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 Two types of blocks can contain layout settings:
72 @code{\paper @{@dots{}@}} and @code{\layout @{@dots{}@}}. The
73 @code{\paper} block contains page layout settings that are
74 expected to be the same for all scores in a book, such as the
75 paper height, or whether to print page numbers, etc. See
76 @ref{Page layout}. The @code{\layout} block contains score layout
77 settings, such as the number of systems to use, or the space
78 between staff-groups, etc. See @ref{Score layout}.
85 * Horizontal spacing::
86 * Fitting music onto fewer pages::
93 This section discusses page layout options for the @code{\paper}
98 * Paper size and automatic scaling::
99 * Fixed vertical spacing \paper variables::
100 * Flexible vertical spacing \paper variables::
101 * Horizontal spacing \paper variables::
102 * Other \paper variables::
106 @node The \paper block
107 @subsection The @code{\paper} block
109 The @code{\paper} block can appear within a @code{\book} block,
110 but not within a @code{\score} block. Settings in a @code{\paper}
111 block apply to the entire book, which may include multiple scores.
112 Settings that can appear in a @code{\paper} block include:
117 the @code{set-paper-size} scheme function,
120 @code{\paper} variables used for customizing page layout, and
123 markup definitions used for customizing the layout of headers,
128 The @code{set-paper-size} function is discussed in the next
129 section, @ref{Paper size and automatic scaling}. The
130 @code{\paper} variables that deal with page layout are discussed
131 in later sections. The markup definitions that deal with headers,
132 footers, and titles are discussed in
133 @ref{Custom headers footers and titles}.
135 Most @code{\paper} variables will only work in a @code{\paper}
136 block. The few that will also work in a @code{\layout} block are
137 listed in @ref{The \layout block}.
139 Except when specified otherwise, all @code{\paper} variables that
140 correspond to distances on the page are measured in millimeters,
141 unless a different unit is specified by the user. For example,
142 the following declaration sets @code{top-margin} to ten
151 To set it to @code{0.5} inches, use the @code{\in} unit suffix:
159 The available unit suffixes are @code{\mm}, @code{\cm},
160 @code{\in}, and @code{\pt}. These units are simple values for
161 converting from millimeters; they are defined in
162 @file{ly/paper-defaults-init.ly}. For the sake of clarity, when
163 using millimeters, the @code{\mm} is typically included in the
164 code, even though it is not technically necessary.
166 It is also possible to define @code{\paper} values using Scheme.
167 The Scheme equivalent of the above example is:
171 #(define top-margin (* 0.5 in))
177 @ref{Paper size and automatic scaling},
178 @ref{Custom headers footers and titles},
179 @ref{The \layout block}.
182 @file{ly/paper-defaults-init.ly}.
185 @node Paper size and automatic scaling
186 @subsection Paper size and automatic scaling
194 * Setting paper size::
195 * Automatic scaling to paper size::
199 @node Setting paper size
200 @unnumberedsubsubsec Setting paper size
202 Two functions are available for changing the paper size:
203 @code{set-default-paper-size} and @code{set-paper-size}.
204 @code{set-default-paper-size} must be placed in the toplevel
205 scope, and @code{set-paper-size} must be placed in a @code{\paper}
209 #(set-default-paper-size "a4")
214 #(set-paper-size "a4")
219 In the toplevel scope, the @code{set-default-paper-size} function
220 can safely be called anywhere before the first @code{\paper}
221 block. Within a @code{\paper} block, the safest place to call
222 @code{set-paper-size} is at the top, above the list of variable
223 declarations. The reasons for this are discussed in
224 @ref{Automatic scaling to paper size}.
226 @code{set-default-paper-size} sets the size of all pages, whereas
227 @code{set-paper-size} only sets the size of the pages that the
228 @code{\paper} block applies to. For example, if the @code{\paper}
229 block is at the top of the file, then it will apply the paper size
230 to all pages. If the @code{\paper} block is inside a
231 @code{\book}, then the paper size will only apply to that book.
233 Common paper sizes are available, including @code{a4},
234 @code{letter}, @code{legal}, and @code{11x17} (also known as
235 tabloid). Many more paper sizes are supported by default. For
236 details, see @file{scm/paper.scm}, and search for the
237 definition of @code{paper-alist}.
239 @c TODO add a new appendix for paper sizes (auto-generated) -pm
241 @warning{The default paper size is @code{a4}.}
243 Extra sizes may be added by editing the definition of
244 @code{paper-alist} in the initialization file
245 @file{scm/paper.scm}, however they will be overridden on a
251 If the symbol @code{'landscape} is supplied as an argument to
252 @code{set-default-paper-size}, pages will be rotated by 90
253 degrees, and wider line widths will be set accordingly.
256 #(set-default-paper-size "a6" 'landscape)
261 @ref{Automatic scaling to paper size}.
264 @file{scm/paper.scm}.
267 @node Automatic scaling to paper size
268 @unnumberedsubsubsec Automatic scaling to paper size
270 If the paper size is changed with one of the scheme functions
271 (@code{set-default-paper-size} or @code{set-paper-size}), the
272 values of several @code{\paper} variables are automatically scaled
273 to the new size. To bypass the automatic scaling for a particular
274 variable, set the variable after setting the paper size. Note
275 that the automatic scaling is not triggered by setting the
276 @code{paper-height} or @code{paper-width} variables, even though
277 @code{paper-width} can influence other values (this is separate
278 from scaling and is discussed below). The
279 @code{set-default-paper-size} and @code{set-paper-size} functions
280 are described in @ref{Setting paper size}.
282 The vertical dimensions affected by automatic scaling are
283 @code{top-margin} and @code{bottom-margin} (see
284 @ref{Fixed vertical spacing \paper variables}. The horizontal
285 dimensions affected by automatic scaling are @code{left-margin},
286 @code{right-margin}, @code{inner-margin}, @code{outer-margin},
287 @code{binding-offset}, @code{indent}, and @code{short-indent} (see
288 @ref{Horizontal spacing \paper variables}.
290 The default values for these dimensions are set in
291 @file{ly/paper-defaults-init.ly}, using internal variables named
292 @code{top-margin-default}, @code{bottom-margin-default}, etc.
293 These are the values that result at the default paper size
294 @code{a4}. For reference, with @code{a4} paper the
295 @code{paper-height} is @code{297\mm} and the @code{paper-width} is
300 @ref{Fixed vertical spacing \paper variables},
301 @ref{Horizontal spacing \paper variables}.
304 @file{ly/paper-defaults-init.ly},
305 @file{scm/paper.scm}.
308 @node Fixed vertical spacing \paper variables
309 @subsection Fixed vertical spacing @code{\paper} variables
311 @warning{Some @code{@bs{}paper} dimensions are automatically
312 scaled to the paper size, which may lead to unexpected behavior.
313 See @ref{Automatic scaling to paper size}.}
315 Default values (before scaling) are defined in
316 @file{ly/paper-defaults-init.ly}.
320 @funindex paper-height
322 The height of the page, unset by default. Note that the automatic
323 scaling of some vertical dimensions is not affected by this.
328 The margin between the top of the page and the top of the
329 printable area. If the paper size is modified, this dimension's
330 default value is scaled accordingly.
333 @funindex bottom-margin
335 The margin between the bottom of the printable area and the bottom
336 of the page. If the paper size is modified, this dimension's
337 default value is scaled accordingly.
340 @funindex ragged-bottom
342 If set to true, systems will not spread vertically down the page.
343 This does not affect the last page. This should be set to true
344 for pieces that have only two or three systems per page, for
345 example orchestral scores.
347 @item ragged-last-bottom
348 @funindex ragged-last-bottom
350 If set to false, systems will spread vertically down the last
351 page. Pieces that amply fill two pages or more should have this
352 set to true. It also affects the last page of book parts, i.e.
353 parts of a book created with @code{\bookpart} blocks.
359 @ref{Automatic scaling to paper size}.
362 @file{ly/paper-defaults-init.ly}.
369 The titles (from the @code{\header} block) are treated as a
370 system, so @code{ragged-bottom} and @code{ragged-last-bottom} will
371 add space between the titles and the first system of the score.
374 @node Flexible vertical spacing \paper variables
375 @subsection Flexible vertical spacing @code{\paper} variables
377 In most cases, it is preferable for the vertical distances between
378 certain items (such as margins, titles, systems, and separate
379 scores) to be flexible, so that they stretch and compress nicely
380 according to each situation. A number of @code{\paper} variables
381 (listed below) are available to fine-tune the stretching behavior
384 Note that the @code{\paper} variables discussed in this section do
385 not control the spacing of staves within individual systems.
386 Within-system spacing is controlled by grob properties, with
387 settings typically entered inside a @code{\score} or
388 @code{\layout} block, and not inside a @code{\paper} block. See
389 @ref{Flexible vertical spacing within systems}.
392 * Structure of flexible vertical spacing alists::
393 * List of flexible vertical spacing \paper variables::
397 @node Structure of flexible vertical spacing alists
398 @unnumberedsubsubsec Structure of flexible vertical spacing alists
400 Each of the flexible vertical spacing @code{\paper} variables is
401 an alist (association list) containing four @emph{keys}:
406 @code{padding} -- the minimum required amount of unobstructed
407 vertical whitespace between two items, measured in staff-spaces.
408 This can be thought of as the minimum height of an unobstructed
409 (invisible) rectangle that extends from the leftmost to the
410 rightmost point of the combined items.
413 @code{space} -- the vertical distance, measured in staff-spaces,
414 between the @emph{reference points} of the two items, when no
415 collisions would result, and no stretching or compressing is in
416 effect. The reference point of a (title or top-level) markup is
417 its highest point, and the reference point of a system is the
418 vertical center of the nearest @code{StaffSymbol} -- even if a
419 non-staff line (such as a @code{Lyrics} context) is in the way.
420 Values for @code{space} that are less than either @code{padding}
421 or @code{minimum-distance} are not meaningful, since the resulting
422 distance will never be less than either @code{padding} or
423 @code{minimum-distance}.
426 @code{minimum-distance} -- the smallest allowable vertical
427 distance, measured in staff-spaces, between the reference points
428 of the two items, when compressing is in effect. Values for
429 @code{minimum-distance} that are less than @code{padding} are not
430 meaningful, since the resulting distance will never be less than
434 @code{stretchability} -- a unitless measure of the dimension's
435 relative propensity to stretch. If zero, the distance will not
436 stretch (unless collisions would result). When positive, the
437 significance of a particular dimension's @code{stretchability}
438 value lies only in its relation to the @code{stretchability}
439 values of the other dimensions. For example, if one dimension has
440 twice the @code{stretchability} of another, it will stretch twice
441 as easily. Values should be non-negative and finite. The value
442 @code{+inf.0} triggers a @code{programming_error} and is ignored,
443 but @code{1.0e7} can be used for an almost infinitely stretchable
444 spring. If unset, the default value is set to @code{space}. Note
445 that the dimension's propensity to @emph{compress} cannot be
446 directly set by the user and is equal to
447 (@code{space}@tie{}@minus{}@tie{}@code{minimum-distance}).
