LilyPond Internals Reference: 3.3 User backend properties

## 3.3 User backend properties

`add-stem-support` (boolean)

  If set, the `Stem` object is included in this script’s support.

`after-line-breaking` (boolean)

  Dummy property, used to trigger callback for `after-line-breaking`.

`align-dir` (direction)

  Which side to align? `-1`: left side, `0`: around center of width, `1`: right side.

`allow-loose-spacing` (boolean)

  If set, column can be detached from main spacing.

`allow-span-bar` (boolean)

  If false, no inter-staff bar line will be created below this bar line.

`alteration` (number)

  Alteration numbers for accidental.

`alteration-alist` (list)

  List of `(pitch . accidental)` pairs for key signature.

`annotation` (string)

  Annotate a grob for debug purposes.

`annotation-balloon` (boolean)

  Print the balloon around an annotation.

`annotation-line` (boolean)

  Print the line from an annotation to the grob that it annotates.

`arpeggio-direction` (direction)

  If set, put an arrow on the arpeggio squiggly line.

`arrow-length` (number)

  Arrow length.

`arrow-width` (number)

  Arrow width.

`auto-knee-gap` (dimension, in staff space)

  If a gap is found between note heads where a horizontal beam fits that is larger than this number, make a kneed beam.

`average-spacing-wishes` (boolean)

  If set, the spacing wishes are averaged over staves.

`avoid-note-head` (boolean)

  If set, the stem of a chord does not pass through all note heads, but starts at the last note head.

`avoid-slur` (symbol)

  Method of handling slur collisions. Choices are `inside`, `outside`, `around`, and `ignore`. `inside` adjusts the slur if needed to keep the grob inside the slur. `outside` moves the grob vertically to the outside of the slur. `around` moves the grob vertically to the outside of the slur only if there is a collision. `ignore` does not move either. In grobs whose notational significance depends on vertical position (such as accidentals, clefs, etc.), `outside` and `around` behave like `ignore`.

`axes` (list)

  List of axis numbers. In the case of alignment grobs, this should contain only one number.

`base-shortest-duration` (moment)

  Spacing is based on the shortest notes in a piece. Normally, pieces are spaced as if notes at least as short as this are present.

`baseline-skip` (dimension, in staff space)

  Distance between base lines of multiple lines of text.

`beam-thickness` (dimension, in staff space)

  Beam thickness, measured in `staff-space` units.

`beam-width` (dimension, in staff space)

  Width of the tremolo sign.

`beamed-stem-shorten` (list)

  How much to shorten beamed stems, when their direction is forced. It is a list, since the value is different depending on the number of flags and beams.

`beaming` (pair)

  Pair of number lists. Each number list specifies which beams to make. `0` is the central beam, `1` is the next beam toward the note, etc. This information is used to determine how to connect the beaming patterns from stem to stem inside a beam.

`beamlet-default-length` (pair)

  A pair of numbers. The first number specifies the default length of a beamlet that sticks out of the left hand side of this stem; the second number specifies the default length of the beamlet to the right. The actual length of a beamlet is determined by taking either the default length or the length specified by `beamlet-max-length-proportion`, whichever is smaller.

`beamlet-max-length-proportion` (pair)

  The maximum length of a beamlet, as a proportion of the distance between two adjacent stems.

`before-line-breaking` (boolean)

  Dummy property, used to trigger a callback function.

`between-cols` (pair)

  Where to attach a loose column to.

`bound-details` (list)

  An alist of properties for determining attachments of spanners to edges.

`bound-padding` (number)

  The amount of padding to insert around spanner bounds.

`bracket-flare` (pair of numbers)

  A pair of numbers specifying how much edges of brackets should slant outward. Value `0.0` means straight edges.

`bracket-visibility` (boolean or symbol)

  This controls the visibility of the tuplet bracket. Setting it to false prevents printing of the bracket. Setting the property to `if-no-beam` makes it print only if there is no beam associated with this tuplet bracket.

`break-align-anchor` (number)

  Grobs aligned to this break-align grob will have their X-offsets shifted by this number. In bar lines, for example, this is used to position grobs relative to the (visual) center of the bar line.

`break-align-anchor-alignment` (number)

  Read by `ly:break-aligned-interface::calc-extent-aligned-anchor` for aligning an anchor to a grob’s extent.

