaking} function
1186 attempts to find a page breaking minimizing cramping and stretching, but with
1187 the additional restriction that it is only allowed to introduce page turns
1188 in specified places.
1190 There are two steps to using this page breaking function. First, you
1191 must enable it in the @code{\paper} block, as explained in @ref{Page
1192 breaking}. Then you must tell the function where you would like to allow
1195 There are two ways to achieve the second step. First, you can specify each
1196 potential page turn manually, by inserting @code{\allowPageTurn} into your
1197 input file at the appropriate places.
1199 If this is too tedious, you can add a @code{Page_turn_engraver} to a Staff or
1200 Voice context. The @code{Page_turn_engraver} will scan the context for
1201 sections without notes (note that it does not scan for rests; it scans for
1202 the absence of notes. This is so that single-staff polyphony with rests in one
1203 of the parts does not throw off the @code{Page_turn_engraver}). When it finds
1204 a sufficiently long section without notes, the @code{Page_turn_engraver} will
1205 insert an @code{\allowPageTurn} at the final bar line in that section, unless
1206 there is a @q{special} bar line (such as a double bar), in which case the
1207 @code{\allowPageTurn} will be inserted at the final @q{special} bar line in
1210 @funindex minimumPageTurnLength
1211 The @code{Page_turn_engraver} reads the context property
1212 @code{minimumPageTurnLength} to determine how long a note-free section must
1213 be before a page turn is considered. The default value for
1214 @code{minimumPageTurnLength} is @code{#(ly:make-moment 1 1)}. If you want
1215 to disable page turns, you can set it to something very large.
1218 \new Staff \with @{ \consists "Page_turn_engraver" @}
1221 R1 | % a page turn will be allowed here
1223 \set Staff.minimumPageTurnLength = #(ly:make-moment 5 2)
1224 R1 | % a page turn will not be allowed here
1226 R1*2 | % a page turn will be allowed here
1231 @funindex minimumRepeatLengthForPageTurn
1232 The @code{Page_turn_engraver} detects volta repeats. It will only allow a page
1233 turn during the repeat if there is enough time at the beginning and end of the
1234 repeat to turn the page back. The @code{Page_turn_engraver} can also disable
1235 page turns if the repeat is very short. If you set the context property
1236 @code{minimumRepeatLengthForPageTurn} then the @code{Page_turn_engraver} will
1237 only allow turns in repeats whose duration is longer than this value.
1239 The page turning commands, @code{\pageTurn}, @code{\noPageTurn} and
1240 @code{\allowPageTurn}, may also be used at top-level, between scores and
1247 @funindex \noPageTurn
1249 @funindex \allowPageTurn
1250 @code{\allowPageTurn}.
1261 There should only be one @code{Page_turn_engraver} in a score. If there is more
1262 than one, they will interfere with each other.
1265 @node Minimal page breaking
1266 @subsection Minimal page breaking
1268 @funindex ly:minimal-breaking
1270 The @code{ly:minimal-breaking} function performs minimal computations to
1271 calculate the page breaking: it fills a page with as many systems as
1272 possible before moving to the next one. Thus, it may be preferred for
1273 scores with many pages, where the other page breaking functions could be
1274 too slow or memory demanding, or a lot of texts. It is enabled using:
1278 #(define page-breaking ly:minimal-breaking)
1288 @node Explicit breaks
1289 @subsection Explicit breaks
1291 Lily sometimes rejects explicit @code{\break} and @code{\pageBreak}
1292 commands. There are two commands to override this behavior:
1295 \override NonMusicalPaperColumn #'line-break-permission = ##f
1296 \override NonMusicalPaperColumn #'page-break-permission = ##f
1299 When @code{line-break-permission} is overridden to false, Lily will insert
1300 line breaks at explicit @code{\break} commands and nowhere else. When
1301 @code{page-break-permission} is overridden to false, Lily will insert
1302 page breaks at explicit @code{\pageBreak} commands and nowhere else.
1304 @lilypond[quote,verbatim]
1313 \repeat unfold 2 { c'8 c'8 c'8 c'8 } \break
1314 \repeat unfold 4 { c'8 c'8 c'8 c'8 } \break
1315 \repeat unfold 6 { c'8 c'8 c'8 c'8 } \break
1316 \repeat unfold 8 { c'8 c'8 c'8 c'8 } \pageBreak
1317 \repeat unfold 8 { c'8 c'8 c'8 c'8 } \break
1318 \repeat unfold 6 { c'8 c'8 c'8 c'8 } \break
1319 \repeat unfold 4 { c'8 c'8 c'8 c'8 } \break
1320 \repeat unfold 2 { c'8 c'8 c'8 c'8 }
1325 \override NonMusicalPaperColumn #'line-break-permission = ##f
1326 \override NonMusicalPaperColumn #'page-break-permission = ##f
1338 @node Using an extra voice for breaks
1339 @subsection Using an extra voice for breaks
1341 Line- and page-breaking information usually appears within note entry directly.
1346 \repeat unfold 2 @{ c'4 c'4 c'4 c'4 @}
1348 \repeat unfold 3 @{ c'4 c'4 c'4 c'4 @}
1353 This makes @code{\break} and @code{\pageBreak} commands easy to enter but mixes
1354 music entry with information that specifies how music should lay out
1355 on the page. You can keep music entry and line- and page-breaking
1356 information in two separate places by introducing an extra voice to
1357 contain the breaks. This extra voice
1358 contains only skips together with @code{\break}, @code{pageBreak} and other
1359 breaking layout information.
1361 @lilypond[quote,verbatim]
1371 \repeat unfold 2 { c'4 c'4 c'4 c'4 }
1372 \repeat unfold 3 { c'4 c'4 c'4 c'4 }
1373 \repeat unfold 6 { c'4 c'4 c'4 c'4 }
1374 \repeat unfold 5 { c'4 c'4 c'4 c'4 }
1380 This pattern becomes especially helpful when overriding
1381 @code{line-break-system-details} and the other useful but long properties of
1382 @code{NonMusicalPaperColumnGrob}, as explained in @ref{Vertical spacing}.
1384 @lilypond[quote,verbatim]
1388 \overrideProperty "Score.NonMusicalPaperColumn"
1389 #'line-break-system-details #'((Y-offset . 0))
1392 \overrideProperty "Score.NonMusicalPaperColumn"
1393 #'line-break-system-details #'((Y-offset . 35))
1396 \overrideProperty "Score.NonMusicalPaperColumn"
1397 #'line-break-system-details #'((Y-offset . 70))
1400 \overrideProperty "Score.NonMusicalPaperColumn"
1401 #'line-break-system-details #'((Y-offset . 105))
1405 \repeat unfold 2 { c'4 c'4 c'4 c'4 }
1406 \repeat unfold 3 { c'4 c'4 c'4 c'4 }
1407 \repeat unfold 6 { c'4 c'4 c'4 c'4 }
1408 \repeat unfold 5 { c'4 c'4 c'4 c'4 }
1417 @ref{Vertical spacing}.
1423 @node Vertical spacing
1424 @section Vertical spacing
1426 @cindex vertical spacing
1427 @cindex spacing, vertical
1429 Vertical spacing is controlled by three things: the amount of
1430 space available (i.e., paper size and margins), the amount of
1431 space between systems, and the amount of space between
1432 staves inside a system.