451 If a page has a ragged bottom, the resulting distance is the
460 @code{minimum-distance}, and
463 @code{padding} plus the smallest distance necessary to eliminate
468 Specific methods for modifying alists are discussed in
469 @ref{Modifying alists}. The following example demonstrates the
470 two ways these alists can be modified. The first declaration
471 updates one key-value individually, and the second completely
472 redefines the variable:
476 system-system-spacing #'space = #8
477 score-system-spacing =
480 (minimum-distance . 6)
481 (stretchability . 12))
486 @node List of flexible vertical spacing \paper variables
487 @unnumberedsubsubsec List of flexible vertical spacing @code{\paper} variables
489 The names of these variables follow the format
490 @code{@var{upper}-@var{lower}-spacing}, where @code{@var{upper}}
491 and @code{@var{lower}} are the items to be spaced. Each distance
492 is measured between the reference points of the two items (see the
493 description of the alist structure above). Note that in these
494 variable names, the term @q{@code{markup}} refers to both
495 @emph{title markups} (@code{bookTitleMarkup} or
496 @code{scoreTitleMarkup}) and @emph{top-level markups} (see
497 @ref{File structure}). All distances are measured in
500 Default settings are defined in @file{ly/paper-defaults-init.ly}.
502 @c TODO: Where do headers/footers fit in? -mp
505 @item markup-system-spacing
506 @funindex markup-system-spacing
508 the distance between a (title or top-level) markup and the system
511 @item score-markup-spacing
512 @funindex score-markup-spacing
514 the distance between the last system of a score and the (title or
515 top-level) markup that follows it.
517 @item score-system-spacing
518 @funindex score-system-spacing
520 the distance between the last system of a score and the first
521 system of the score that follows it, when no (title or top-level)
522 markup exists between them.
524 @item system-system-spacing
525 @funindex system-system-spacing
527 the distance between two systems in the same score.
529 @item markup-markup-spacing
530 @funindex markup-markup-spacing
532 the distance between two (title or top-level) markups.
534 @item last-bottom-spacing
535 @funindex last-bottom-spacing
537 the distance from the last system or top-level markup on a page to
538 the bottom of the printable area (i.e. the top of the bottom
541 @item top-system-spacing
542 @funindex top-system-spacing
544 the distance from the top of the printable area (i.e. the bottom
545 of the top margin) to the first system on a page, when there is no
546 (title or top-level) markup between the two.
548 @item top-markup-spacing
549 @funindex top-markup-spacing
551 the distance from the top of the printable area (i.e. the bottom
552 of the top margin) to the first (title or top-level) markup on a
553 page, when there is no system between the two.
558 @ref{Flexible vertical spacing within systems}.
561 @file{ly/paper-defaults-init.ly}.
567 @node Horizontal spacing \paper variables
568 @subsection Horizontal spacing @code{\paper} variables
570 @warning{Some @code{@bs{}paper} dimensions are automatically
571 scaled to the paper size, which may lead to unexpected behavior.
572 See @ref{Automatic scaling to paper size}.}
575 * \paper variables for widths and margins::
576 * \paper variables for two-sided mode::
577 * \paper variables for shifts and indents::
581 @node \paper variables for widths and margins
582 @unnumberedsubsubsec @code{\paper} variables for widths and margins
584 Default values (before scaling) that are not listed here are
585 defined in @file{ly/paper-defaults-init.ly}.
590 @funindex paper-width
592 The width of the page, unset by default. While @code{paper-width}
593 has no effect on the automatic scaling of some horizontal
594 dimensions, it does influence the @code{line-width} variable. If
595 both @code{paper-width} and @code{line-width} are set, then
596 @code{left-margin} and @code{right-margin} will also be updated.
597 Also see @code{check-consistency}.
602 The horizontal extent of the staff lines in unindented, non-ragged
604 @code{(paper-width@tie{}@minus{}@tie{}left-margin@tie{}@minus{}@tie{}right-margin)}
605 when unset. If @code{line-width} is set, and both
606 @code{left-margin} and @code{right-margin} are unset, then the
607 margins will be updated to center the systems on the page
608 automatically. Also see @code{check-consistency}. This variable
609 can also be set in a @code{\layout} block.
612 @funindex left-margin
614 The margin between the left edge of the page and the start of the
615 staff lines in unindented systems. If the paper size is modified,
616 this dimension's default value is scaled accordingly. If
617 @code{left-margin} is unset, and both @code{line-width} and
618 @code{right-margin} are set, then @code{left-margin} is set to
619 @code{(paper-width@tie{}@minus{}@tie{}line-width@tie{}@minus{}@tie{}right-margin)}.
620 If only @code{line-width} is set, then both margins are set to
621 @code{((paper-width@tie{}@minus{}@tie{}line-width)@tie{}/@tie{}2)},
622 and the systems are consequently centered on the page. Also see
623 @code{check-consistency}.
626 @funindex right-margin
628 The margin between the right edge of the page and the end of the
629 staff lines in non-ragged systems. If the paper size is modified,
630 this dimension's default value is scaled accordingly. If
631 @code{right-margin} is unset, and both @code{line-width} and
632 @code{left-margin} are set, then @code{right-margin} is set to
633 @code{(paper-width@tie{}@minus{}@tie{}line-width@tie{}@minus{}@tie{}left-margin)}.
634 If only @code{line-width} is set, then both margins are set to
635 @code{((paper-width@tie{}@minus{}@tie{}line-width)@tie{}/@tie{}2)},
636 and the systems are consequently centered on the page. Also see
637 @code{check-consistency}.
639 @item check-consistency
640 @funindex check-consistency
642 If set to true, print a warning if @code{left-margin},
643 @code{line-width}, and @code{right-margin} do not exactly add up
644 to @code{paper-width}, and replace each of these (except
645 @code{paper-width}) with its default value (scaled to the paper
646 size if necessary). If set to false, ignore any inconsistencies
647 and allow systems to run off the edge of the page.
650 @funindex ragged-right
652 If set to true, systems will not fill the line width. Instead,
653 systems end at their natural horizontal length. Default:
654 @code{#t} for scores with only one system, and @code{#f} for
655 scores with two or more systems. This variable can also be set in
656 a @code{\layout} block.
659 @funindex ragged-last
661 If set to true, the last system in the score will not fill the
662 line width. Instead the last system ends at its natural
663 horizontal length. Default: @code{#f}. This variable can also be
664 set in a @code{\layout} block.
670 @ref{Automatic scaling to paper size}.
673 @file{ly/paper-defaults-init.ly}.
676 @node \paper variables for two-sided mode
677 @unnumberedsubsubsec @code{\paper} variables for two-sided mode
679 Default values (before scaling) are defined in
680 @file{ly/paper-defaults-init.ly}.
688 @cindex binding gutter
690 If set to true, use @code{inner-margin}, @code{outer-margin} and
691 @code{binding-offset} to determine margins depending on whether
692 the page number is odd or even. This overrides @code{left-margin}
693 and @code{right-margin}.
696 @funindex inner-margin
698 The margin all pages have at the inner side if they are part of a
699 book. If the paper size is modified, this dimension's default
700 value is scaled accordingly. Works only with @code{two-sided} set
704 @funindex outer-margin
706 The margin all pages have at the outer side if they are part of a
707 book. If the paper size is modified, this dimension's default
708 value is scaled accordingly. Works only with @code{two-sided} set
712 @funindex binding-offset
714 The amount @code{inner-margin} is increased to make sure nothing
715 will be hidden by the binding. If the paper size is modified,
716 this dimension's default value is scaled accordingly. Works only
717 with @code{two-sided} set to true.
723 @ref{Automatic scaling to paper size}.
726 @file{ly/paper-defaults-init.ly}.
729 @node \paper variables for shifts and indents
730 @unnumberedsubsubsec @code{\paper} variables for shifts and indents
732 Default values (before scaling) that are not listed here are
733 defined in @file{ly/paper-defaults-init.ly}.
737 @item horizontal-shift
738 @funindex horizontal-shift
740 @c This default value is buried in the middle of page.scm. -mp
742 The amount that all systems (including titles and system
743 separators) are shifted to the right. Default: @code{0.0\mm}.
748 The level of indentation for the first system in a score. If the
749 paper size is modified, this dimension's default value is scaled
750 accordingly. This variable can also be set in a @code{\layout}
754 @funindex short-indent
756 The level of indentation for all systems in a score besides the
757 first system. If the paper size is modified, this dimension's
758 default value is scaled accordingly. This variable can also be
759 set in a @code{\layout} block.
765 @ref{Automatic scaling to paper size}.
768 @file{ly/paper-defaults-init.ly}.
774 @node Other \paper variables
775 @subsection Other @code{\paper} variables
778 * \paper variables for line breaking::
779 * \paper variables for page breaking::
780 * \paper variables for page numbering::
781 * Miscellaneous \paper variables::
785 @node \paper variables for line breaking
786 @unnumberedsubsubsec @code{\paper} variables for line breaking
788 @c TODO: Mention that ly:optimal-breaking is on by default? -mp
792 @item max-systems-per-page
793 @funindex max-systems-per-page
795 The maximum number of systems that will be placed on a page. This
796 is currently supported only by the @code{ly:optimal-breaking} algorithm.
799 @item min-systems-per-page
800 @funindex min-systems-per-page
802 The minimum number of systems that will be placed on a page. This
803 may cause pages to be overfilled if it is made too large. This is
804 currently supported only by the @code{ly:optimal-breaking} algorithm.
807 @item systems-per-page
808 @funindex systems-per-page
810 The number of systems that should be placed on each page.
811 This is currently supported only by the @code{ly:optimal-breaking} algorithm.
815 @funindex system-count
817 The number of systems to be used for a score. Default: unset.
818 This variable can also be set in a @code{\layout} block.
827 @node \paper variables for page breaking
828 @unnumberedsubsubsec @code{\paper} variables for page breaking
830 Default values not listed here are defined in
831 @file{ly/paper-defaults-init.ly}
835 @item blank-after-score-page-force
836 @funindex blank-after-score-page-force
838 The penalty for having a blank page after the end of one score and
839 before the next. By default, this is smaller than
840 @code{blank-page-force}, so that we prefer blank pages after
841 scores to blank pages within a score.
843 @item blank-last-page-force
844 @funindex blank-last-page-force
846 The penalty for ending the score on an odd-numbered page.
848 @item blank-page-force
849 @funindex blank-page-force
851 The penalty for having a blank page in the middle of a
852 score. This is not used by @code{ly:optimal-breaking} since it will
853 never consider blank pages in the middle of a score.
856 @funindex page-breaking
858 The page-breaking algorithm to use. Choices are
859 @code{ly:minimal-breaking}, @code{ly:page-turn-breaking}, and
860 @code{ly:optimal-breaking}.
862 @item page-breaking-system-system-spacing
863 @funindex page-breaking-system-system-spacing
865 Tricks the page breaker into thinking that
866 @code{system-system-spacing} is set to something different than
867 it really is. For example, if
868 @code{page-breaking-system-system-spacing #'padding} is set to something
869 substantially larger than @code{system-system-spacing #'padding}, then the
870 page-breaker will put fewer systems on each page. Default: unset.
875 The number of pages to be used for a score, unset by default.
882 @ref{Optimal page breaking},
883 @ref{Optimal page turning},
884 @ref{Minimal page breaking}.
887 @file{ly/paper-defaults-init.ly}.