`break-align-orders` (vector)

  Defines the order in which prefatory matter (clefs, key signatures) appears. The format is a vector of length 3, where each element is one order for end-of-line, middle of line, and start-of-line, respectively. An order is a list of symbols.

  For example, clefs are put after key signatures by setting

  >     \override Score.BreakAlignment #'break-align-orders =
  >       #(make-vector 3 '(span-bar
  >                         breathing-sign
  >                         staff-bar
  >                         key
  >                         clef
  >                         time-signature))

`break-align-symbol` (symbol)

  This key is used for aligning and spacing breakable items.

`break-align-symbols` (list)

  A list of symbols that determine which break-aligned grobs to align this to. If the grob selected by the first symbol in the list is invisible due to break-visibility, we will align to the next grob (and so on). Choices are `left-edge`, `ambitus`, `breathing-sign`, `clef`, `staff-bar`, `key-cancellation`, `key-signature`, `time-signature`, and `custos`.

`break-overshoot` (pair of numbers)

  How much does a broken spanner stick out of its bounds?

`break-visibility` (vector)

  A vector of 3 booleans, `#(end-of-line unbroken begin-of-line)`. `#t` means visible, `#f` means killed.

`breakable` (boolean)

  Allow breaks here.

`c0-position` (integer)

  An integer indicating the position of middle C.

`circled-tip` (boolean)

  Put a circle at start/end of hairpins (al/del niente).

`clip-edges` (boolean)

  Allow outward pointing beamlets at the edges of beams?

`collapse-height` (dimension, in staff space)

  Minimum height of system start delimiter. If equal or smaller, the bracket/brace/line is removed.

`collision-interfaces` (list)

  A list of interfaces for which automatic beam-collision resolution is run.

`collision-voice-only` (boolean)

  Does automatic beam collsion apply only to the voice in which the beam was created?

`color` (color)

  The color of this grob.

`common-shortest-duration` (moment)

  The most common shortest note length. This is used in spacing. Enlarging this sets the score tighter.

`concaveness` (number)

  A beam is concave if its inner stems are closer to the beam than the two outside stems. This number is a measure of the closeness of the inner stems. It is used for damping the slope of the beam.

`connect-to-neighbor` (pair)

  Pair of booleans, indicating whether this grob looks as a continued break.

`control-points` (list)

  List of offsets (number pairs) that form control points for the tie, slur, or bracket shape. For Béziers, this should list the control points of a third-order Bézier curve.

`damping` (number)

  Amount of beam slope damping.

`dash-definition` (pair)

  List of `dash-elements` defining the dash structure. Each `dash-element` has a starting t value, an ending t-value, a `dash-fraction`, and a `dash-period`.

`dash-fraction` (number)

  Size of the dashes, relative to `dash-period`. Should be between `0.0` (no line) and `1.0` (continuous line).

`dash-period` (number)

  The length of one dash together with whitespace. If negative, no line is drawn at all.

`default-direction` (direction)

  Direction determined by note head positions.

`default-staff-staff-spacing` (list)

  The settings to use for `staff-staff-spacing` when it is unset, for ungrouped staves and for grouped staves that do not have the relevant `StaffGrouper` property set (`staff-staff-spacing` or `staffgroup-staff-spacing`).

`details` (list)

  Alist of parameters for detailed grob behavior. More information on the allowed parameters for a grob can be found by looking at the top of the Internals Reference page for each interface having a `details` property.

`digit-names` (vector)

  Names for string finger digits.

`direction` (direction)

  If `side-axis` is `0` (or `#X`), then this property determines whether the object is placed `#LEFT`, `#CENTER` or `#RIGHT` with respect to the other object. Otherwise, it determines whether the object is placed `#UP`, `#CENTER` or `#DOWN`. Numerical values may also be used: `#UP`=`1`, `#DOWN`=`-1`, `#LEFT`=`-1`, `#RIGHT`=`1`, `#CENTER`=`0`.

`dot-count` (integer)

  The number of dots.

`dot-negative-kern` (number)

  The space to remove between a dot and a slash in percent repeat glyphs. Larger values bring the two elements closer together.

`dot-placement-list` (list)

  List consisting of `(description string-number fret-number finger-number)` entries used to define fret diagrams.

