+@end itemize
+
+By default the @code{measureLength} and @code{beatLength} are
+derived from the time signature set by the @code{\time} command.
+The @code{measureLength} is set to be exactly the same length as
+the measure length given by the time signature, and the
+@code{beatLength} is set to be the same as one over the denominator
+of the time signature.
+
+The default value of @code{beatGrouping} is taken from a table in
+@file{scm/@/music@/-functions@/.scm}. To find this, see
+@rlearning{Other sources of information}. It defines the beat
+grouping for 3/8, 4/8, 5/8, 8/8, and all the common compound time
+signatures.
+
+Both @code{measureLength} and @code{beatLength} are @i{moments},
+units of musical duration. A quantity of type @i{moment} is
+created by the scheme function @code{ly:make-moment}. For more
+information about this function, see @ref{Time administration}.
+
+@code{beatGrouping} is a list of integers giving the number of
+beats in each group.
+
+@snippets
+
+@lilypondfile[verbatim,lilyquote,ragged-right,texidoc,doctitle]
+{grouping-beats.ly}
+
+@lilypondfile[verbatim,lilyquote,ragged-right,texidoc,doctitle]
+{specifying-context-with-beatgrouping.ly}
+
+@lilypondfile[verbatim,lilyquote,ragged-right,texidoc,doctitle]
+{using-beatlength-and-beatgrouping.ly}
+
+@funindex subdivideBeams
+
+@lilypondfile[verbatim,lilyquote,ragged-right,texidoc,doctitle]
+{sub-dividing-beams.ly}
+
+@cindex measure groupings
+@cindex beats, grouping
+@cindex grouping beats
+@cindex measure sub-grouping
+
+@lilypondfile[verbatim,lilyquote,ragged-right,texidoc,doctitle]
+{conducting-signs,-measure-grouping-signs.ly}
+
+
+@strong{@i{Modifying the beam end points}}
+
+Beam-ending rules are required when beams of different durations are
+to end at different points within the measure. For example, it may
+be desirable for eighth-note beams in 4/4 time to end only at the
+end of the measure or half-way through it, but for sixteenth-note
+beams to end at quarter note positions to avoid overly long beamed
+runs. The rules work as follows:
+
+Automatic beams can start on any note but can end at only a few
+positions within the measure, namely at positions specified by the
+properties in @code{autoBeamSettings}. These properties consist of
+a list of rules defining where beams can end. The default
+@code{autoBeamSettings} rules are defined in
+@file{scm/@/auto@/-beam@/.scm}. To find this file, see
+@rlearning{Other sources of information}.