890 @node \paper variables for page numbering
891 @unnumberedsubsubsec @code{\paper} variables for page numbering
893 Default values not listed here are defined in
894 @file{ly/paper-defaults-init.ly}
898 @item auto-first-page-number
899 @funindex auto-first-page-number
901 The page breaking algorithm is affected by the first page number
902 being odd or even. If set to true, the page breaking algorithm
903 will decide whether to start with an odd or even number. This
904 will result in the first page number remaining as is or being
905 increased by one. Default: @code{#f}.
907 @item first-page-number
908 @funindex first-page-number
910 The value of the page number on the first page.
912 @item print-first-page-number
913 @funindex print-first-page-number
915 If set to true, a page number is printed on the first page.
917 @item print-page-number
918 @funindex print-page-number
920 If set to false, page numbers are not printed.
926 @file{ly/paper-defaults-init.ly}.
929 @node Miscellaneous \paper variables
930 @unnumberedsubsubsec Miscellaneous @code{\paper} variables
934 @item page-spacing-weight
935 @funindex page-spacing-weight
937 The relative importance of page (vertical) spacing and line
938 (horizontal) spacing. High values will make page spacing more
939 important. Default: @code{#10}.
941 @item print-all-headers
942 @funindex print-all-headers
944 If set to true, this will print all headers for each @code{\score}
945 in the output. Normally only the @code{piece} and @code{opus}
946 header variables are printed. Default: @code{#f}.
948 @item system-separator-markup
949 @funindex system-separator-markup
951 A markup object that is inserted between systems, often used for
952 orchestral scores. Default: unset. The @code{\slashSeparator}
953 markup, defined in @file{ly/titling-init.ly}, is provided as a
954 sensible default, for example:
956 @lilypond[quote,verbatim,noragged-right,line-width=30\mm]
957 #(set-default-paper-size "a8")
961 system-separator-markup = \slashSeparator
967 \relative c'' { c1 \break c1 \break c1 }
977 @file{ly/titling-init.ly}.
985 The default page header puts the page number and the @code{instrument}
986 field from the @code{\header} block on a line.
990 @section Score layout
992 This section discusses score layout options for the @code{\layout}
996 * The \layout block::
997 * Setting the staff size::
1001 @node The \layout block
1002 @subsection The @code{\layout} block
1006 While the @code{\paper} block contains settings that relate to the
1007 page formatting of the whole document, the @code{\layout} block
1008 contains settings for score-specific layout. To set score layout
1009 options globally, enter them in a toplevel @code{\layout} block.
1010 To set layout options for an individual score, enter them in a
1011 @code{\layout} block inside the @code{\score} block, after the
1012 music. Settings that can appear in a @code{\layout} block
1016 @item the @code{layout-set-staff-size} scheme function,
1017 @item context modifications in @code{\context} blocks, and
1018 @item @code{\paper} variables that affect score layout.
1021 The @code{layout-set-staff-size} function is discussed in the next
1022 section, @ref{Setting the staff size}. Context modifications are
1023 discussed in a separate chapter; see
1024 @ref{Modifying context plug-ins} and
1025 @ref{Changing context default settings}. The @code{\paper}
1026 variables that can appear in a @code{\layout} block are:
1031 @code{line-width}, @code{ragged-right} and @code{ragged-last}
1032 (see @ref{\paper variables for widths and margins})
1035 @code{indent} and @code{short-indent}
1036 (see @ref{\paper variables for shifts and indents})
1040 (see @ref{\paper variables for line breaking})
1044 Here is an example @code{\layout} block:
1051 \override StaffGrouper #'staff-staff-spacing #space = #8
1055 \override TextScript #'padding = #1
1056 \override Glissando #'thickness = #3
1064 @ref{Changing context default settings}.
1070 @node Setting the staff size
1071 @subsection Setting the staff size
1073 @cindex font size, setting
1074 @cindex staff size, setting
1075 @funindex layout file
1077 The default @strong{staff size} is set to 20 points.
1078 This may be changed in two ways:
1080 To set the staff size globally for all scores in a file (or
1081 in a @code{book} block, to be precise), use @code{set-global-staff-size}.
1084 #(set-global-staff-size 14)
1088 This sets the global default size to 14pt staff height and scales all
1091 To set the staff size individually for each score, use
1096 #(layout-set-staff-size 15)
1101 The Feta font provides musical symbols at eight different
1102 sizes. Each font is tuned for a different staff size: at a smaller size
1103 the font becomes heavier, to match the relatively heavier staff lines.
1104 The recommended font sizes are listed in the following table:
1107 @multitable @columnfractions .15 .2 .22 .2
1110 @tab @b{staff height (pt)}
1111 @tab @b{staff height (mm)}
1153 @c modern rental material?
1158 These fonts are available in any sizes. The context property
1159 @code{fontSize} and the layout property @code{staff-space} (in
1160 @rinternals{StaffSymbol}) can be used to tune the size for individual
1161 staves. The sizes of individual staves are relative to the global size.
1166 @ref{Selecting notation font size}.
1174 @code{layout-set-staff-size} does not change the distance between the
1184 * Optimal page breaking::
1185 * Optimal page turning::
1186 * Minimal page breaking::
1188 * Using an extra voice for breaks::
1193 @subsection Line breaking
1196 @cindex breaking lines
1198 Line breaks are normally determined automatically. They are chosen
1199 so that lines look neither cramped nor loose, and consecutive
1200 lines have similar density. Occasionally you might want to
1201 override the automatic breaks; you can do this by specifying
1202 @code{\break}. This will force a line break at this point. However,
1203 line breaks can only occur at the end of @q{complete} bars, i.e.,
1204 where there are no notes or tuplets left @q{hanging} over the bar
1205 line. If you want to have a line break where there is no bar line,
1206 you can force an invisible bar line by entering @code{\bar ""},
1207 although again there must be no notes left hanging over in any of
1208 the staves at this point, or it will be ignored.
1210 The opposite command, @code{\noBreak}, forbids a line break at the
1211 bar line where it is inserted.
1213 The most basic settings influencing line spacing are @code{indent}
1214 and @code{line-width}. They are set in the @code{\layout} block.
1215 They control the indentation of the first line of music, and the
1216 lengths of the lines.
1218 If @code{ragged-right} is set to true in the @code{\layout} block,
1219 then systems end at their natural horizontal length, instead of
1220 being spread horizontally to fill the whole line. This is useful
1221 for short fragments, and for checking how tight the natural
1224 @c TODO Check and add para on default for ragged-right
1226 The option @code{ragged-last} is similar to @code{ragged-right},
1227 but affects only the last line of the piece.
1239 @cindex regular line breaks
1240 @cindex four bar music.
1242 For line breaks at regular intervals use @code{\break} separated by
1243 skips and repeated with @code{\repeat}. For example, this would
1244 cause the following 28 measures (assuming 4/4 time) to be broken
1245 every 4 measures, and only there:
1250 s1 \noBreak s1 \noBreak
1251 s1 \noBreak s1 \break
1253 @{ @var{the actual music@dots{}} @}
1258 A linebreaking configuration can be saved as a @file{.ly} file
1259 automatically. This allows vertical alignments to be stretched to
1260 fit pages in a second formatting run. This is fairly new and
1261 complicated. More details are available in
1275 @ref{\paper variables for line breaking}.
1280 Internals Reference:
1281 @rinternals{LineBreakEvent}.
1286 Line breaks can only occur if there is a @q{proper} bar line. A note
1287 which is hanging over a bar line is not proper, such as
1289 @lilypond[quote,ragged-right,relative=2,verbatim]
1290 c4 c2 << c2 {s4 \break } >> % this does nothing
1291 c2 c4 | % a break here would work
1292 c4 c2 c4 ~ \break % as does this break
1296 This can be avoided by removing the @code{Forbid_line_break_engraver}.
1297 Note that manually forced line breaks have to be added in parallel
1300 @lilypond[quote,ragged-right,verbatim]
1302 \remove Forbid_line_break_engraver
1304 c4 c2 << c2 {s4 \break } >> % now the break is allowed
1309 Similarly, line breaks are normally forbidden when beams cross bar
1310 lines. This behavior can be changed by setting
1311 @code{\override Beam #'breakable = ##t}.
1315 @subsection Page breaking
1317 The default page breaking may be overridden by inserting
1318 @code{\pageBreak} or @code{\noPageBreak} commands. These commands are
1319 analogous to @code{\break} and @code{\noBreak}. They should be
1320 inserted at a bar line. These commands force and forbid a page-break
1321 from happening. Of course, the @code{\pageBreak} command also forces
1324 The @code{\pageBreak} and @code{\noPageBreak} commands may also be
1325 inserted at top-level, between scores and top-level markups.
1327 There are also analogous settings to @code{ragged-right} and
1328 @code{ragged-last} which have the same effect on vertical spacing:
1329 @code{ragged-bottom} and @code{ragged-last-bottom}. If set to
1330 @code{##t} the systems on all pages or just the last page
1331 respectively will not be justified vertically. See
1332 @ref{Fixed vertical spacing \paper variables}.
1334 Page breaks are computed by the @code{page-breaking} function. LilyPond
1335 provides three algorithms for computing page breaks,
1336 @code{ly:optimal-breaking}, @code{ly:page-turn-breaking} and
1337 @code{ly:minimal-breaking}. The default is @code{ly:optimal-breaking},
1338 but the value can be changed in the @code{\paper} block:
1342 page-breaking = #ly:page-turn-breaking
1348 When a book has many scores and pages, the page breaking problem may be
1349 difficult to solve, requiring large processing time and memory. To ease
1350 the page breaking process, @code{\bookpart} blocks are used to divide
1351 the book into several parts: the page breaking occurs separately on each
1352 part. Different page breaking functions may also be used in different
1358 subtitle = "Preface"
1361 %% In a part consisting mostly of text,
1362 %% ly:minimal-breaking may be preferred
1363 page-breaking = #ly:minimal-breaking
1365 \markup @{ @dots{} @}
1369 %% In this part, consisting of music, the default optimal
1370 %% page breaking function is used.
1372 subtitle = "First movement"
1374 \score @{ @dots{} @}
1381 @funindex \pageBreak
1383 @funindex \noPageBreak
1384 @code{\noPageBreak}.
1390 @ref{\paper variables for page breaking}.
1396 @node Optimal page breaking
1397 @subsection Optimal page breaking
1399 @funindex ly:optimal-breaking
1401 The @code{ly:optimal-breaking} function is LilyPond's default method of
1402 determining page breaks. It attempts to find a page breaking that minimizes
1403 cramping and stretching, both horizontally and vertically. Unlike
1404 @code{ly:page-turn-breaking}, it has no concept of page turns.
1412 @node Optimal page turning
1413 @subsection Optimal page turning
1415 @funindex ly:page-turn-breaking
1417 Often it is necessary to find a page breaking configuration so that there is
1418 a rest at the end of every second page. This way, the musician can turn the
1419 page without having to miss notes. The @code{ly:page-turn-breaking} function
1420 attempts to find a page breaking minimizing cramping and stretching, but with
1421 the additional restriction that it is only allowed to introduce page turns
1422 in specified places.
1424 There are two steps to using this page breaking function. First, you
1425 must enable it in the @code{\paper} block, as explained in @ref{Page
1426 breaking}. Then you must tell the function where you would like to allow
1429 There are two ways to achieve the second step. First, you can specify each
1430 potential page turn manually, by inserting @code{\allowPageTurn} into your
1431 input file at the appropriate places.