1435 * Flexible vertical spacing within systems::
1436 * Explicit staff and system positioning::
1437 * Vertical collision avoidance::
1441 @node Flexible vertical spacing within systems
1442 @subsection Flexible vertical spacing within systems
1444 @cindex distance between staves
1445 @cindex staff distance
1446 @cindex space between staves
1447 @cindex space inside systems
1449 Three separate mechanisms control the flexible vertical spacing
1450 within systems, one for each of the following categories:
1453 @item @emph{ungrouped staves},
1454 @item @emph{grouped staves} (staves within a staff-group such as
1455 @code{ChoirStaff}, etc.), and
1456 @item @emph{non-staff lines} (such as @code{Lyrics},
1457 @code{ChordNames}, etc.).
1460 @c TODO: Clarify this. This almost implies that non-staff lines
1461 @c have NO effect on the spacing between staves. -mp
1463 The height of each system is determined in two steps. First, all
1464 of the staves are spaced according to the amount of space
1465 available. Then, the non-staff lines are distributed between the
1468 Note that the spacing mechanisms discussed in this section only
1469 control the vertical spacing of staves and non-staff lines within
1470 individual systems. The vertical spacing between separate
1471 systems, scores, markups, and margins is controlled by
1472 @code{\paper} variables, which are discussed in
1473 @ref{Flexible vertical dimensions}.
1476 * Within-system spacing properties::
1477 * Spacing of ungrouped staves::
1478 * Spacing of grouped staves::
1479 * Spacing of non-staff lines::
1483 @node Within-system spacing properties
1484 @unnumberedsubsubsec Within-system spacing properties
1486 The within-system vertical spacing mechanisms are controlled by
1487 two sets of grob properties. The first set is associated with the
1488 @code{VerticalAxisGroup} grob, which is created by all staves and
1489 non-staff lines. The second set is associated with the
1490 @code{StaffGrouper} grob, which can be created by staff-groups,
1491 but only if explicitly called. These properties are described
1492 individually at the end of this section.
1494 The names of these properties (except for @code{staff-affinity})
1495 follow the format @code{@var{item1}-@var{item2}-spacing}, where
1496 @code{@var{item1}} and @code{@var{item2}} are the items to be
1497 spaced. Note that @code{@var{item2}} is not necessarily below
1498 @code{@var{item1}}; for example,
1499 @code{nonstaff-relatedstaff-spacing} will measure upwards from the
1500 non-staff line if @code{staff-affinity} is @code{#UP}.
1502 Each distance is measured between the @emph{reference points} of
1503 the two items. The reference point for a staff is the vertical
1504 center of its @code{StaffSymbol} (i.e. the middle line if
1505 @code{line-count} is odd; the middle space if @code{line-count} is
1506 even). The reference points for individual non-staff lines are
1507 given in the following table:
1509 @multitable {Non-staff line} {Reference point}
1510 @headitem Non-staff line @tab Reference point
1511 @item @code{ChordNames} @tab baseline
1512 @item @code{NoteNames} @tab baseline
1513 @item @code{Lyrics} @tab baseline
1514 @item @code{Dynamics} @tab vertical center
1515 @item @code{FiguredBass} @tab highest point
1516 @item @code{FretBoards} @tab top line
1519 In the following image, horizontal lines indicate the positions
1520 of these reference points:
1522 @lilypond[quote,noragged-right,line-width=110\mm]
1523 #(define zero-space '((padding . -inf.0) (space . 0)))
1525 alignToZero = \with {
1526 \override VerticalAxisGroup #'nonstaff-relatedstaff-spacing = #zero-space
1527 \override VerticalAxisGroup #'nonstaff-nonstaff-spacing = #zero-space
1529 lowerCaseChords = \with {
1530 chordNameLowercaseMinor = ##t
1532 staffAffinityDown = \with {
1533 \override VerticalAxisGroup #'staff-affinity = #DOWN
1536 #(define-music-function
1537 (parser location context)
1539 #{ s1*0^\markup { \typewriter $context } #})
1542 \context { \Dynamics \alignToZero }
1543 \context { \FiguredBass \alignToZero }
1544 \context { \Lyrics \alignToZero }
1545 \context { \NoteNames \alignToZero }
1546 \context { \ChordNames \alignToZero \lowerCaseChords }
1547 \context { \FretBoards \alignToZero \staffAffinityDown }
1549 \override BarLine #'stencil = ##f
1550 \override DynamicText #'self-alignment-X = #-1
1551 \override FretBoard #'X-offset = #1.75
1552 \override InstrumentName #'minimum-Y-extent = #'(-2 . 2)
1553 \override InstrumentName #'extra-offset = #'(0 . -0.5)
1554 \override TextScript #'minimum-Y-extent = #'(-2 . 3)
1555 \override TimeSignature #'stencil = ##f
1559 %% These contexts have reference points at the baseline:
1560 %% ChordNames, NoteNames, and Lyrics
1562 \new ChordNames { \chords { g1:m } }
1563 \new NoteNames { s1 | g1 | }
1564 \new RhythmicStaff {
1565 \set RhythmicStaff.instrumentName = #"baseline "
1567 \labelContext "ChordNames" s1 |
1568 \labelContext "NoteNames" s1 |
1569 \labelContext "Lyrics" s1 |
1571 \new Lyrics { \lyrics { \skip 1*2 | ghijk1 | } }
1574 %% The reference point for Dynamics is its vertical center
1576 \new RhythmicStaff {
1577 \set RhythmicStaff.instrumentName = #"vertical center "
1578 \labelContext "Dynamics" s1*3
1580 \new Dynamics { s2\mp s\fp }
1583 %% The reference point for FiguredBass is its highest point
1585 \new RhythmicStaff {
1586 \set RhythmicStaff.instrumentName = #"highest point "
1587 \labelContext "FiguredBass" s1
1589 \new FiguredBass { \figuremode { <6 5>1 } }
1592 %% The reference point for FretBoards is the top line
1593 \include "predefined-guitar-fretboards.ly"
1595 \new FretBoards { \chordmode { e1 } }
1596 \new RhythmicStaff {
1597 \set RhythmicStaff.instrumentName = #"top line "
1598 \labelContext "FretBoards " s1
1603 Each of the vertical spacing grob properties (except
1604 @code{staff-affinity}) is stored as an alist (association list),
1605 and each uses the same alist structure as the @code{\paper}
1606 spacing variables discussed in @ref{Flexible vertical dimensions}.
1607 Specific methods for modifying alists are discussed in
1608 @ref{Modifying alists}. Grob properties should be adjusted with
1609 an @code{\override} inside a @code{\score} or @code{\layout}
1610 block, and not inside a @code{\paper} block.
1612 The following example demonstrates the two ways these alists can
1613 be modified. The first declaration updates one key-value
1614 individually, and the second completely re-defines the property:
1618 \override VerticalAxisGroup #'staff-staff-spacing #'space = #10
1622 \override VerticalAxisGroup #'staff-staff-spacing =
1625 (minimum-distance . 9)
1626 (stretchability . 10))
1630 To change any spacing settings globally, put them in the
1631 @code{\layout} block:
1637 \override VerticalAxisGroup #'staff-staff-spacing #'space = #10
1642 Standard settings for the vertical spacing grob properties are
1643 listed in @rinternals{VerticalAxisGroup} and
1644 @rinternals{StaffGrouper}. Default overrides for specific types
1645 of non-staff lines are listed in the relevant context descriptions
1646 in @rinternals{Contexts}.
