Re: lengthening broken ties

[David Nalesnik]

On Mon, Feb 16, 2015 at 11:46 AM, David Nalesnik <address@hidden> wrote:

Spacing rods are created between columns--PaperColumn (PC) and NonMusicalPaperColumn (NMPC).  The distance that these rods enforce is from the beginning of one column to the next.  So, if we have two notes, there is a distance set between two PCs.  For ties at the beginning of the line, the rod governs a NMPC on the left and the PC on the right that is associated with the NoteHead.  So when you set  minimum-distance or minimum-distance-after-break In the latter case, minimum-distance specifies a rod of that length between the beginning of the line and the PC; the tie is drawn within whatever space is available to it.  So, in effect, you're saying "move the NoteColumn to this staff position".

[Bad proofreading:] 

Spacing rods are created between columns--PaperColumn (PC) and NonMusicalPaperColumn (NMPC).  The distance that these rods enforce is from the beginning of one column to the next.  So, if we have two notes, there is a distance set between two PCs.  For ties at the beginning of the line, the rod governs a NMPC on the left and the PC on the right that is associated with the NoteHead.  In the latter case, minimum-distance specifies a rod of that length between the beginning of the line and the PC; the tie is drawn within whatever space is available to it.  So, in effect, you're saying "move the NoteColumn to this staff position".

 

Where does that nice extra space come from that LilyPond gives to the default tie after the time signature?  TimeSignature.extra-spacing-width.  (That quantity--0.8, by default--is simply dded into the rod's width.)

Now, perhaps, minimum-distance after a break could be conceived of as an _offset_, rather than an absolute value replacing whatever's there.  The tie's length would change by that much.  This at least approximates what we think minimum-distance is doing, though it's still an illusion.

You can visualize what happens with your example using the code below.  (I have changed minimum-distance-after-break to minimum-distance so that others can look who don't have access to current master.)

The interesting values here are in red--they are the required distances: the rods.

Two things to notice:

(1) the offset note in the chord doesn't figure in the rod's width;

(2) minimum-distance takes effect when it is larger than what LilyPond would put there.  The last tie gets a rod of 11.26; put 11.27 and it changes.

%%%%%%%%%

\version "2.19.15"

\paper {

  line-width = 50\mm

}

\relative c'' {

  <bes des e g>1 ~ \break q \break

  \once\override Tie.minimum-length = 10

  <bes des e g>1 ~ \break q \break

  \time 4/4 <bes des e g>1 ~ \break \time 3/4 q2. \break

  \once\override Tie.minimum-length = 10

  \time 4/4 <bes des e g>1 ~ \break \time 3/4 q2. \break

}

\layout {

  \context {

    \Score

    \override PaperColumn.stencil = #ly:paper-column::print

    \override NonMusicalPaperColumn.stencil = #ly:paper-column::print

  }

}

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

Hope this at least clarifies the problem!

David