1433 If this is too tedious, you can add a @code{Page_turn_engraver} to a Staff or
1434 Voice context. The @code{Page_turn_engraver} will scan the context for
1435 sections without notes (note that it does not scan for rests; it scans for
1436 the absence of notes. This is so that single-staff polyphony with rests in one
1437 of the parts does not throw off the @code{Page_turn_engraver}). When it finds
1438 a sufficiently long section without notes, the @code{Page_turn_engraver} will
1439 insert an @code{\allowPageTurn} at the final bar line in that section, unless
1440 there is a @q{special} bar line (such as a double bar), in which case the
1441 @code{\allowPageTurn} will be inserted at the final @q{special} bar line in
1444 @funindex minimumPageTurnLength
1445 The @code{Page_turn_engraver} reads the context property
1446 @code{minimumPageTurnLength} to determine how long a note-free section must
1447 be before a page turn is considered. The default value for
1448 @code{minimumPageTurnLength} is @code{#(ly:make-moment 1 1)}. If you want
1449 to disable page turns, you can set it to something very large.
1452 \new Staff \with @{ \consists "Page_turn_engraver" @}
1455 R1 | % a page turn will be allowed here
1457 \set Staff.minimumPageTurnLength = #(ly:make-moment 5 2)
1458 R1 | % a page turn will not be allowed here
1460 R1*2 | % a page turn will be allowed here
1465 @funindex minimumRepeatLengthForPageTurn
1466 The @code{Page_turn_engraver} detects volta repeats. It will only allow a page
1467 turn during the repeat if there is enough time at the beginning and end of the
1468 repeat to turn the page back. The @code{Page_turn_engraver} can also disable
1469 page turns if the repeat is very short. If you set the context property
1470 @code{minimumRepeatLengthForPageTurn} then the @code{Page_turn_engraver} will
1471 only allow turns in repeats whose duration is longer than this value.
1473 The page turning commands, @code{\pageTurn}, @code{\noPageTurn} and
1474 @code{\allowPageTurn}, may also be used at top-level, between scores and
1481 @funindex \noPageTurn
1483 @funindex \allowPageTurn
1484 @code{\allowPageTurn}.
1495 There should only be one @code{Page_turn_engraver} in a score. If there is more
1496 than one, they will interfere with each other.
1499 @node Minimal page breaking
1500 @subsection Minimal page breaking
1502 @funindex ly:minimal-breaking
1504 The @code{ly:minimal-breaking} function performs minimal computations to
1505 calculate the page breaking: it fills a page with as many systems as
1506 possible before moving to the next one. Thus, it may be preferred for
1507 scores with many pages, where the other page breaking functions could be
1508 too slow or memory demanding, or a lot of texts. It is enabled using:
1512 page-breaking = #ly:minimal-breaking
1522 @node Explicit breaks
1523 @subsection Explicit breaks
1525 Lily sometimes rejects explicit @code{\break} and @code{\pageBreak}
1526 commands. There are two commands to override this behavior:
1529 \override NonMusicalPaperColumn #'line-break-permission = ##f
1530 \override NonMusicalPaperColumn #'page-break-permission = ##f
1533 When @code{line-break-permission} is overridden to false, Lily will insert
1534 line breaks at explicit @code{\break} commands and nowhere else. When
1535 @code{page-break-permission} is overridden to false, Lily will insert
1536 page breaks at explicit @code{\pageBreak} commands and nowhere else.
1538 @lilypond[quote,verbatim]
1545 music = \relative c'' { c8 c c c }
1549 \repeat unfold 2 { \music } \break
1550 \repeat unfold 4 { \music } \break
1551 \repeat unfold 6 { \music } \break
1552 \repeat unfold 8 { \music } \pageBreak
1553 \repeat unfold 8 { \music } \break
1554 \repeat unfold 6 { \music } \break
1555 \repeat unfold 4 { \music } \break
1556 \repeat unfold 2 { \music }
1561 \override NonMusicalPaperColumn #'line-break-permission = ##f
1562 \override NonMusicalPaperColumn #'page-break-permission = ##f
1574 @node Using an extra voice for breaks
1575 @subsection Using an extra voice for breaks
1577 Line- and page-breaking information usually appears within note entry directly.
1580 music = \relative c'' @{ c4 c c c @}
1584 \repeat unfold 2 @{ \music @} \break
1585 \repeat unfold 3 @{ \music @}
1590 This makes @code{\break} and @code{\pageBreak} commands easy to enter but mixes
1591 music entry with information that specifies how music should lay out
1592 on the page. You can keep music entry and line- and page-breaking
1593 information in two separate places by introducing an extra voice to
1594 contain the breaks. This extra voice
1595 contains only skips together with @code{\break}, @code{pageBreak} and other
1596 breaking layout information.
1598 @lilypond[quote,verbatim]
1599 music = \relative c'' { c4 c c c }
1610 \repeat unfold 2 { \music }
1611 \repeat unfold 3 { \music }
1612 \repeat unfold 6 { \music }
1613 \repeat unfold 5 { \music }
1619 This pattern becomes especially helpful when overriding
1620 @code{line-break-system-details} and the other useful but long properties of
1621 @code{NonMusicalPaperColumnGrob}, as explained in @ref{Vertical spacing}.
1623 @lilypond[quote,verbatim]
1624 music = \relative c'' { c4 c c c }
1629 \overrideProperty "Score.NonMusicalPaperColumn"
1630 #'line-break-system-details #'((Y-offset . 0))
1633 \overrideProperty "Score.NonMusicalPaperColumn"
1634 #'line-break-system-details #'((Y-offset . 35))
1637 \overrideProperty "Score.NonMusicalPaperColumn"
1638 #'line-break-system-details #'((Y-offset . 70))
1641 \overrideProperty "Score.NonMusicalPaperColumn"
1642 #'line-break-system-details #'((Y-offset . 105))
1646 \repeat unfold 2 { \music }
1647 \repeat unfold 3 { \music }
1648 \repeat unfold 6 { \music }
1649 \repeat unfold 5 { \music }
1658 @ref{Vertical spacing}.
1664 @node Vertical spacing
1665 @section Vertical spacing
1667 @cindex vertical spacing
1668 @cindex spacing, vertical
1670 Vertical spacing is controlled by three things: the amount of
1671 space available (i.e., paper size and margins), the amount of
1672 space between systems, and the amount of space between
1673 staves inside a system.
1676 * Flexible vertical spacing within systems::
1677 * Explicit staff and system positioning::
1678 * Vertical collision avoidance::
1682 @node Flexible vertical spacing within systems
1683 @subsection Flexible vertical spacing within systems
1685 @cindex distance between staves
1686 @cindex staff distance
1687 @cindex space between staves
1688 @cindex space inside systems
1690 Three separate mechanisms control the flexible vertical spacing
1691 within systems, one for each of the following categories:
1696 @emph{ungrouped staves},
1699 @emph{grouped staves} (staves within a staff-group such as
1700 @code{ChoirStaff}, etc.), and
1703 @emph{non-staff lines} (such as @code{Lyrics}, @code{ChordNames},
1708 @c TODO: Clarify this. This almost implies that non-staff lines
1709 @c have NO effect on the spacing between staves. -mp
1711 The height of each system is determined in two steps. First, all
1712 of the staves are spaced according to the amount of space
1713 available. Then, the non-staff lines are distributed between the
1716 Note that the spacing mechanisms discussed in this section only
1717 control the vertical spacing of staves and non-staff lines within
1718 individual systems. The vertical spacing between separate
1719 systems, scores, markups, and margins is controlled by
1720 @code{\paper} variables, which are discussed in
1721 @ref{Flexible vertical spacing \paper variables}.
1724 * Within-system spacing properties::
1725 * Spacing of ungrouped staves::
1726 * Spacing of grouped staves::
1727 * Spacing of non-staff lines::
1731 @node Within-system spacing properties
1732 @unnumberedsubsubsec Within-system spacing properties
1734 The within-system vertical spacing mechanisms are controlled by
1735 two sets of grob properties. The first set is associated with the
1736 @code{VerticalAxisGroup} grob, which is created by all staves and
1737 non-staff lines. The second set is associated with the
1738 @code{StaffGrouper} grob, which can be created by staff-groups,
1739 but only if explicitly called. These properties are described
1740 individually at the end of this section.
1742 The names of these properties (except for @code{staff-affinity})
1743 follow the format @code{@var{item1}-@var{item2}-spacing}, where
1744 @code{@var{item1}} and @code{@var{item2}} are the items to be
1745 spaced. Note that @code{@var{item2}} is not necessarily below
1746 @code{@var{item1}}; for example,
1747 @code{nonstaff-relatedstaff-spacing} will measure upwards from the
1748 non-staff line if @code{staff-affinity} is @code{#UP}.
1750 Each distance is measured between the @emph{reference points} of
1751 the two items. The reference point for a staff is the vertical
1752 center of its @code{StaffSymbol} (i.e. the middle line if
1753 @code{line-count} is odd; the middle space if @code{line-count} is
1754 even). The reference points for individual non-staff lines are
1755 given in the following table:
1757 @multitable {Non-staff line} {Reference point}
1758 @headitem Non-staff line @tab Reference point
1759 @item @code{ChordNames} @tab baseline
1760 @item @code{NoteNames} @tab baseline
1761 @item @code{Lyrics} @tab baseline
1762 @item @code{Dynamics} @tab vertical center
1763 @item @code{FiguredBass} @tab highest point
1764 @item @code{FretBoards} @tab top line
1767 In the following image, horizontal lines indicate the positions
1768 of these reference points:
1770 @lilypond[quote,noragged-right,line-width=110\mm]
1771 #(define zero-space '((padding . -inf.0) (space . 0)))
1773 alignToZero = \with {
1774 \override VerticalAxisGroup #'nonstaff-relatedstaff-spacing = #zero-space
1775 \override VerticalAxisGroup #'nonstaff-nonstaff-spacing = #zero-space
1777 lowerCaseChords = \with {
1778 chordNameLowercaseMinor = ##t
1780 staffAffinityDown = \with {
1781 \override VerticalAxisGroup #'staff-affinity = #DOWN
1784 #(define-music-function
1785 (parser location context)
1787 #{ s1*0^\markup { \typewriter $context } #})
1790 \context { \Dynamics \alignToZero }
1791 \context { \FiguredBass \alignToZero }
1792 \context { \Lyrics \alignToZero }
1793 \context { \NoteNames \alignToZero }
1794 \context { \ChordNames \alignToZero \lowerCaseChords }
1795 \context { \FretBoards \alignToZero \staffAffinityDown }
1797 \override BarLine #'stencil = ##f
1798 \override DynamicText #'self-alignment-X = #-1
1799 \override FretBoard #'X-offset = #1.75
1800 \override InstrumentName #'minimum-Y-extent = #'(-2 . 2)
1801 \override InstrumentName #'extra-offset = #'(0 . -0.5)
1802 \override TextScript #'minimum-Y-extent = #'(-2 . 3)
1803 \override TimeSignature #'stencil = ##f
1807 %% These contexts have reference points at the baseline:
1808 %% ChordNames, NoteNames, and Lyrics
1810 \new ChordNames { \chords { g1:m } }
1811 \new NoteNames { s1 | g1 | }
1812 \new RhythmicStaff {
1813 \set RhythmicStaff.instrumentName = #"baseline "
1815 \labelContext "ChordNames" s1 |
1816 \labelContext "NoteNames" s1 |
1817 \labelContext "Lyrics" s1 |
1819 \new Lyrics { \lyrics { \skip 1*2 | ghijk1 | } }
1822 %% The reference point for Dynamics is its vertical center
1824 \new RhythmicStaff {
1825 \set RhythmicStaff.instrumentName = #"vertical center "
1826 \labelContext "Dynamics" s1*3
1828 \new Dynamics { s2\mp s\fp }
1831 %% The reference point for FiguredBass is its highest point
1833 \new RhythmicStaff {
1834 \set RhythmicStaff.instrumentName = #"highest point "
1835 \labelContext "FiguredBass" s1
1837 \new FiguredBass { \figuremode { <6 5>1 } }
1840 %% The reference point for FretBoards is the top line
1841 \include "predefined-guitar-fretboards.ly"
1843 \new FretBoards { \chordmode { e1 } }
1844 \new RhythmicStaff {
1845 \set RhythmicStaff.instrumentName = #"top line "
1846 \labelContext "FretBoards " s1
1851 Each of the vertical spacing grob properties (except
1852 @code{staff-affinity}) is stored as an alist (association list),
1853 and each uses the same alist structure as the @code{\paper}
1854 spacing variables discussed in
1855 @ref{Flexible vertical spacing \paper variables}. Specific methods
1856 for modifying alists are discussed in @ref{Modifying alists}.