1649 @subsubheading Properties of the @code{VerticalAxisGroup} grob
1651 @code{VerticalAxisGroup} properties are typically adjusted with an
1652 @code{\override} at the @code{Staff} level (or equivalent).
1655 @item staff-staff-spacing
1656 The distance between the current staff and the staff just below it
1657 in the same system, even if one or more non-staff lines (such as
1658 @code{Lyrics}) are placed between the two staves. Does not apply
1659 to the bottom staff of a system. This replaces any settings
1660 inherited from the @code{StaffGrouper} grob of the containing
1661 staff-group, if there is one. If this is unset, and there are no
1662 @code{StaffGrouper} properties to inherit, the
1663 @code{default-staff-staff-spacing} property is used.
1665 @item default-staff-staff-spacing
1666 The settings to use for @code{staff-staff-spacing} when it is
1667 unset. This applies to ungrouped staves and to grouped staves
1668 that do not inherit settings from the @code{StaffGrouper} grob.
1670 @item staff-affinity
1671 The direction of the staff to use for spacing the current
1672 non-staff line. Choices are @code{UP}, @code{DOWN}, and
1673 @code{CENTER}. If @code{CENTER}, the non-staff line will be
1674 placed equidistant between the two nearest staves on either side,
1675 unless collisions or other spacing constraints prevent this.
1676 Adjacent non-staff lines should have non-increasing
1677 @code{staff-affinity} from top to bottom, e.g. a non-staff line
1678 set to @code{UP} should not immediately follow one that is set to
1679 @code{DOWN}. Non-staff lines at the top of a system should use
1680 @code{DOWN}; those at the bottom should use @code{UP}. Setting
1681 @code{staff-affinity} for a staff causes it to be treated as a
1682 non-staff line. Setting @code{staff-affinity} to @code{#f} causes
1683 a non-staff line to be treated as a staff.
1685 @c TODO: verify last clause below ("even if other...")
1687 @item nonstaff-relatedstaff-spacing
1688 The distance between the current non-staff line and the nearest
1689 staff in the direction of @code{staff-affinity}, if there are no
1690 non-staff lines between the two, and @code{staff-affinity} is
1691 either @code{UP} or @code{DOWN}. If @code{staff-affinity} is
1692 @code{CENTER}, then @code{nonstaff-relatedstaff-spacing} is used
1693 for the nearest staves on @emph{both} sides, even if other
1694 non-staff lines appear between the current one and either of the
1697 @item nonstaff-nonstaff-spacing
1698 The distance between the current non-staff line and the next
1699 non-staff line in the direction of @code{staff-affinity}, if both
1700 are on the same side of the related staff, and
1701 @code{staff-affinity} is either @code{UP} or @code{DOWN}.
1703 @item nonstaff-unrelatedstaff-spacing
1704 The distance between the current non-staff line and the staff in
1705 the opposite direction from @code{staff-affinity}, if there are no
1706 other non-staff lines between the two, and @code{staff-affinity}
1707 is either @code{UP} or @code{DOWN}. This can be used, for
1708 example, to require a minimum amount of padding between a
1709 @code{Lyrics} line and the staff to which it does not belong.
1713 @subsubheading Properties of the @code{StaffGrouper} grob
1715 @code{StaffGrouper} properties are typically adjusted with an
1716 @code{\override} at the @code{StaffGroup} level (or equivalent).
1719 @item staff-staff-spacing
1720 The distance between consecutive staves within the current
1721 staff-group. The @code{staff-staff-spacing} property of an
1722 individual staff's @code{VerticalAxisGroup} grob will be used
1723 instead for any staves in the staff-group that have it set. Also
1724 see @code{default-staff-staff-spacing}.
1726 @item staffgroup-staff-spacing
1727 The distance between the last staff of the current staff-group and
1728 the staff just below it in the same system, even if one or more
1729 non-staff lines (such as @code{Lyrics}) exist between the two
1730 staves. Does not apply to the bottom staff of a system. The
1731 @code{staff-staff-spacing} property of an individual staff's
1732 @code{VerticalAxisGroup} grob will be used instead for any staves
1733 in the staff-group that have it set. Also see
1734 @code{default-staff-staff-spacing}.
1739 @file{ly/engraver-init.ly},
1740 @file{scm/define-grobs.scm}.
1742 Internals Reference:
1743 @rinternals{Contexts},
1744 @rinternals{VerticalAxisGroup},
1745 @rinternals{StaffGrouper}.
1748 @node Spacing of ungrouped staves
1749 @unnumberedsubsubsec Spacing of ungrouped staves
1751 @emph{Staves} (such as @code{Staff}, @code{DrumStaff},
1752 @code{TabStaff}, etc.) are contexts that can contain one or more
1753 voice contexts, but cannot contain any other staves.
1755 The following properties affect the spacing of @emph{ungrouped}
1759 @item @code{VerticalAxisGroup} properties:
1761 @item @code{staff-staff-spacing}
1765 These grob properties are described individually above; see
1766 @ref{Within-system spacing properties}.
1768 Additional properties are involved for staves that are part of a
1769 staff-group; see @ref{Spacing of grouped staves}.
1771 The following example shows how the @code{staff-staff-spacing}
1772 property can affect the spacing of ungrouped staves:
1774 @lilypond[verbatim,quote,staffsize=16]
1778 \override VerticalAxisGroup #'staff-staff-spacing =
1781 (minimum-distance . 7))
1786 % The very low note here needs more room than 'space can
1787 % provide, so the distance between this staff and the next is
1788 % determined by 'padding.
1789 \new Staff { b,2 r | }
1791 % Here, 'space provides enough room, and there is no need to
1792 % compress the space (towards 'minimum-distance) to make room
1793 % for anything else on the page, so the distance between this
1794 % staff and the next is determined by 'space.
1795 \new Staff { \clef bass g2 r | }
1797 % By setting 'padding to a negative value, staves can be made to
1798 % collide. The lowest acceptable value for 'space is 0.
1800 \override VerticalAxisGroup #'staff-staff-spacing =
1803 } { \clef bass g2 r | }
1804 \new Staff { \clef bass g2 r | }
1810 @file{scm/define-grobs.scm}.
1815 Internals Reference:
1816 @rinternals{VerticalAxisGroup}.
1819 @node Spacing of grouped staves
1820 @unnumberedsubsubsec Spacing of grouped staves
1822 In orchestral and other large scores, it is common to place staves
1823 in groups. The space between groups is typically larger than the
1824 space between staves of the same group.
1826 @emph{Staff-groups} (such as @code{StaffGroup}, @code{ChoirStaff},
1827 etc.) are contexts that can contain one or more staves
1830 The following properties affect the spacing of staves inside
1834 @item @code{VerticalAxisGroup} properties:
1836 @item @code{staff-staff-spacing}
1837 @item @code{default-staff-staff-spacing}
1839 @item @code{StaffGrouper} properties:
1841 @item @code{staff-staff-spacing}
1842 @item @code{staffgroup-staff-spacing}
1846 These grob properties are described individually above; see
1847 @ref{Within-system spacing properties}.