`duration-log` (integer)

  The 2-log of the note head duration, i.e., `0` = whole note, `1` = half note, etc.

`eccentricity` (number)

  How asymmetrical to make a slur. Positive means move the center to the right.

`edge-height` (pair)

  A pair of numbers specifying the heights of the vertical edges: `(left-height . right-height)`.

`edge-text` (pair)

  A pair specifying the texts to be set at the edges: `(left-text . right-text)`.

`expand-limit` (integer)

  Maximum number of measures expanded in church rests.

`extra-dy` (number)

  Slope glissandi this much extra.

`extra-offset` (pair of numbers)

  A pair representing an offset. This offset is added just before outputting the symbol, so the typesetting engine is completely oblivious to it. The values are measured in `staff-space` units of the staff’s `StaffSymbol`.

`extra-spacing-height` (pair of numbers)

  In the horizontal spacing problem, we increase the height of each item by this amount (by adding the ‘car’ to the bottom of the item and adding the ‘cdr’ to the top of the item). In order to make a grob infinitely high (to prevent the horizontal spacing problem from placing any other grobs above or below this grob), set this to `(-inf.0 . +inf.0)`.

`extra-spacing-width` (pair of numbers)

  In the horizontal spacing problem, we pad each item by this amount (by adding the ‘car’ on the left side of the item and adding the ‘cdr’ on the right side of the item). In order to make a grob take up no horizontal space at all, set this to `(+inf.0 . -inf.0)`.

`extra-X-extent` (pair of numbers)

  A grob is enlarged in X dimension by this much.

`extra-Y-extent` (pair of numbers)

  A grob is enlarged in Y dimension by this much.

`flag` (stencil)

  A function returning the full flag stencil for the `Stem`, which is passed to the function as the only argument. The default ly:stem::calc-stencil function uses the `flag-style` property to determine the correct glyph for the flag. By providing your own function, you can create arbitrary flags.

`flag-count` (number)

  The number of tremolo beams.

`flag-style` (symbol)

  A symbol determining what style of flag glyph is typeset on a `Stem`. Valid options include `'()` for standard flags, `'mensural` and `'no-flag`, which switches off the flag.

`font-encoding` (symbol)

  The font encoding is the broadest category for selecting a font. Currently, only lilypond’s system fonts (Emmentaler) are using this property. Available values are `fetaMusic` (Emmentaler), `fetaBraces`, `fetaText` (Emmentaler).

`font-family` (symbol)

  The font family is the broadest category for selecting text fonts. Options include: `sans`, `roman`.

`font-name` (string)

  Specifies a file name (without extension) of the font to load. This setting overrides selection using `font-family`, `font-series` and `font-shape`.

`font-series` (symbol)

  Select the series of a font. Choices include `medium`, `bold`, `bold-narrow`, etc.

`font-shape` (symbol)

  Select the shape of a font. Choices include `upright`, `italic`, `caps`.

`font-size` (number)

  The font size, compared to the ‘normal’ size. `0` is style-sheet’s normal size, `-1` is smaller, `+1` is bigger. Each step of 1 is approximately 12% larger; 6 steps are exactly a factor 2 larger. Fractional values are allowed.

`footnote-text` (markup)

  A footnote for the grob.

`force-hshift` (number)

  This specifies a manual shift for notes in collisions. The unit is the note head width of the first voice note. This is used by note-collision-interface.

`fraction` (pair of numbers)

  Numerator and denominator of a time signature object.

`french-beaming` (boolean)

  Use French beaming style for this stem. The stem stops at the innermost beams.

`fret-diagram-details` (list)

  An alist of detailed grob properties for fret diagrams. Each alist entry consists of a `(property . value)` pair. The properties which can be included in `fret-diagram-details` include the following:

  - `barre-type` – Type of barre indication used. Choices include `curved`, `straight`, and `none`. Default `curved`.
  - `capo-thickness` – Thickness of capo indicator, in multiples of fret-space. Default value 0.5.
  - `dot-color` – Color of dots. Options include `black` and `white`. Default `black`.
  - `dot-label-font-mag` – Magnification for font used to label fret dots. Default value 1.
  - `dot-position` – Location of dot in fret space. Default 0.6 for dots without labels, 0.95-`dot-radius` for dots with labels.
  - `dot-radius` – Radius of dots, in terms of fret spaces. Default value 0.425 for labeled dots, 0.25 for unlabeled dots.
  - `finger-code` – Code for the type of fingering indication used. Options include `none`, `in-dot`, and `below-string`. Default `none` for markup fret diagrams, `below-string` for `FretBoards` fret diagrams.
  - `fret-count` – The number of frets. Default 4.
  - `fret-label-custom-format` – The format string to be used label the lowest fret number, when `number-type` equals to `custom`. Default "~a".
  - `fret-label-font-mag` – The magnification of the font used to label the lowest fret number. Default 0.5.
  - `fret-label-vertical-offset` – The offset of the fret label from the center of the fret in direction parallel to strings. Default 0.
  - `label-dir` – Side to which the fret label is attached. `-1`, `#LEFT`, or `#DOWN` for left or down; `1`, `#RIGHT`, or `#UP` for right or up. Default `#RIGHT`.
  - `mute-string` – Character string to be used to indicate muted string. Default `"x"`.
  - `number-type` – Type of numbers to use in fret label. Choices include `roman-lower`, `roman-upper`, `arabic` and `custom`. In the later case, the format string is supplied by the `fret-label-custom-format` property. Default `roman-lower`.
  - `open-string` – Character string to be used to indicate open string. Default `"o"`.
  - `orientation` – Orientation of fret-diagram. Options include `normal`, `landscape`, and `opposing-landscape`. Default `normal`.
  - `string-count` – The number of strings. Default 6.
  - `string-label-font-mag` – The magnification of the font used to label fingerings at the string, rather than in the dot. Default value 0.6 for `normal` orientation, 0.5 for `landscape` and `opposing-landscape`.
  - `string-thickness-factor` – Factor for changing thickness of each string in the fret diagram. Thickness of string k is given by `thickness` * (1+`string-thickness-factor`) ^ (k-1). Default 0.
  - `top-fret-thickness` – The thickness of the top fret line, as a multiple of the standard thickness. Default value 3.
  - `xo-font-magnification` – Magnification used for mute and open string indicators. Default value 0.5.
  - `xo-padding` – Padding for open and mute indicators from top fret. Default value 0.25.
`full-length-padding` (number)

  How much padding to use at the right side of a full-length tuplet bracket.

`full-length-to-extent` (boolean)

  Run to the extent of the column for a full-length tuplet bracket.

`full-measure-extra-space` (number)

  Extra space that is allocated at the beginning of a measure with only one note. This property is read from the NonMusicalPaperColumn that begins the measure.

`full-size-change` (boolean)

  Don’t make a change clef smaller.

`gap` (dimension, in staff space)

  Size of a gap in a variable symbol.

`gap-count` (integer)

  Number of gapped beams for tremolo.

`glyph` (string)

  A string determining what ‘style’ of glyph is typeset. Valid choices depend on the function that is reading this property.

`glyph-name` (string)

  The glyph name within the font.

`glyph-name-alist` (list)

  An alist of key-string pairs.

`graphical` (boolean)

  Display in graphical (vs. text) form.

`grow-direction` (direction)

  Crescendo or decrescendo?

`hair-thickness` (number)

  Thickness of the thin line in a bar line.

`harp-pedal-details` (list)

  An alist of detailed grob properties for harp pedal diagrams. Each alist entry consists of a `(property . value)` pair. The properties which can be included in harp-pedal-details include the following:

  - `box-offset` – Vertical shift of the center of flat/sharp pedal boxes above/below the horizontal line. Default value 0.8.
  - `box-width` – Width of each pedal box. Default value 0.4.
  - `box-height` – Height of each pedal box. Default value 1.0.
  - `space-before-divider` – Space between boxes before the first divider (so that the diagram can be made symmetric). Default value 0.8.
  - `space-after-divider` – Space between boxes after the first divider. Default value 0.8.
  - `circle-thickness` – Thickness (in unit of the line-thickness) of the ellipse around circled pedals. Default value 0.5.
  - `circle-x-padding` – Padding in X direction of the ellipse around circled pedals. Default value 0.15.
  - `circle-y-padding` – Padding in Y direction of the ellipse around circled pedals. Default value 0.2.
`head-direction` (direction)

  Are the note heads left or right in a semitie?