1857 Grob properties should be adjusted with an @code{\override} inside
1858 a @code{\score} or @code{\layout} block, and not inside a
1859 @code{\paper} block.
1861 The following example demonstrates the two ways these alists can
1862 be modified. The first declaration updates one key-value
1863 individually, and the second completely re-defines the property:
1867 \override VerticalAxisGroup #'staff-staff-spacing #'space = #10
1871 \override VerticalAxisGroup #'staff-staff-spacing =
1874 (minimum-distance . 9)
1875 (stretchability . 10))
1879 To change any spacing settings globally, put them in the
1880 @code{\layout} block:
1886 \override VerticalAxisGroup #'staff-staff-spacing #'space = #10
1891 Standard settings for the vertical spacing grob properties are
1892 listed in @rinternals{VerticalAxisGroup} and
1893 @rinternals{StaffGrouper}. Default overrides for specific types
1894 of non-staff lines are listed in the relevant context descriptions
1895 in @rinternals{Contexts}.
1898 @subsubheading Properties of the @code{VerticalAxisGroup} grob
1900 @code{VerticalAxisGroup} properties are typically adjusted with an
1901 @code{\override} at the @code{Staff} level (or equivalent).
1904 @item staff-staff-spacing
1905 The distance between the current staff and the staff just below it
1906 in the same system, even if one or more non-staff lines (such as
1907 @code{Lyrics}) are placed between the two staves. Does not apply
1908 to the bottom staff of a system. This replaces any settings
1909 inherited from the @code{StaffGrouper} grob of the containing
1910 staff-group, if there is one. If this is unset, and there are no
1911 @code{StaffGrouper} properties to inherit, the
1912 @code{default-staff-staff-spacing} property is used.
1914 @item default-staff-staff-spacing
1915 The settings to use for @code{staff-staff-spacing} when it is
1916 unset. This applies to ungrouped staves and to grouped staves
1917 that do not inherit settings from the @code{StaffGrouper} grob.
1919 @item staff-affinity
1920 The direction of the staff to use for spacing the current
1921 non-staff line. Choices are @code{UP}, @code{DOWN}, and
1922 @code{CENTER}. If @code{CENTER}, the non-staff line will be
1923 placed equidistant between the two nearest staves on either side,
1924 unless collisions or other spacing constraints prevent this.
1925 Adjacent non-staff lines should have non-increasing
1926 @code{staff-affinity} from top to bottom, e.g. a non-staff line
1927 set to @code{UP} should not immediately follow one that is set to
1928 @code{DOWN}. Non-staff lines at the top of a system should use
1929 @code{DOWN}; those at the bottom should use @code{UP}. Setting
1930 @code{staff-affinity} for a staff causes it to be treated as a
1931 non-staff line. Setting @code{staff-affinity} to @code{#f} causes
1932 a non-staff line to be treated as a staff.
1934 @c TODO: verify last clause below ("even if other...")
1936 @item nonstaff-relatedstaff-spacing
1937 The distance between the current non-staff line and the nearest
1938 staff in the direction of @code{staff-affinity}, if there are no
1939 non-staff lines between the two, and @code{staff-affinity} is
1940 either @code{UP} or @code{DOWN}. If @code{staff-affinity} is
1941 @code{CENTER}, then @code{nonstaff-relatedstaff-spacing} is used
1942 for the nearest staves on @emph{both} sides, even if other
1943 non-staff lines appear between the current one and either of the
1946 @item nonstaff-nonstaff-spacing
1947 The distance between the current non-staff line and the next
1948 non-staff line in the direction of @code{staff-affinity}, if both
1949 are on the same side of the related staff, and
1950 @code{staff-affinity} is either @code{UP} or @code{DOWN}.
1952 @item nonstaff-unrelatedstaff-spacing
1953 The distance between the current non-staff line and the staff in
1954 the opposite direction from @code{staff-affinity}, if there are no
1955 other non-staff lines between the two, and @code{staff-affinity}
1956 is either @code{UP} or @code{DOWN}. This can be used, for
1957 example, to require a minimum amount of padding between a
1958 @code{Lyrics} line and the staff to which it does not belong.
1962 @subsubheading Properties of the @code{StaffGrouper} grob
1964 @code{StaffGrouper} properties are typically adjusted with an
1965 @code{\override} at the @code{StaffGroup} level (or equivalent).
1968 @item staff-staff-spacing
1969 The distance between consecutive staves within the current
1970 staff-group. The @code{staff-staff-spacing} property of an
1971 individual staff's @code{VerticalAxisGroup} grob will be used
1972 instead for any staves in the staff-group that have it set. Also
1973 see @code{default-staff-staff-spacing}.
1975 @item staffgroup-staff-spacing
1976 The distance between the last staff of the current staff-group and
1977 the staff just below it in the same system, even if one or more
1978 non-staff lines (such as @code{Lyrics}) exist between the two
1979 staves. Does not apply to the bottom staff of a system. The
1980 @code{staff-staff-spacing} property of an individual staff's
1981 @code{VerticalAxisGroup} grob will be used instead for any staves
1982 in the staff-group that have it set. Also see
1983 @code{default-staff-staff-spacing}.
1988 @file{ly/engraver-init.ly},
1989 @file{scm/define-grobs.scm}.
1991 Internals Reference:
1992 @rinternals{Contexts},
1993 @rinternals{VerticalAxisGroup},
1994 @rinternals{StaffGrouper}.
1997 @node Spacing of ungrouped staves
1998 @unnumberedsubsubsec Spacing of ungrouped staves
2000 @emph{Staves} (such as @code{Staff}, @code{DrumStaff},
2001 @code{TabStaff}, etc.) are contexts that can contain one or more
2002 voice contexts, but cannot contain any other staves.
2004 The following properties affect the spacing of @emph{ungrouped}
2008 @item @code{VerticalAxisGroup} properties:
2010 @item @code{staff-staff-spacing}
2014 These grob properties are described individually above; see
2015 @ref{Within-system spacing properties}.
2017 Additional properties are involved for staves that are part of a
2018 staff-group; see @ref{Spacing of grouped staves}.
2020 The following example shows how the @code{staff-staff-spacing}
2021 property can affect the spacing of ungrouped staves:
2023 @lilypond[verbatim,quote,staffsize=16]
2027 \override VerticalAxisGroup #'staff-staff-spacing =
2030 (minimum-distance . 7))
2035 % The very low note here needs more room than 'space can
2036 % provide, so the distance between this staff and the next is
2037 % determined by 'padding.
2038 \new Staff { b,2 r | }
2040 % Here, 'space provides enough room, and there is no need to
2041 % compress the space (towards 'minimum-distance) to make room
2042 % for anything else on the page, so the distance between this
2043 % staff and the next is determined by 'space.
2044 \new Staff { \clef bass g2 r | }
2046 % By setting 'padding to a negative value, staves can be made to
2047 % collide. The lowest acceptable value for 'space is 0.
2049 \override VerticalAxisGroup #'staff-staff-spacing =
2052 } { \clef bass g2 r | }
2053 \new Staff { \clef bass g2 r | }
2059 @file{scm/define-grobs.scm}.
2064 Internals Reference:
2065 @rinternals{VerticalAxisGroup}.
2068 @node Spacing of grouped staves
2069 @unnumberedsubsubsec Spacing of grouped staves
2071 In orchestral and other large scores, it is common to place staves
2072 in groups. The space between groups is typically larger than the
2073 space between staves of the same group.
2075 @emph{Staff-groups} (such as @code{StaffGroup}, @code{ChoirStaff},
2076 etc.) are contexts that can contain one or more staves
2079 The following properties affect the spacing of staves inside
2083 @item @code{VerticalAxisGroup} properties:
2085 @item @code{staff-staff-spacing}
2086 @item @code{default-staff-staff-spacing}
2088 @item @code{StaffGrouper} properties:
2090 @item @code{staff-staff-spacing}
2091 @item @code{staffgroup-staff-spacing}
2095 These grob properties are described individually above; see
2096 @ref{Within-system spacing properties}.
2098 The following example shows how properties of the
2099 @code{StaffGrouper} grob can affect the spacing of grouped staves:
2101 @lilypond[verbatim,quote,staffsize=16]
2105 \override StaffGrouper #'staff-staff-spacing #'padding = #0
2106 \override StaffGrouper #'staff-staff-spacing #'space = #1
2111 \new PianoStaff \with {
2112 \override StaffGrouper #'staffgroup-staff-spacing #'space = #20
2127 @file{scm/define-grobs.scm}.
2132 Internals Reference:
2133 @rinternals{VerticalAxisGroup},
2134 @rinternals{StaffGrouper}.
2137 @node Spacing of non-staff lines
2138 @unnumberedsubsubsec Spacing of non-staff lines
2140 @emph{Non-staff lines} (such as @code{Lyrics}, @code{ChordNames},
2141 etc.) are contexts whose layout objects are engraved like staves
2142 (i.e. in horizontal lines within systems). Specifically,
2143 non-staff lines are non-staff contexts that create the
2144 @code{VerticalAxisGroup} layout object.
2146 The following properties affect the spacing of non-staff lines:
2149 @item @code{VerticalAxisGroup} properties:
2151 @item @code{staff-affinity}
2152 @item @code{nonstaff-relatedstaff-spacing}
2153 @item @code{nonstaff-nonstaff-spacing}
2154 @item @code{nonstaff-unrelatedstaff-spacing}
2158 These grob properties are described individually above; see
2159 @ref{Within-system spacing properties}.