1849 The following example shows how properties of the
1850 @code{StaffGrouper} grob can affect the spacing of grouped staves:
1852 @lilypond[verbatim,quote,staffsize=16]
1856 \override StaffGrouper #'staff-staff-spacing #'padding = #0
1857 \override StaffGrouper #'staff-staff-spacing #'space = #1
1862 \new PianoStaff \with {
1863 \override StaffGrouper #'staffgroup-staff-spacing #'space = #20
1878 @file{scm/define-grobs.scm}.
1883 Internals Reference:
1884 @rinternals{VerticalAxisGroup},
1885 @rinternals{StaffGrouper}.
1888 @node Spacing of non-staff lines
1889 @unnumberedsubsubsec Spacing of non-staff lines
1891 @emph{Non-staff lines} (such as @code{Lyrics}, @code{ChordNames},
1892 etc.) are contexts whose layout objects are engraved like staves
1893 (i.e. in horizontal lines within systems). Specifically,
1894 non-staff lines are non-staff contexts that create the
1895 @code{VerticalAxisGroup} layout object.
1897 The following properties affect the spacing of non-staff lines:
1900 @item @code{VerticalAxisGroup} properties:
1902 @item @code{staff-affinity}
1903 @item @code{nonstaff-relatedstaff-spacing}
1904 @item @code{nonstaff-nonstaff-spacing}
1905 @item @code{nonstaff-unrelatedstaff-spacing}
1909 These grob properties are described individually above; see
1910 @ref{Within-system spacing properties}.
1912 The following example shows how the
1913 @code{nonstaff-nonstaff-spacing} property can affect the spacing
1914 of consecutive non-staff lines. Here, by setting the
1915 @code{stretchability} key to a very high value, the lyrics are
1916 able to stretch much more than usual:
1918 @lilypond[verbatim,quote,staffsize=16]
1922 \override VerticalAxisGroup
1923 #'nonstaff-nonstaff-spacing #'stretchability = #1000
1930 \override VerticalAxisGroup #'staff-staff-spacing = #'((space . 30))
1933 \override VerticalAxisGroup #'staff-affinity = #UP
1936 \override VerticalAxisGroup #'staff-affinity = #CENTER
1937 } \lyricmode { center }
1939 \override VerticalAxisGroup #'staff-affinity = #DOWN
1940 } \lyricmode { down }
1948 @file{ly/engraver-init.ly},
1949 @file{scm/define-grobs.scm}.
1954 @c @lsr{spacing,page-spacing.ly},
1955 @c @lsr{spacing,alignment-vertical-spacing.ly}.
1957 Internals Reference:
1958 @rinternals{Contexts},
1959 @rinternals{VerticalAxisGroup}.
1962 @node Explicit staff and system positioning
1963 @subsection Explicit staff and system positioning
1965 One way to understand the @code{VerticalAxisGroup} and @code{\paper}
1966 settings explained in the previous two sections is as a collection of
1967 different settings that primarily concern the amount of vertical padding
1968 different staves and systems running down the page.
1970 It is possible to approach vertical spacing in a different way using
1971 @code{NonMusicalPaperColumn #'line-break-system-details}. Where
1972 @code{VerticalAxisGroup} and @code{\paper} settings specify vertical padding,
1973 @code{NonMusicalPaperColumn #'line-break-system-details} specifies exact
1974 vertical positions on the page.
1976 @code{NonMusicalPaperColumn #'line-break-system-details} accepts an associative
1977 list of three different settings:
1980 @item @code{X-offset}
1981 @item @code{Y-offset}
1982 @item @code{alignment-distances}
1985 Grob overrides, including the overrides for @code{NonMusicalPaperColumn}
1986 below, can occur in any of three different places in an input file:
1989 @item in the middle of note entry directly
1990 @item in a @code{\context} block
1991 @item in the @code{\with} block
1994 When we override @code{NonMusicalPaperColumn}, we use the usual
1995 @code{\override} command in @code{\context} blocks and in the
1996 @code{\with} block. On the other hand, when we override
1997 @code{NonMusicalPaperColumn} in the middle of note entry,
1998 use the special @code{\overrideProperty} command. Here are some
1999 example @code{NonMusicalPaperColumn} overrides with the special
2000 @code{\overrideProperty} command:
2003 \overrideProperty NonMusicalPaperColumn
2004 #'line-break-system-details #'((X-offset . 20))
2006 \overrideProperty NonMusicalPaperColumn
2007 #'line-break-system-details #'((Y-offset . 40))
2009 \overrideProperty NonMusicalPaperColumn
2010 #'line-break-system-details #'((X-offset . 20) (Y-offset . 40))
2012 \overrideProperty NonMusicalPaperColumn
2013 #'line-break-system-details #'((alignment-distances . (15)))
2015 \overrideProperty NonMusicalPaperColumn
2016 #'line-break-system-details #'((X-offset . 20) (Y-offset . 40)
2017 (alignment-distances . (15)))
2020 To understand how each of these different settings work, we begin
2021 by looking at an example that includes no overrides at all.
2023 @c \book { } is required in these examples to ensure the spacing
2024 @c overrides can be seen between systems. -np
2027 \header { tagline = ##f }
2028 \paper { left-margin = 0\mm }
2038 \new Voice { \repeat unfold 15 { c'4 c' c' c' } }
2041 \repeat unfold 15 { d'4 d' d' d' }
2048 This score isolates line- and page-breaking information in a dedicated
2049 voice. This technique of creating a breaks voice will help keep layout
2050 separate from music entry as our example becomes more complicated.
2051 See @ref{Using an extra voice for breaks}.
2053 Explicit @code{\breaks} evenly divide the music into six measures per
2054 line. Vertical spacing results from LilyPond's defaults. To set
2055 the vertical startpoint of each system explicitly, we can set
2056 the @code{Y-offset} pair in the @code{line-break-system-details}
2057 attribute of the @code{NonMusicalPaperColumn} grob:
2060 \header { tagline = ##f }
2061 \paper { left-margin = 0\mm }
2067 \overrideProperty #"Score.NonMusicalPaperColumn"
2068 #'line-break-system-details #'((Y-offset . 0))
2070 \overrideProperty #"Score.NonMusicalPaperColumn"
2071 #'line-break-system-details #'((Y-offset . 40))
2073 \overrideProperty #"Score.NonMusicalPaperColumn"
2074 #'line-break-system-details #'((Y-offset . 80))
2077 \new Voice { \repeat unfold 15 { c'4 c' c' c' } }
2080 \repeat unfold 15 { d'4 d' d' d' }
2087 Note that @code{line-break-system-details} takes an associative list of
2088 potentially many values, but that we set only one value here. Note,
2089 too, that the @code{Y-offset} property here determines the exact vertical
2090 position on the page at which each new system will render.
2092 Now that we have set the vertical startpoint of each system
2093 explicitly, we can also set the vertical distances between staves
2094 within each system manually. We do this using the @code{alignment-distances}
2095 subproperty of @code{line-break-system-details}.