`height` (dimension, in staff space)

  Height of an object in `staff-space` units.

`height-limit` (dimension, in staff space)

  Maximum slur height: The longer the slur, the closer it is to this height.

`hide-tied-accidental-after-break` (boolean)

  If set, an accidental that appears on a tied note after a line break will not be displayed.

`horizontal-shift` (integer)

  An integer that identifies ranking of `NoteColumn`s for horizontal shifting. This is used by note-collision-interface.

`horizontal-skylines` (pair of skylines)

  Two skylines, one to the left and one to the right of this grob.

`ignore-collision` (boolean)

  If set, don’t do note collision resolution on this `NoteColumn`.

`implicit` (boolean)

  Is this an implicit bass figure?

`inspect-index` (integer)

  If debugging is set, set beam and slur configuration to this index, and print the respective scores.

`inspect-quants` (pair of numbers)

  If debugging is set, set beam and slur quants to this position, and print the respective scores.

`keep-inside-line` (boolean)

  If set, this column cannot have objects sticking into the margin.

`kern` (dimension, in staff space)

  Amount of extra white space to add. For bar lines, this is the amount of space after a thick line.

`knee` (boolean)

  Is this beam kneed?

`knee-spacing-correction` (number)

  Factor for the optical correction amount for kneed beams. Set between `0` for no correction and `1` for full correction.

`labels` (list)

  List of labels (symbols) placed on a column.

`layer` (integer)

  An integer which determines the order of printing objects. Objects with the lowest value of layer are drawn first, then objects with progressively higher values are drawn, so objects with higher values overwrite objects with lower values. By default most objects are assigned a layer value of 1.

`ledger-line-thickness` (pair of numbers)

  The thickness of ledger lines. It is the sum of 2 numbers: The first is the factor for line thickness, and the second for staff space. Both contributions are added.

`left-bound-info` (list)

  An alist of properties for determining attachments of spanners to edges.

`left-padding` (dimension, in staff space)

  The amount of space that is put left to an object (e.g., a lyric extender).

`length` (dimension, in staff space)

  User override for the stem length of unbeamed stems.

`length-fraction` (number)

  Multiplier for lengths. Used for determining ledger lines and stem lengths.

`line-break-penalty` (number)

  Penalty for a line break at this column. This affects the choices of the line breaker; it avoids a line break at a column with a positive penalty and prefers a line break at a column with a negative penalty.

`line-break-permission` (symbol)

  Instructs the line breaker on whether to put a line break at this column. Can be `force` or `allow`.

`line-break-system-details` (list)

  An alist of properties to use if this column is the start of a system.

`line-count` (integer)

  The number of staff lines.

`line-positions` (list)

  Vertical positions of staff lines.

`line-thickness` (number)

  The thickness of the tie or slur contour.

`long-text` (markup)

  Text markup. See Formatting text.

`max-beam-connect` (integer)

  Maximum number of beams to connect to beams from this stem. Further beams are typeset as beamlets.

`max-stretch` (number)

  The maximum amount that this `VerticalAxisGroup` can be vertically stretched (for example, in order to better fill a page).

`measure-count` (integer)

  The number of measures for a multi-measure rest.

`measure-length` (moment)

  Length of a measure. Used in some spacing situations.

`merge-differently-dotted` (boolean)

  Merge note heads in collisions, even if they have a different number of dots. This is normal notation for some types of polyphonic music.

  `merge-differently-dotted` only applies to opposing stem directions (i.e., voice 1 & 2).

`merge-differently-headed` (boolean)

  Merge note heads in collisions, even if they have different note heads. The smaller of the two heads is rendered invisible. This is used in polyphonic guitar notation. The value of this setting is used by note-collision-interface.

  `merge-differently-headed` only applies to opposing stem directions (i.e., voice 1 & 2).

`minimum-distance` (dimension, in staff space)

  Minimum distance between rest and notes or beam.

`minimum-length` (dimension, in staff space)

  Try to make a spanner at least this long, normally in the horizontal direction. This requires an appropriate callback for the `springs-and-rods` property. If added to a `Tie`, this sets the minimum distance between noteheads.