2161 The following example shows how the
2162 @code{nonstaff-nonstaff-spacing} property can affect the spacing
2163 of consecutive non-staff lines. Here, by setting the
2164 @code{stretchability} key to a very high value, the lyrics are
2165 able to stretch much more than usual:
2167 @lilypond[verbatim,quote,staffsize=16]
2171 \override VerticalAxisGroup
2172 #'nonstaff-nonstaff-spacing #'stretchability = #1000
2179 \override VerticalAxisGroup #'staff-staff-spacing = #'((space . 30))
2182 \override VerticalAxisGroup #'staff-affinity = #UP
2185 \override VerticalAxisGroup #'staff-affinity = #CENTER
2186 } \lyricmode { center }
2188 \override VerticalAxisGroup #'staff-affinity = #DOWN
2189 } \lyricmode { down }
2197 @file{ly/engraver-init.ly},
2198 @file{scm/define-grobs.scm}.
2203 @c @lsr{spacing,page-spacing.ly},
2204 @c @lsr{spacing,alignment-vertical-spacing.ly}.
2206 Internals Reference:
2207 @rinternals{Contexts},
2208 @rinternals{VerticalAxisGroup}.
2211 @node Explicit staff and system positioning
2212 @subsection Explicit staff and system positioning
2214 One way to understand the flexible vertical spacing mechanisms
2215 explained above is as a collection of settings that control the
2216 amount of vertical padding between staves and systems.
2218 It is possible to approach vertical spacing in a different way
2219 using @code{NonMusicalPaperColumn #'line-break-system-details}.
2220 While the flexible vertical spacing mechanisms specify vertical
2221 padding, @code{NonMusicalPaperColumn #'line-break-system-details}
2222 can specify exact vertical positions on the page.
2224 @code{NonMusicalPaperColumn #'line-break-system-details} accepts
2225 an associative list of three different settings:
2228 @item @code{X-offset}
2229 @item @code{Y-offset}
2230 @item @code{alignment-distances}
2233 Grob overrides, including the overrides for @code{NonMusicalPaperColumn}
2234 below, can occur in any of three different places in an input file:
2237 @item in the middle of note entry directly
2238 @item in a @code{\context} block
2239 @item in the @code{\with} block
2242 When we override @code{NonMusicalPaperColumn}, we use the usual
2243 @code{\override} command in @code{\context} blocks and in the
2244 @code{\with} block. On the other hand, when we override
2245 @code{NonMusicalPaperColumn} in the middle of note entry,
2246 use the special @code{\overrideProperty} command. Here are some
2247 example @code{NonMusicalPaperColumn} overrides with the special
2248 @code{\overrideProperty} command:
2251 \overrideProperty NonMusicalPaperColumn
2252 #'line-break-system-details #'((X-offset . 20))
2254 \overrideProperty NonMusicalPaperColumn
2255 #'line-break-system-details #'((Y-offset . 40))
2257 \overrideProperty NonMusicalPaperColumn
2258 #'line-break-system-details #'((X-offset . 20)
2261 \overrideProperty NonMusicalPaperColumn
2262 #'line-break-system-details #'((alignment-distances . (15)))
2264 \overrideProperty NonMusicalPaperColumn
2265 #'line-break-system-details #'((X-offset . 20)
2267 (alignment-distances . (15)))
2270 To understand how each of these different settings work, we begin
2271 by looking at an example that includes no overrides at all.
2273 @c \book { } is required in these examples to ensure the spacing
2274 @c overrides can be seen between systems. -np
2276 @lilypond[verbatim,quote,staffsize=16]
2277 \header { tagline = ##f }
2278 \paper { left-margin = 0\mm }
2288 \new Voice { \repeat unfold 15 { c'4 c' c' c' } }
2291 \repeat unfold 15 { d'4 d' d' d' }
2298 This score isolates line- and page-breaking information in a dedicated
2299 voice. This technique of creating a breaks voice will help keep layout
2300 separate from music entry as our example becomes more complicated.
2301 See @ref{Using an extra voice for breaks}.
2303 Explicit @code{\breaks} evenly divide the music into six measures per
2304 line. Vertical spacing results from LilyPond's defaults. To set
2305 the vertical startpoint of each system explicitly, we can set
2306 the @code{Y-offset} pair in the @code{line-break-system-details}
2307 attribute of the @code{NonMusicalPaperColumn} grob:
2309 @lilypond[verbatim,quote,staffsize=16]
2310 \header { tagline = ##f }
2311 \paper { left-margin = 0\mm }
2317 \overrideProperty #"Score.NonMusicalPaperColumn"
2318 #'line-break-system-details #'((Y-offset . 0))
2320 \overrideProperty #"Score.NonMusicalPaperColumn"
2321 #'line-break-system-details #'((Y-offset . 40))
2323 \overrideProperty #"Score.NonMusicalPaperColumn"
2324 #'line-break-system-details #'((Y-offset . 80))
2327 \new Voice { \repeat unfold 15 { c'4 c' c' c' } }
2330 \repeat unfold 15 { d'4 d' d' d' }
2337 Note that @code{line-break-system-details} takes an associative list of
2338 potentially many values, but that we set only one value here. Note,
2339 too, that the @code{Y-offset} property here determines the exact vertical
2340 position on the page at which each new system will render.
2342 Now that we have set the vertical startpoint of each system
2343 explicitly, we can also set the vertical distances between staves
2344 within each system manually. We do this using the @code{alignment-distances}
2345 subproperty of @code{line-break-system-details}.
2347 @lilypond[verbatim,quote,staffsize=16]
2348 \header { tagline = ##f }
2349 \paper { left-margin = 0\mm }
2355 \overrideProperty #"Score.NonMusicalPaperColumn"
2356 #'line-break-system-details #'((Y-offset . 20)
2357 (alignment-distances . (15)))
2359 \overrideProperty #"Score.NonMusicalPaperColumn"
2360 #'line-break-system-details #'((Y-offset . 60)
2361 (alignment-distances . (15)))
2363 \overrideProperty #"Score.NonMusicalPaperColumn"
2364 #'line-break-system-details #'((Y-offset . 100)
2365 (alignment-distances . (15)))
2368 \new Voice { \repeat unfold 15 { c'4 c' c' c' } }
2371 \repeat unfold 15 { d'4 d' d' d' }
2378 Note that here we assign two different values to the
2379 @code{line-break-system-details} attribute of the
2380 @code{NonMusicalPaperColumn} grob. Though the
2381 @code{line-break-system-details} attribute alist accepts many
2382 additional spacing parameters (including, for example, a corresponding
2383 @code{X-offset} pair), we need only set the @code{Y-offset} and
2384 @code{alignment-distances} pairs to control the vertical startpoint of
2385 every system and every staff. Finally, note that @code{alignment-distances}
2386 specifies the vertical positioning of staves but not of staff groups.
2388 @lilypond[verbatim,quote,staffsize=16]
2389 \header { tagline = ##f }
2390 \paper { left-margin = 0\mm }
2396 \overrideProperty #"Score.NonMusicalPaperColumn"
2397 #'line-break-system-details #'((Y-offset . 0)
2398 (alignment-distances . (30 10)))
2400 \overrideProperty #"Score.NonMusicalPaperColumn"
2401 #'line-break-system-details #'((Y-offset . 60)
2402 (alignment-distances . (10 10)))
2404 \overrideProperty #"Score.NonMusicalPaperColumn"
2405 #'line-break-system-details #'((Y-offset . 100)
2406 (alignment-distances . (10 30)))
2409 \new Voice { \repeat unfold 15 { c'4 c' c' c' } }
2412 \new Staff { \repeat unfold 15 { d'4 d' d' d' } }
2413 \new Staff { \repeat unfold 15 { e'4 e' e' e' } }
2420 Some points to consider:
2423 @item When using @code{alignment-distances}, lyrics and other non-staff lines
2424 do not count as a staff.
2426 @item The units of the numbers passed to @code{X-offset},
2427 @code{Y-offset} and @code{alignment-distances} are interpreted as multiples
2428 of the distance between adjacent staff lines. Positive values move staves
2429 and lyrics up, negative values move staves and lyrics down.
2431 @item Because the @code{NonMusicalPaperColumn #'line-break-system-details}
2432 settings given here allow the positioning of staves and systems anywhere
2433 on the page, it is possible to violate paper or margin boundaries or even
2434 to print staves or systems on top of one another. Reasonable values
2435 passed to these different settings will avoid this.
2444 @node Vertical collision avoidance
2445 @subsection Vertical collision avoidance
2447 @funindex outside-staff-priority
2448 @funindex outside-staff-padding
2449 @funindex outside-staff-horizontal-padding
2451 Intuitively, there are some objects in musical notation that belong
2452 to the staff and there are other objects that should be placed outside
2453 the staff. Objects belonging outside the staff include things such as
2454 rehearsal marks, text and dynamic markings (from now on, these will
2455 be called outside-staff objects). LilyPond's rule for the
2456 vertical placement of outside-staff objects is to place them as close
2457 to the staff as possible but not so close that they collide with
2460 LilyPond uses the @code{outside-staff-priority} property to determine
2461 whether a grob is an outside-staff object: if @code{outside-staff-priority}
2462 is a number, the grob is an outside-staff object. In addition,
2463 @code{outside-staff-priority} tells LilyPond in which order the objects
2466 First, LilyPond places all the objects that do not belong outside
2467 the staff. Then it sorts the outside-staff objects according to their
2468 @code{outside-staff-priority} (in increasing order). One by one, LilyPond
2469 takes the outside-staff objects and places them so that they do
2470 not collide with any objects that have already been placed. That
2471 is, if two outside-staff grobs are competing for the same space, the one
2472 with the lower @code{outside-staff-priority} will be placed closer to
2475 @lilypond[quote,ragged-right,relative=2,verbatim]
2478 \once \override TextScript #'outside-staff-priority = #1
2479 c4_"Text"\pp % this time the text will be closer to the staff
2481 % by setting outside-staff-priority to a non-number,
2482 % we disable the automatic collision avoidance
2483 \once \override TextScript #'outside-staff-priority = ##f
2484 \once \override DynamicLineSpanner #'outside-staff-priority = ##f
2485 c4_"Text"\pp % now they will collide
2488 The vertical padding between an outside-staff object and the
2489 previously-positioned grobs can be controlled with
2490 @code{outside-staff-padding}.
2492 @lilypond[quote,ragged-right,relative=2,verbatim]
2493 \once \override TextScript #'outside-staff-padding = #0
2494 a'^"This text is placed very close to the note"
2495 \once \override TextScript #'outside-staff-padding = #3
2496 c^"This text is padded away from the previous text"
2497 c^"This text is placed close to the previous text"
2501 By default, outside-staff objects are placed only to avoid
2502 a horizontal collision with previously-positioned grobs. This
2503 can lead to situations in which objects are placed very close to each
2504 other horizontally. The vertical spacing between staves can
2505 also be set so that outside staff objects are interleaved.
2506 Setting @code{outside-staff-horizontal-padding}
2507 causes an object to be offset vertically so that such a situation
2510 @lilypond[quote,ragged-right,relative=2,verbatim]
2511 % the markup is too close to the following note
2515 % setting outside-staff-horizontal-padding fixes this
2517 \once \override TextScript #'outside-staff-horizontal-padding = #1
2529 @node Horizontal spacing
2530 @section Horizontal spacing
2532 @cindex horizontal spacing
2533 @cindex spacing, horizontal
2536 * Horizontal spacing overview::
2537 * New spacing area::
2538 * Changing horizontal spacing::
2540 * Proportional notation::
2544 @node Horizontal spacing overview
2545 @subsection Horizontal spacing overview
2547 The spacing engine translates differences in durations into stretchable
2548 distances (@q{springs}) of differing lengths. Longer durations get
2549 more space, shorter durations get less. The shortest durations get a
2550 fixed amount of space (which is controlled by
2551 @code{shortest-duration-space} in the @rinternals{SpacingSpanner}
2552 object). The longer the duration, the more space it gets: doubling a
2553 duration adds a fixed amount (this amount is controlled by
2554 @code{spacing-increment}) of space to the note.