2098 \header { tagline = ##f }
2099 \paper { left-margin = 0\mm }
2105 \overrideProperty #"Score.NonMusicalPaperColumn"
2106 #'line-break-system-details #'((Y-offset . 20)
2107 (alignment-distances . (15)))
2109 \overrideProperty #"Score.NonMusicalPaperColumn"
2110 #'line-break-system-details #'((Y-offset . 60)
2111 (alignment-distances . (15)))
2113 \overrideProperty #"Score.NonMusicalPaperColumn"
2114 #'line-break-system-details #'((Y-offset . 100)
2115 (alignment-distances . (15)))
2118 \new Voice { \repeat unfold 15 { c'4 c' c' c' } }
2121 \repeat unfold 15 { d'4 d' d' d' }
2128 Note that here we assign two different values to the
2129 @code{line-break-system-details} attribute of the
2130 @code{NonMusicalPaperColumn} grob. Though the
2131 @code{line-break-system-details} attribute alist accepts many
2132 additional spacing parameters (including, for example, a corresponding
2133 @code{X-offset} pair), we need only set the @code{Y-offset} and
2134 @code{alignment-distances} pairs to control the vertical startpoint of
2135 every system and every staff. Finally, note that @code{alignment-distances}
2136 specifies the vertical positioning of staves but not of staff groups.
2139 \header { tagline = ##f }
2140 \paper { left-margin = 0\mm }
2146 \overrideProperty #"Score.NonMusicalPaperColumn"
2147 #'line-break-system-details #'((Y-offset . 0)
2148 (alignment-distances . (30 10)))
2150 \overrideProperty #"Score.NonMusicalPaperColumn"
2151 #'line-break-system-details #'((Y-offset . 60)
2152 (alignment-distances . (10 10)))
2154 \overrideProperty #"Score.NonMusicalPaperColumn"
2155 #'line-break-system-details #'((Y-offset . 100)
2156 (alignment-distances . (10 30)))
2159 \new Voice { \repeat unfold 15 { c'4 c' c' c' } }
2162 \new Staff { \repeat unfold 15 { d'4 d' d' d' } }
2163 \new Staff { \repeat unfold 15 { e'4 e' e' e' } }
2170 Some points to consider:
2173 @item When using @code{alignment-distances}, lyrics and other non-staff lines
2174 do not count as a staff.
2176 @item The units of the numbers passed to @code{X-offset},
2177 @code{Y-offset} and @code{alignment-distances} are interpreted as multiples
2178 of the distance between adjacent staff lines. Positive values move staves
2179 and lyrics up, negative values move staves and lyrics down.
2181 @item Because the @code{NonMusicalPaperColumn #'line-break-system-details}
2182 settings given here allow the positioning of staves and systems anywhere
2183 on the page, it is possible to violate paper or margin boundaries or even
2184 to print staves or systems on top of one another. Reasonable values
2185 passed to these different settings will avoid this.
2194 @node Vertical collision avoidance
2195 @subsection Vertical collision avoidance
2197 @funindex outside-staff-priority
2198 @funindex outside-staff-padding
2199 @funindex outside-staff-horizontal-padding
2201 Intuitively, there are some objects in musical notation that belong
2202 to the staff and there are other objects that should be placed outside
2203 the staff. Objects belonging outside the staff include things such as
2204 rehearsal marks, text and dynamic markings (from now on, these will
2205 be called outside-staff objects). LilyPond's rule for the
2206 vertical placement of outside-staff objects is to place them as close
2207 to the staff as possible but not so close that they collide with
2210 LilyPond uses the @code{outside-staff-priority} property to determine
2211 whether a grob is an outside-staff object: if @code{outside-staff-priority}
2212 is a number, the grob is an outside-staff object. In addition,
2213 @code{outside-staff-priority} tells LilyPond in which order the objects
2216 First, LilyPond places all the objects that do not belong outside
2217 the staff. Then it sorts the outside-staff objects according to their
2218 @code{outside-staff-priority} (in increasing order). One by one, LilyPond
2219 takes the outside-staff objects and places them so that they do
2220 not collide with any objects that have already been placed. That
2221 is, if two outside-staff grobs are competing for the same space, the one
2222 with the lower @code{outside-staff-priority} will be placed closer to
2225 @lilypond[quote,ragged-right,relative=2,verbatim]
2228 \once \override TextScript #'outside-staff-priority = #1
2229 c4_"Text"\pp % this time the text will be closer to the staff
2231 % by setting outside-staff-priority to a non-number,
2232 % we disable the automatic collision avoidance
2233 \once \override TextScript #'outside-staff-priority = ##f
2234 \once \override DynamicLineSpanner #'outside-staff-priority = ##f
2235 c4_"Text"\pp % now they will collide
2238 The vertical padding between an outside-staff object and the
2239 previously-positioned grobs can be controlled with
2240 @code{outside-staff-padding}.
2242 @lilypond[quote,ragged-right,relative=2,verbatim]
2243 \once \override TextScript #'outside-staff-padding = #0
2244 a'^"This text is placed very close to the note"
2245 \once \override TextScript #'outside-staff-padding = #3
2246 c^"This text is padded away from the previous text"
2247 c^"This text is placed close to the previous text"
2251 By default, outside-staff objects are placed only to avoid
2252 a horizontal collision with previously-positioned grobs. This
2253 can lead to situations in which objects are placed very close to each
2254 other horizontally. The vertical spacing between staves can
2255 also be set so that outside staff objects are interleaved.
2256 Setting @code{outside-staff-horizontal-padding}
2257 causes an object to be offset vertically so that such a situation
2260 @lilypond[quote,ragged-right,relative=2,verbatim]
2261 % the markup is too close to the following note
2265 % setting outside-staff-horizontal-padding fixes this
2267 \once \override TextScript #'outside-staff-horizontal-padding = #1
2279 @node Horizontal spacing
2280 @section Horizontal spacing
2282 @cindex horizontal spacing
2283 @cindex spacing, horizontal
2286 * Horizontal spacing overview::
2287 * New spacing area::
2288 * Changing horizontal spacing::
2290 * Proportional notation::
2294 @node Horizontal spacing overview
2295 @subsection Horizontal spacing overview
2297 The spacing engine translates differences in durations into stretchable
2298 distances (@q{springs}) of differing lengths. Longer durations get
2299 more space, shorter durations get less. The shortest durations get a
2300 fixed amount of space (which is controlled by
2301 @code{shortest-duration-space} in the @rinternals{SpacingSpanner}
2302 object). The longer the duration, the more space it gets: doubling a
2303 duration adds a fixed amount (this amount is controlled by
2304 @code{spacing-increment}) of space to the note.
2306 For example, the following piece contains lots of half, quarter, and
2307 8th notes; the eighth note is followed by 1 note head width (NHW).
2308 The quarter note is followed by 2 NHW, the half by 3 NHW, etc.
2310 @lilypond[quote,verbatim,relative=1]
2311 c2 c4. c8 c4. c8 c4. c8 c8
2315 Normally, @code{spacing-increment} is set to 1.2 staff space, which is
2316 approximately the width of a note head, and
2317 @code{shortest-duration-space} is set to 2.0, meaning that the
2318 shortest note gets 2.4 staff space (2.0 times the
2319 @code{spacing-increment}) of horizontal space. This space is counted
2320 from the left edge of the symbol, so the shortest notes are generally
2321 followed by one NHW of space.
2323 If one would follow the above procedure exactly, then adding a single
2324 32nd note to a score that uses 8th and 16th notes, would widen up the
2325 entire score a lot. The shortest note is no longer a 16th, but a 32nd,
2326 thus adding 1 NHW to every note. To prevent this, the shortest
2327 duration for spacing is not the shortest note in the score, but rather
2328 the one which occurs most frequently.
2331 The most common shortest duration is determined as follows: in every
2332 measure, the shortest duration is determined. The most common shortest
2333 duration is taken as the basis for the spacing, with the stipulation
2334 that this shortest duration should always be equal to or shorter than
2335 an 8th note. The shortest duration is printed when you run
2336 @code{lilypond} with the @code{--verbose} option.
2338 These durations may also be customized. If you set the
2339 @code{common-shortest-duration} in @rinternals{SpacingSpanner}, then
2340 this sets the base duration for spacing. The maximum duration for this
2341 base (normally an 8th), is set through @code{base-shortest-duration}.
2343 @funindex common-shortest-duration
2344 @funindex base-shortest-duration
2345 @funindex stem-spacing-correction
2348 Notes that are even shorter than the common shortest note are
2349 followed by a space that is proportional to their duration relative to
2350 the common shortest note. So if we were to add only a few 16th notes
2351 to the example above, they would be followed by half a NHW:
2353 @lilypond[quote,verbatim,relative=2]
2354 c2 c4. c8 c4. c16[ c] c4. c8 c8 c8 c4 c4 c4
2358 In the @emph{Essay on automated music engraving}, it was explained
2359 that stem directions influence spacing (see @ressay{Optical
2360 spacing}). This is controlled with the
2361 @code{stem-spacing-correction} property in the
2362 @rinternals{NoteSpacing}, object. These are generated for every
2363 @rinternals{Voice} context. The @code{StaffSpacing} object
2364 (generated in @rinternals{Staff} context) contains the same
2365 property for controlling the stem/bar line spacing. The following
2366 example shows these corrections, once with default settings, and
2367 once with exaggerated corrections:
2369 @lilypond[quote,ragged-right]
2373 \override Staff.NoteSpacing #'stem-spacing-correction = #1.5
2374 \override Staff.StaffSpacing #'stem-spacing-correction = #1.5
2380 Proportional notation is supported; see @ref{Proportional notation}.
2387 Internals Reference:
2388 @rinternals{SpacingSpanner},
2389 @rinternals{NoteSpacing},
2390 @rinternals{StaffSpacing},
2391 @rinternals{NonMusicalPaperColumn}.
2396 There is no convenient mechanism to manually override spacing. The
2397 following work-around may be used to insert extra space into a score,
2398 adjusting the padding value as necessary.
2400 \override Score.NonMusicalPaperColumn #'padding = #10
2403 No work-around exists for decreasing the amount of space.
2406 @node New spacing area
2407 @subsection New spacing area
2409 New sections with different spacing parameters can be started with
2410 @code{newSpacingSection}. This is useful when there are
2411 sections with a different notions of long and short notes.
2413 In the following example, the time signature change introduces a new
2414 section, and hence the 16ths notes are spaced wider.
2416 @lilypond[relative=1,verbatim,quote]
2419 c8 c c4 c16[ c c8] c4
2425 The @code{\newSpacingSection} command creates a new
2426 @code{SpacingSpanner} object, and hence new @code{\override}s
2427 may be used in that location.
2434 Internals Reference:
2435 @rinternals{SpacingSpanner}.
2438 @node Changing horizontal spacing
2439 @subsection Changing horizontal spacing
2441 Horizontal spacing may be altered with the
2442 @code{base-shortest-duration} property. Here
2443 we compare the same music; once without altering
2444 the property, and then altered. Larger values
2445 of @code{ly:make-moment} will produce smaller
2446 music. Note that @code{ly:make-moment} constructs
2447 a duration, so @code{1 4} is a longer duration
2450 @lilypond[verbatim,line-width=12\cm]
2453 g4 e e2 | f4 d d2 | c4 d e f | g4 g g2 |
2454 g4 e e2 | f4 d d2 | c4 e g g | c,1 |
2455 d4 d d d | d4 e f2 | e4 e e e | e4 f g2 |
2456 g4 e e2 | f4 d d2 | c4 e g g | c,1 |
2461 @lilypond[verbatim,line-width=12\cm]
2464 g4 e e2 | f4 d d2 | c4 d e f | g4 g g2 |
2465 g4 e e2 | f4 d d2 | c4 e g g | c,1 |
2466 d4 d d d | d4 e f2 | e4 e e e | e4 f g2 |
2467 g4 e e2 | f4 d d2 | c4 e g g | c,1 |
2472 \override SpacingSpanner
2473 #'base-shortest-duration = #(ly:make-moment 1 16)
2482 By default, spacing in tuplets depends on various non-duration
2483 factors (such as accidentals, clef changes, etc). To disregard
2484 such symbols and force uniform equal-duration spacing, use
2485 @code{Score.SpacingSpanner #'uniform-stretching}. This
2486 property can only be changed at the beginning of a score,
2488 @lilypond[quote,ragged-right,verbatim]
2507 \override SpacingSpanner #'uniform-stretching = ##t
2513 When @code{strict-note-spacing} is set, notes are spaced without
2514 regard for clefs, bar lines, and grace notes,
2516 @lilypond[quote,ragged-right,relative=2,verbatim]
2517 \override Score.SpacingSpanner #'strict-note-spacing = ##t
2518 \new Staff { c8[ c \clef alto c \grace { c16[ c] } c8 c c] c32[ c32] }
2528 @subsection Line length
2531 @cindex breaking pages
2534 @funindex line-width
2535 @funindex ragged-right
2536 @funindex ragged-last
2538 @c Although line-width can be set in \layout, it should be set in paper
2539 @c block, to get page layout right.
2540 @c Setting indent in \paper block makes not much sense, but it works.
2542 @c Bit verbose and vague, use examples?
2543 The most basic settings influencing the spacing are @code{indent} and
2544 @code{line-width}. They are set in the @code{\layout} block. They
2545 control the indentation of the first line of music, and the lengths of
2548 If @code{ragged-right} is set to true in the @code{\layout} block, then
2549 systems ends at their natural horizontal length, instead of being spread
2550 horizontally to fill the whole line. This is useful for
2551 short fragments, and for checking how tight the natural spacing is.
2552 The normal default setting is false, but if the score has only one
2553 system the default value is true.
2556 @cindex vertical spacing
2558 The option @code{ragged-last} is similar to @code{ragged-right}, but
2559 only affects the last line of the piece. No restrictions are put on
2560 that line. The result is similar to formatting text paragraphs. In a
2561 paragraph, the last line simply takes its natural horizontal length.
2562 @c Note that for text there are several options for the last line.
2563 @c While Knuth TeX uses natural length, lead typesetters use the same
2564 @c stretch as the previous line. eTeX uses \lastlinefit to
2565 @c interpolate between both these solutions.