2556 For example, the following piece contains lots of half, quarter, and
2557 8th notes; the eighth note is followed by 1 note head width (NHW).
2558 The quarter note is followed by 2 NHW, the half by 3 NHW, etc.
2560 @lilypond[quote,verbatim,relative=1]
2561 c2 c4. c8 c4. c8 c4. c8 c8
2565 Normally, @code{spacing-increment} is set to 1.2 staff space, which is
2566 approximately the width of a note head, and
2567 @code{shortest-duration-space} is set to 2.0, meaning that the
2568 shortest note gets 2.4 staff space (2.0 times the
2569 @code{spacing-increment}) of horizontal space. This space is counted
2570 from the left edge of the symbol, so the shortest notes are generally
2571 followed by one NHW of space.
2573 If one would follow the above procedure exactly, then adding a single
2574 32nd note to a score that uses 8th and 16th notes, would widen up the
2575 entire score a lot. The shortest note is no longer a 16th, but a 32nd,
2576 thus adding 1 NHW to every note. To prevent this, the shortest
2577 duration for spacing is not the shortest note in the score, but rather
2578 the one which occurs most frequently.
2581 The most common shortest duration is determined as follows: in every
2582 measure, the shortest duration is determined. The most common shortest
2583 duration is taken as the basis for the spacing, with the stipulation
2584 that this shortest duration should always be equal to or shorter than
2585 an 8th note. The shortest duration is printed when you run
2586 @code{lilypond} with the @code{--verbose} option.
2588 These durations may also be customized. If you set the
2589 @code{common-shortest-duration} in @rinternals{SpacingSpanner}, then
2590 this sets the base duration for spacing. The maximum duration for this
2591 base (normally an 8th), is set through @code{base-shortest-duration}.
2593 @funindex common-shortest-duration
2594 @funindex base-shortest-duration
2595 @funindex stem-spacing-correction
2598 Notes that are even shorter than the common shortest note are
2599 followed by a space that is proportional to their duration relative to
2600 the common shortest note. So if we were to add only a few 16th notes
2601 to the example above, they would be followed by half a NHW:
2603 @lilypond[quote,verbatim,relative=2]
2604 c2 c4. c8 c4. c16[ c] c4. c8 c8 c8 c4 c4 c4
2608 In the @emph{Essay on automated music engraving}, it was explained
2609 that stem directions influence spacing (see @ressay{Optical
2610 spacing}). This is controlled with the
2611 @code{stem-spacing-correction} property in the
2612 @rinternals{NoteSpacing}, object. These are generated for every
2613 @rinternals{Voice} context. The @code{StaffSpacing} object
2614 (generated in @rinternals{Staff} context) contains the same
2615 property for controlling the stem/bar line spacing. The following
2616 example shows these corrections, once with default settings, and
2617 once with exaggerated corrections:
2619 @lilypond[quote,ragged-right]
2623 \override Staff.NoteSpacing #'stem-spacing-correction = #1.5
2624 \override Staff.StaffSpacing #'stem-spacing-correction = #1.5
2630 Proportional notation is supported; see @ref{Proportional notation}.
2637 Internals Reference:
2638 @rinternals{SpacingSpanner},
2639 @rinternals{NoteSpacing},
2640 @rinternals{StaffSpacing},
2641 @rinternals{NonMusicalPaperColumn}.
2646 There is no convenient mechanism to manually override spacing. The
2647 following work-around may be used to insert extra space into a score,
2648 adjusting the padding value as necessary.
2650 \override Score.NonMusicalPaperColumn #'padding = #10
2653 No work-around exists for decreasing the amount of space.
2656 @node New spacing area
2657 @subsection New spacing area
2659 New sections with different spacing parameters can be started with
2660 @code{newSpacingSection}. This is useful when there are
2661 sections with a different notions of long and short notes.
2663 In the following example, the time signature change introduces a new
2664 section, and hence the 16ths notes are spaced wider.
2666 @lilypond[relative=1,verbatim,quote]
2669 c8 c c4 c16[ c c8] c4
2675 The @code{\newSpacingSection} command creates a new
2676 @code{SpacingSpanner} object, and hence new @code{\override}s
2677 may be used in that location.
2684 Internals Reference:
2685 @rinternals{SpacingSpanner}.
2688 @node Changing horizontal spacing
2689 @subsection Changing horizontal spacing
2691 Horizontal spacing may be altered with the
2692 @code{base-shortest-duration} property. Here
2693 we compare the same music; once without altering
2694 the property, and then altered. Larger values
2695 of @code{ly:make-moment} will produce smaller
2696 music. Note that @code{ly:make-moment} constructs
2697 a duration, so @code{1 4} is a longer duration
2700 @lilypond[verbatim,line-width=12\cm]
2703 g4 e e2 | f4 d d2 | c4 d e f | g4 g g2 |
2704 g4 e e2 | f4 d d2 | c4 e g g | c,1 |
2705 d4 d d d | d4 e f2 | e4 e e e | e4 f g2 |
2706 g4 e e2 | f4 d d2 | c4 e g g | c,1 |
2711 @lilypond[verbatim,line-width=12\cm]
2714 g4 e e2 | f4 d d2 | c4 d e f | g4 g g2 |
2715 g4 e e2 | f4 d d2 | c4 e g g | c,1 |
2716 d4 d d d | d4 e f2 | e4 e e e | e4 f g2 |
2717 g4 e e2 | f4 d d2 | c4 e g g | c,1 |
2722 \override SpacingSpanner
2723 #'base-shortest-duration = #(ly:make-moment 1 16)
2732 By default, spacing in tuplets depends on various non-duration
2733 factors (such as accidentals, clef changes, etc). To disregard
2734 such symbols and force uniform equal-duration spacing, use
2735 @code{Score.SpacingSpanner #'uniform-stretching}. This
2736 property can only be changed at the beginning of a score,
2738 @lilypond[quote,ragged-right,verbatim]
2757 \override SpacingSpanner #'uniform-stretching = ##t
2763 When @code{strict-note-spacing} is set, notes are spaced without
2764 regard for clefs, bar lines, and grace notes,
2766 @lilypond[quote,ragged-right,relative=2,verbatim]
2767 \override Score.SpacingSpanner #'strict-note-spacing = ##t
2768 \new Staff { c8[ c \clef alto c \grace { c16[ c] } c8 c c] c32[ c32] }
2778 @subsection Line length
2781 @cindex breaking pages
2784 @funindex line-width
2785 @funindex ragged-right
2786 @funindex ragged-last
2788 @c Although line-width can be set in \layout, it should be set in paper
2789 @c block, to get page layout right.
2790 @c Setting indent in \paper block makes not much sense, but it works.
2792 @c Bit verbose and vague, use examples?
2793 The most basic settings influencing the spacing are @code{indent} and
2794 @code{line-width}. They are set in the @code{\layout} block. They
2795 control the indentation of the first line of music, and the lengths of
2798 If @code{ragged-right} is set to true in the @code{\layout} block, then
2799 systems ends at their natural horizontal length, instead of being spread
2800 horizontally to fill the whole line. This is useful for
2801 short fragments, and for checking how tight the natural spacing is.
2802 The normal default setting is false, but if the score has only one
2803 system the default value is true.
2806 @cindex vertical spacing
2808 The option @code{ragged-last} is similar to @code{ragged-right}, but
2809 only affects the last line of the piece. No restrictions are put on
2810 that line. The result is similar to formatting text paragraphs. In a
2811 paragraph, the last line simply takes its natural horizontal length.
2812 @c Note that for text there are several options for the last line.
2813 @c While Knuth TeX uses natural length, lead typesetters use the same
2814 @c stretch as the previous line. eTeX uses \lastlinefit to
2815 @c interpolate between both these solutions.
2831 @node Proportional notation
2832 @subsection Proportional notation
2834 LilyPond supports proportional notation, a type of horizontal spacing
2835 in which each note consumes an amount of horizontal space exactly
2836 equivalent to its rhythmic duration. This type of proportional spacing
2837 is comparable to horizontal spacing on top of graph paper. Some late
2838 20th- and early 21st-century scores use proportional notation to
2839 clarify complex rhythmic relationships or to facilitate the placement
2840 of timelines or other graphics directly in the score.
2842 LilyPond supports five different settings for proportional notation,
2843 which may be used together or alone:
2846 @item @code{proportionalNotationDuration}
2847 @item @code{uniform-stretching}
2848 @item @code{strict-note-spacing}
2849 @item @code{\remove Separating_line_group_engraver}
2850 @item @code{\override PaperColumn #'used = ##t}
2853 In the examples that follow, we explore these five different
2854 proportional notation settings and examine how these settings interact.
2856 We start with the following one-measure example, which uses classical
2857 spacing with ragged-right turned on.
2859 @lilypond[quote,verbatim,ragged-right]
2862 \new RhythmicStaff {
2866 c'16 c'16 c'16 c'16 c'16
2873 Notice that the half note which begins the measure takes up far less
2874 than half of the horizontal space of the measure. Likewise, the
2875 sixteenth notes and sixteenth-note quintuplets (or twentieth notes)
2876 which end the measure together take up far more than half the
2877 horizontal space of the measure.
2879 In classical engraving, this spacing may be exactly what we want
2880 because we can borrow horizontal space from the half note and conserve
2881 horizontal space across the measure as a whole.
2883 On the other hand, if we want to insert a measured timeline or other
2884 graphic above or below our score, we need proportional notation. We
2885 turn proportional notation on with the proportionalNotationDuration
2888 @lilypond[quote,verbatim,ragged-right]
2891 \new RhythmicStaff {
2895 c'16 c'16 c'16 c'16 c'16
2902 proportionalNotationDuration = #(ly:make-moment 1 20)
2908 The half note at the beginning of the measure and the faster notes in
2909 the second half of the measure now occupy equal amounts of horizontal
2910 space. We could place a measured timeline or graphic above or below
2913 The @code{proportionalNotationDuration} setting is a context setting
2914 that lives in @code{Score}. Remember that context settings can appear
2915 in one of three locations within our input file -- in a @code{\with}
2916 block, in a @code{\context} block, or directly in music entry preceded
2917 by the @code{\set} command. As with all context settings, users can
2918 pick which of the three different locations they would like to
2919 set @code{proportionalNotationDuration} in to.
2921 The @code{proportionalNotationDuration} setting takes a single argument,
2922 which is the reference duration against that all music will be spaced.
2923 The LilyPond Scheme function @code{make-moment} takes two arguments
2924 -- a numerator and denominator which together express some fraction of
2925 a whole note. The call @code{#(ly:make-moment 1 20)} therefore produces
2926 a reference duration of a twentieth note. Values such as
2927 @code{#(ly:make-moment 1 16)}, @code{#(ly:make-moment 1 8)}, and
2928 @code{#(ly:make-moment 3 97)} are all possible as well.