2581 @node Proportional notation
2582 @subsection Proportional notation
2584 LilyPond supports proportional notation, a type of horizontal spacing
2585 in which each note consumes an amount of horizontal space exactly
2586 equivalent to its rhythmic duration. This type of proportional spacing
2587 is comparable to horizontal spacing on top of graph paper. Some late
2588 20th- and early 21st-century scores use proportional notation to
2589 clarify complex rhythmic relationships or to facilitate the placement
2590 of timelines or other graphics directly in the score.
2592 LilyPond supports five different settings for proportional notation,
2593 which may be used together or alone:
2596 @item @code{proportionalNotationDuration}
2597 @item @code{uniform-stretching}
2598 @item @code{strict-note-spacing}
2599 @item @code{\remove Separating_line_group_engraver}
2600 @item @code{\override PaperColumn #'used = ##t}
2603 In the examples that follow, we explore these five different
2604 proportional notation settings and examine how these settings interact.
2606 We start with the following one-measure example, which uses classical
2607 spacing with ragged-right turned on.
2609 @lilypond[quote,verbatim,ragged-right]
2612 \new RhythmicStaff {
2616 c'16 c'16 c'16 c'16 c'16
2623 Notice that the half note which begins the measure takes up far less
2624 than half of the horizontal space of the measure. Likewise, the
2625 sixteenth notes and sixteenth-note quintuplets (or twentieth notes)
2626 which end the measure together take up far more than half the
2627 horizontal space of the measure.
2629 In classical engraving, this spacing may be exactly what we want
2630 because we can borrow horizontal space from the half note and conserve
2631 horizontal space across the measure as a whole.
2633 On the other hand, if we want to insert a measured timeline or other
2634 graphic above or below our score, we need proportional notation. We
2635 turn proportional notation on with the proportionalNotationDuration
2638 @lilypond[quote,verbatim,ragged-right]
2641 \new RhythmicStaff {
2645 c'16 c'16 c'16 c'16 c'16
2652 proportionalNotationDuration = #(ly:make-moment 1 20)
2658 The half note at the beginning of the measure and the faster notes in
2659 the second half of the measure now occupy equal amounts of horizontal
2660 space. We could place a measured timeline or graphic above or below
2663 The @code{proportionalNotationDuration} setting is a context setting
2664 that lives in @code{Score}. Remember that context settings can appear
2665 in one of three locations within our input file -- in a @code{\with}
2666 block, in a @code{\context} block, or directly in music entry preceded
2667 by the @code{\set} command. As with all context settings, users can
2668 pick which of the three different locations they would like to
2669 set @code{proportionalNotationDuration} in to.
2671 The @code{proportionalNotationDuration} setting takes a single argument,
2672 which is the reference duration against that all music will be spaced.
2673 The LilyPond Scheme function @code{make-moment} takes two arguments
2674 -- a numerator and denominator which together express some fraction of
2675 a whole note. The call @code{#(ly:make-moment 1 20)} therefore produces
2676 a reference duration of a twentieth note. Values such as
2677 @code{#(ly:make-moment 1 16)}, @code{#(ly:make-moment 1 8)}, and
2678 @code{#(ly:make-moment 3 97)} are all possible as well.
2680 How do we select the right reference duration to pass to
2681 @code{proportionalNotationDuration}? Usually by a process of trial
2682 and error, beginning with a duration close to the fastest (or smallest)
2683 duration in the piece. Smaller reference durations space music loosely;
2684 larger reference durations space music tightly.
2686 @lilypond[quote,verbatim,ragged-right]
2689 \new RhythmicStaff {
2693 c'16 c'16 c'16 c'16 c'16
2700 proportionalNotationDuration = #(ly:make-moment 1 8)
2707 \new RhythmicStaff {
2711 c'16 c'16 c'16 c'16 c'16
2718 proportionalNotationDuration = #(ly:make-moment 1 16)
2725 \new RhythmicStaff {
2729 c'16 c'16 c'16 c'16 c'16
2736 proportionalNotationDuration = #(ly:make-moment 1 32)
2742 Note that too large a reference duration -- such as the eighth note,
2743 above -- spaces music too tightly and can cause note head collisions.
2744 Also that proportional notation in general takes up more horizontal
2745 space than classical spacing. Proportional spacing provides rhythmic
2746 clarity at the expense of horizontal space.
2748 Next we examine how to optimally space overlapping tuplets.
2750 We start by examining what happens to our original example, with
2751 classical spacing, when we add a second staff with a different type of
2754 @lilypond[quote,verbatim,ragged-right]
2757 \new RhythmicStaff {
2761 c'16 c'16 c'16 c'16 c'16
2764 \new RhythmicStaff {
2766 c'8 c'8 c'8 c'8 c'8 c'8 c'8 c'8 c'8
2773 The spacing is bad because the evenly spaced notes of the bottom staff
2774 do not stretch uniformly. Classical engravings include very few complex
2775 triplets and so classical engraving rules can generate this type of
2776 result. Setting @code{proportionalNotationDuration} fixes this.
2778 @lilypond[quote,verbatim,ragged-right]
2781 \new RhythmicStaff {
2785 c'16 c'16 c'16 c'16 c'16
2788 \new RhythmicStaff {
2790 c'8 c'8 c'8 c'8 c'8 c'8 c'8 c'8 c'8
2797 proportionalNotationDuration = #(ly:make-moment 1 20)
2803 But if we look very carefully we can see that notes of the second half
2804 of the 9-tuplet space ever so slightly more widely than the notes
2805 of the first half of the 9-tuplet. To ensure uniform stretching, we
2806 turn on @code{uniform-stretching}, which is a property of
2807 @code{SpacingSpanner}.
2809 @lilypond[quote,verbatim,ragged-right]
2812 \new RhythmicStaff {
2816 c'16 c'16 c'16 c'16 c'16
2819 \new RhythmicStaff {
2821 c'8 c'8 c'8 c'8 c'8 c'8 c'8 c'8 c'8
2828 proportionalNotationDuration = #(ly:make-moment 1 20)
2829 \override SpacingSpanner #'uniform-stretching = ##t
2835 Our two-staff example now spaces exactly, our rhythmic
2836 relationships are visually clear, and we can include a measured
2837 timeline or graphic if we want.
2839 Note that the LilyPond's proportional notation package expects
2840 that all proportional scores set the SpacingSpanner's
2841 'uniform-stretching attribute to ##t. Setting
2842 proportionalNotationDuration without also setting the
2843 SpacingSpanner's 'uniform-stretching attribute to ##t will, for
2844 example, cause Skips to consume an incorrect amount of horizontal
2847 The SpacingSpanner is an abstract grob that lives in the Score
2848 context. As with our settings of proportionalNotationDuration,
2849 overrides to the SpacingSpanner can occur in any of three
2850 different places in our input file – in the Score \with block, in
2851 a Score \context block, or in note entry directly.
2853 There is by default only one @code{SpacingSpanner} per @code{Score}. This
2854 means that, by default, @code{uniform-stretching} is either turned on for the
2855 entire score or turned off for the entire score. We can, however,
2856 override this behavior and turn on different spacing features at
2857 different places in the score. We do this with the command
2858 @code{\newSpacingSection}. See @ref{New spacing area}, for more info.
2860 Next we examine the effects of the @code{Separating_line_group_engraver} and
2861 see why proportional scores frequently remove this engraver. The following
2862 example shows that there is a small amount of @qq{preferatory} space
2863 just before the first note in each system.
2865 @lilypond[quote,verbatim,ragged-right]
2878 The amount of this preferatory space is the same whether after a time
2879 signature, a key signature or a clef. @code{Separating_line_group_engraver}
2880 is responsible for this space. Removing @code{Separating_line_group_engraver}
2881 reduces this space to zero.
2883 @lilypond[quote,verbatim,ragged-right]
2889 \remove Separating_line_group_engraver
2897 Nonmusical elements like time signatures, key signatures, clefs and
2898 accidentals are problematic in proportional notation. None of these
2899 elements has rhythmic duration. But all of these elements consume
2900 horizontal space. Different proportional scores approach these
2901 problems differently.
2903 It may be possible to avoid spacing problems with key signatures
2904 simply by not having any. This is a valid option since most
2905 proportional scores are contemporary music. The same may be true
2906 of time signatures, especially for those scores
2907 that include a measured timeline or other graphic. But these scores
2908 are exceptional and most proportional scores include at least some
2909 time signatures. Clefs and accidentals are even more essential.
2911 So what strategies exist for spacing nonmusical elements in a
2912 proportional context? One good option is the @code{strict-note-spacing}
2913 property of @code{SpacingSpanner}. Compare the two scores below:
2915 @lilypond[quote,verbatim,ragged-right]
2917 \set Score.proportionalNotationDuration = #(ly:make-moment 1 16)
2927 \set Score.proportionalNotationDuration = #(ly:make-moment 1 16)
2928 \override Score.SpacingSpanner #'strict-note-spacing = ##t
2938 Both scores are proportional, but the spacing in the first score
2939 is too loose because of the clef change. The spacing of the second
2940 score remains strict, however, because strict-note-spacing is
2941 turned on. Turning on strict-note-spacing causes the width of
2942 time signatures, key signatures, clefs and accidentals to play no
2943 part in the spacing algorithm.
2945 In addition to the settings given here, there are other settings
2946 that frequently appear in proportional scores. These include:
2949 @item @code{\override SpacingSpanner #'strict-grace-spacing = ##t}
2950 @item @code{tupletFullLength = ##t}
2951 @item @code{\override Beam #'breakable = ##t}
2952 @item @code{\override Glissando #'breakable = ##t}
2953 @item @code{\override TextSpanner #'breakable = ##t}
2954 @item @code{\remove Forbid_line_break_engraver in the Voice context}
2957 These settings space grace notes strictly, extend tuplet brackets to
2958 mark both rhythmic start- and stop-points, and allow spanning elements
2959 to break across systems and pages. See the respective parts of the manual
2960 for these related settings.
2965 @ref{New spacing area}.
2971 @node Fitting music onto fewer pages
2972 @section Fitting music onto fewer pages
2974 Sometimes you can end up with one or two staves on a second
2975 (or third, or fourth...) page. This is annoying, especially
2976 if you look at previous pages and it looks like there is plenty
2977 of room left on those.
2979 When investigating layout issues, @code{annotate-spacing} is an
2980 invaluable tool. This command prints the values of various layout
2981 spacing variables; for more details see the following section,
2982 @ref{Displaying spacing}.
2985 * Displaying spacing::
2986 * Changing spacing::
2990 @node Displaying spacing
2991 @subsection Displaying spacing
2993 @funindex annotate-spacing
2994 @cindex spacing, display of layout
2996 To graphically display the dimensions of vertical layout variables
2997 that may be altered for page formatting, set
2998 @code{annotate-spacing} in the @code{\paper} block:
3000 @c need to have \book{} otherwise we get the separate systems. -hwn
3001 @lilypond[verbatim,quote]
3002 #(set-default-paper-size "a6" 'landscape)
3005 \paper { annotate-spacing = ##t }
3011 All layout dimensions are displayed in staff-spaces, regardless
3012 of the units specified in the @code{\paper} or @code{\layout} block.
3013 In the above example, @code{paper-height} has a value of 59.75
3014 @code{staff-spaces}, and the @code{staff-size} is 20 points (the
3015 default value). Note that:
3017 @multitable {1 staff-space} {staff-size)/4 * (25.4/72.27) mm}
3020 @tab = (25.4/72.27) mm
3023 @tab = (@code{staff-size})/4 pts
3025 @tab = (@code{staff-size})/4 * (25.4/72.27) mm
3030 In this case, one @code{staff-space} is approximately equal to
3031 1.757mm. Thus the @code{paper-height} measurement of 59.75
3032 @code{staff-spaces} is equivalent to 105 millimeters, the height
3033 of @code{a6} paper in landscape orientation. The pairs
3034 (@var{a},@var{b}) are intervals, where @var{a} is the lower
3035 edge and @var{b} the upper edge of the interval.
3040 @ref{Setting the staff size}.
3046 @node Changing spacing
3047 @subsection Changing spacing
3049 The output of @code{annotate-spacing} reveals vertical dimensions
3050 in great detail. For details about modifying margins and other
3051 layout variables, see @ref{Page formatting}.
3053 Other than margins, there are a few other options to save space:
3057 Force systems to move as close together as possible (to fit as
3058 many systems as possible onto a page) while being spaced so that
3059 there is no blank space at the bottom of the page.
3063 system-system-spacing = #'((padding . 0) (space . 0.1))
3064 ragged-last-bottom = ##f
3070 Force the number of systems. This can help in two ways. Just
3071 setting a value, even the same value as the number of systems
3072 being typeset by default, will sometimes cause more systems to
3073 be fitted onto each page, as an estimation step is then bypassed,
3074 giving a more accurate fit to each page. Also, forcing an actual
3075 reduction in the number of systems may save a further page. For
3076 example, if the default layout has 11 systems, the following
3077 assignment will force a layout with 10 systems.
3086 Avoid (or reduce) objects that increase the vertical size of a
3087 system. For example, volta repeats (or alternate repeats) require
3088 extra space. If these repeats are spread over two systems, they
3089 will take up more space than one system with the volta repeats and
3090 another system without. For example, dynamics that @q{stick out} of
3091 a system can be moved closer to the staff:
3093 @lilypond[verbatim,quote,relative=1]
3095 e4 c g-\tweak #'X-offset #-2.7 -\tweak #'Y-offset #2.5 \f c
3099 Alter the horizontal spacing via @code{SpacingSpanner}. For more
3100 details, see @ref{Changing horizontal spacing}. The following
3101 example illustrates the default spacing:
3103 @lilypond[verbatim,quote]
3116 The next example modifies @code{common-shortest-duration} from a
3117 value of @code{1/4} to @code{1/2}. The quarter note is the most
3118 common and shortest duration in this example, so by making this
3119 duration longer, a @q{squeezing} effect occurs:
3121 @lilypond[verbatim,quote]
3133 \override SpacingSpanner
3134 #'common-shortest-duration = #(ly:make-moment 1 2)
3141 The @code{common-shortest-duration} property cannot be modified
3142 dynamically, so it must always be placed in a @code{\context}
3143 block so that it applies to the whole score.
3150 @ref{Page formatting},
3151 @ref{Changing horizontal spacing}.