2930 How do we select the right reference duration to pass to
2931 @code{proportionalNotationDuration}? Usually by a process of trial
2932 and error, beginning with a duration close to the fastest (or smallest)
2933 duration in the piece. Smaller reference durations space music loosely;
2934 larger reference durations space music tightly.
2936 @lilypond[quote,verbatim,ragged-right]
2939 \new RhythmicStaff {
2943 c'16 c'16 c'16 c'16 c'16
2950 proportionalNotationDuration = #(ly:make-moment 1 8)
2957 \new RhythmicStaff {
2961 c'16 c'16 c'16 c'16 c'16
2968 proportionalNotationDuration = #(ly:make-moment 1 16)
2975 \new RhythmicStaff {
2979 c'16 c'16 c'16 c'16 c'16
2986 proportionalNotationDuration = #(ly:make-moment 1 32)
2992 Note that too large a reference duration -- such as the eighth note,
2993 above -- spaces music too tightly and can cause note head collisions.
2994 Also that proportional notation in general takes up more horizontal
2995 space than classical spacing. Proportional spacing provides rhythmic
2996 clarity at the expense of horizontal space.
2998 Next we examine how to optimally space overlapping tuplets.
3000 We start by examining what happens to our original example, with
3001 classical spacing, when we add a second staff with a different type of
3004 @lilypond[quote,verbatim,ragged-right]
3007 \new RhythmicStaff {
3011 c'16 c'16 c'16 c'16 c'16
3014 \new RhythmicStaff {
3016 c'8 c'8 c'8 c'8 c'8 c'8 c'8 c'8 c'8
3023 The spacing is bad because the evenly spaced notes of the bottom staff
3024 do not stretch uniformly. Classical engravings include very few complex
3025 triplets and so classical engraving rules can generate this type of
3026 result. Setting @code{proportionalNotationDuration} fixes this.
3028 @lilypond[quote,verbatim,ragged-right]
3031 \new RhythmicStaff {
3035 c'16 c'16 c'16 c'16 c'16
3038 \new RhythmicStaff {
3040 c'8 c'8 c'8 c'8 c'8 c'8 c'8 c'8 c'8
3047 proportionalNotationDuration = #(ly:make-moment 1 20)
3053 But if we look very carefully we can see that notes of the second half
3054 of the 9-tuplet space ever so slightly more widely than the notes
3055 of the first half of the 9-tuplet. To ensure uniform stretching, we
3056 turn on @code{uniform-stretching}, which is a property of
3057 @code{SpacingSpanner}.
3059 @lilypond[quote,verbatim,ragged-right]
3062 \new RhythmicStaff {
3066 c'16 c'16 c'16 c'16 c'16
3069 \new RhythmicStaff {
3071 c'8 c'8 c'8 c'8 c'8 c'8 c'8 c'8 c'8
3078 proportionalNotationDuration = #(ly:make-moment 1 20)
3079 \override SpacingSpanner #'uniform-stretching = ##t
3085 Our two-staff example now spaces exactly, our rhythmic
3086 relationships are visually clear, and we can include a measured
3087 timeline or graphic if we want.
3089 Note that the LilyPond's proportional notation package expects
3090 that all proportional scores set the SpacingSpanner's
3091 'uniform-stretching attribute to ##t. Setting
3092 proportionalNotationDuration without also setting the
3093 SpacingSpanner's 'uniform-stretching attribute to ##t will, for
3094 example, cause Skips to consume an incorrect amount of horizontal
3097 The SpacingSpanner is an abstract grob that lives in the Score
3098 context. As with our settings of proportionalNotationDuration,
3099 overrides to the SpacingSpanner can occur in any of three
3100 different places in our input file – in the Score \with block, in
3101 a Score \context block, or in note entry directly.
3103 There is by default only one @code{SpacingSpanner} per @code{Score}. This
3104 means that, by default, @code{uniform-stretching} is either turned on for the
3105 entire score or turned off for the entire score. We can, however,
3106 override this behavior and turn on different spacing features at
3107 different places in the score. We do this with the command
3108 @code{\newSpacingSection}. See @ref{New spacing area}, for more info.
3110 Next we examine the effects of the @code{Separating_line_group_engraver} and
3111 see why proportional scores frequently remove this engraver. The following
3112 example shows that there is a small amount of @qq{preferatory} space
3113 just before the first note in each system.
3115 @lilypond[quote,verbatim,ragged-right]
3128 The amount of this preferatory space is the same whether after a time
3129 signature, a key signature or a clef. @code{Separating_line_group_engraver}
3130 is responsible for this space. Removing @code{Separating_line_group_engraver}
3131 reduces this space to zero.
3133 @lilypond[quote,verbatim,ragged-right]
3139 \remove Separating_line_group_engraver
3147 Nonmusical elements like time signatures, key signatures, clefs and
3148 accidentals are problematic in proportional notation. None of these
3149 elements has rhythmic duration. But all of these elements consume
3150 horizontal space. Different proportional scores approach these
3151 problems differently.
3153 It may be possible to avoid spacing problems with key signatures
3154 simply by not having any. This is a valid option since most
3155 proportional scores are contemporary music. The same may be true
3156 of time signatures, especially for those scores
3157 that include a measured timeline or other graphic. But these scores
3158 are exceptional and most proportional scores include at least some
3159 time signatures. Clefs and accidentals are even more essential.
3161 So what strategies exist for spacing nonmusical elements in a
3162 proportional context? One good option is the @code{strict-note-spacing}
3163 property of @code{SpacingSpanner}. Compare the two scores below:
3165 @lilypond[quote,verbatim,ragged-right]
3167 \set Score.proportionalNotationDuration = #(ly:make-moment 1 16)
3177 \set Score.proportionalNotationDuration = #(ly:make-moment 1 16)
3178 \override Score.SpacingSpanner #'strict-note-spacing = ##t
3188 Both scores are proportional, but the spacing in the first score
3189 is too loose because of the clef change. The spacing of the second
3190 score remains strict, however, because strict-note-spacing is
3191 turned on. Turning on strict-note-spacing causes the width of
3192 time signatures, key signatures, clefs and accidentals to play no
3193 part in the spacing algorithm.
3195 In addition to the settings given here, there are other settings
3196 that frequently appear in proportional scores. These include:
3199 @item @code{\override SpacingSpanner #'strict-grace-spacing = ##t}
3200 @item @code{tupletFullLength = ##t}
3201 @item @code{\override Beam #'breakable = ##t}
3202 @item @code{\override Glissando #'breakable = ##t}
3203 @item @code{\override TextSpanner #'breakable = ##t}
3204 @item @code{\remove Forbid_line_break_engraver in the Voice context}
3207 These settings space grace notes strictly, extend tuplet brackets to
3208 mark both rhythmic start- and stop-points, and allow spanning elements
3209 to break across systems and pages. See the respective parts of the manual
3210 for these related settings.
3215 @ref{New spacing area}.
3221 @node Fitting music onto fewer pages
3222 @section Fitting music onto fewer pages
3224 Sometimes you can end up with one or two staves on a second
3225 (or third, or fourth...) page. This is annoying, especially
3226 if you look at previous pages and it looks like there is plenty
3227 of room left on those.
3229 When investigating layout issues, @code{annotate-spacing} is an
3230 invaluable tool. This command prints the values of various layout
3231 spacing variables; for more details see the following section,
3232 @ref{Displaying spacing}.
3235 * Displaying spacing::
3236 * Changing spacing::
3240 @node Displaying spacing
3241 @subsection Displaying spacing
3243 @funindex annotate-spacing
3244 @cindex spacing, display of layout
3246 To graphically display the dimensions of vertical layout variables
3247 that may be altered for page formatting, set
3248 @code{annotate-spacing} in the @code{\paper} block:
3250 @c need to have \book{} otherwise we get the separate systems. -hwn
3251 @lilypond[verbatim,quote]
3252 #(set-default-paper-size "a6" 'landscape)
3255 \paper { annotate-spacing = ##t }
3261 All layout dimensions are displayed in staff-spaces, regardless
3262 of the units specified in the @code{\paper} or @code{\layout} block.
3263 In the above example, @code{paper-height} has a value of 59.75
3264 @code{staff-spaces}, and the @code{staff-size} is 20 points (the
3265 default value). Note that:
3267 @multitable {1 staff-space} {staff-size)/4 * (25.4/72.27) mm}
3270 @tab = (25.4/72.27) mm
3273 @tab = (@code{staff-size})/4 pts
3275 @tab = (@code{staff-size})/4 * (25.4/72.27) mm
3280 In this case, one @code{staff-space} is approximately equal to
3281 1.757mm. Thus the @code{paper-height} measurement of 59.75
3282 @code{staff-spaces} is equivalent to 105 millimeters, the height
3283 of @code{a6} paper in landscape orientation. The pairs
3284 (@var{a},@var{b}) are intervals, where @var{a} is the lower
3285 edge and @var{b} the upper edge of the interval.
3290 @ref{Setting the staff size}.
3296 @node Changing spacing
3297 @subsection Changing spacing
3299 The output of @code{annotate-spacing} reveals vertical dimensions
3300 in great detail. For details about modifying margins and other
3301 layout variables, see @ref{Page layout}.
3303 Other than margins, there are a few other options to save space:
3307 Force systems to move as close together as possible (to fit as
3308 many systems as possible onto a page) while being spaced so that
3309 there is no blank space at the bottom of the page.
3313 system-system-spacing = #'((padding . 0) (space . 0.1))
3314 ragged-last-bottom = ##f
3320 Force the number of systems. This can help in two ways. Just
3321 setting a value, even the same value as the number of systems
3322 being typeset by default, will sometimes cause more systems to
3323 be fitted onto each page, as an estimation step is then bypassed,
3324 giving a more accurate fit to each page. Also, forcing an actual
3325 reduction in the number of systems may save a further page. For
3326 example, if the default layout has 11 systems, the following
3327 assignment will force a layout with 10 systems.
3336 Avoid (or reduce) objects that increase the vertical size of a
3337 system. For example, volta repeats (or alternate repeats) require
3338 extra space. If these repeats are spread over two systems, they
3339 will take up more space than one system with the volta repeats and
3340 another system without. For example, dynamics that @q{stick out} of
3341 a system can be moved closer to the staff:
3343 @lilypond[verbatim,quote,relative=1]
3345 e4 c g-\tweak #'X-offset #-2.7 -\tweak #'Y-offset #2.5 \f c
3349 Alter the horizontal spacing via @code{SpacingSpanner}. For more
3350 details, see @ref{Changing horizontal spacing}. The following
3351 example illustrates the default spacing:
3353 @lilypond[verbatim,quote]
3366 The next example modifies @code{common-shortest-duration} from a
3367 value of @code{1/4} to @code{1/2}. The quarter note is the most
3368 common and shortest duration in this example, so by making this
3369 duration longer, a @q{squeezing} effect occurs:
3371 @lilypond[verbatim,quote]
3383 \override SpacingSpanner
3384 #'common-shortest-duration = #(ly:make-moment 1 2)
3391 The @code{common-shortest-duration} property cannot be modified
3392 dynamically, so it must always be placed in a @code{\context}
3393 block so that it applies to the whole score.
3401 @ref{Changing horizontal spacing}.