`minimum-length-fraction` (number)

  Minimum length of ledger line as fraction of note head size.

`minimum-space` (dimension, in staff space)

  Minimum distance that the victim should move (after padding).

`minimum-X-extent` (pair of numbers)

  Minimum size of an object in X dimension, measured in `staff-space` units.

`minimum-Y-extent` (pair of numbers)

  Minimum size of an object in Y dimension, measured in `staff-space` units.

`neutral-direction` (direction)

  Which direction to take in the center of the staff.

`neutral-position` (number)

  Position (in half staff spaces) where to flip the direction of custos stem.

`next` (graphical (layout) object)

  Object that is next relation (e.g., the lyric syllable following an extender).

`no-alignment` (boolean)

  If set, don’t place this grob in a `VerticalAlignment`; rather, place it using its own `Y-offset` callback.

`no-ledgers` (boolean)

  If set, don’t draw ledger lines on this object.

`no-stem-extend` (boolean)

  If set, notes with ledger lines do not get stems extending to the middle staff line.

`non-break-align-symbols` (list)

  A list of symbols that determine which NON-break-aligned interfaces to align this to.

`non-default` (boolean)

  Set for manually specified clefs.

`non-musical` (boolean)

  True if the grob belongs to a `NonMusicalPaperColumn`.

`nonstaff-nonstaff-spacing` (list)

  The spacing alist controlling the distance between the current non-staff line and the next non-staff line in the direction of `staff-affinity`, if both are on the same side of the related staff, and `staff-affinity` is either `UP` or `DOWN`. See `staff-staff-spacing` for a description of the alist structure.

`nonstaff-relatedstaff-spacing` (list)

  The spacing alist controlling the distance between the current non-staff line and the nearest staff in the direction of `staff-affinity`, if there are no non-staff lines between the two, and `staff-affinity` is either `UP` or `DOWN`. If `staff-affinity` is `CENTER`, then `nonstaff-relatedstaff-spacing` is used for the nearest staves on both sides, even if other non-staff lines appear between the current one and either of the staves. See `staff-staff-spacing` for a description of the alist structure.

`nonstaff-unrelatedstaff-spacing` (list)

  The spacing alist controlling the distance between the current non-staff line and the nearest staff in the opposite direction from `staff-affinity`, if there are no other non-staff lines between the two, and `staff-affinity` is either `UP` or `DOWN`. See `staff-staff-spacing` for a description of the alist structure.

`normalized-endpoints` (pair)

  Represents left and right placement over the total spanner, where the width of the spanner is normalized between 0 and 1.

`note-names` (vector)

  Vector of strings containing names for easy-notation note heads.

`outside-staff-horizontal-padding` (number)

  By default, an outside-staff-object can be placed so that is it very close to another grob horizontally. If this property is set, the outside-staff-object is raised so that it is not so close to its neighbor.

`outside-staff-padding` (number)

  The padding to place between this grob and the staff when spacing according to `outside-staff-priority`.

`outside-staff-priority` (number)

  If set, the grob is positioned outside the staff in such a way as to avoid all collisions. In case of a potential collision, the grob with the smaller `outside-staff-priority` is closer to the staff.

`packed-spacing` (boolean)

  If set, the notes are spaced as tightly as possible.

`padding` (dimension, in staff space)

  Add this much extra space between objects that are next to each other.

`padding-pairs` (list)

  An alist mapping `(name . name)` to distances.

`page-break-penalty` (number)

  Penalty for page break at this column. This affects the choices of the page breaker; it avoids a page break at a column with a positive penalty and prefers a page break at a column with a negative penalty.

`page-break-permission` (symbol)

  Instructs the page breaker on whether to put a page break at this column. Can be `force` or `allow`.

`page-turn-penalty` (number)

  Penalty for a page turn at this column. This affects the choices of the page breaker; it avoids a page turn at a column with a positive penalty and prefers a page turn at a column with a negative penalty.

`page-turn-permission` (symbol)

  Instructs the page breaker on whether to put a page turn at this column. Can be `force` or `allow`.

`parenthesized` (boolean)

  Parenthesize this grob.

`positions` (pair of numbers)

  Pair of staff coordinates `(left . right)`, where both left and right are in `staff-space` units of the current staff. For slurs, this value selects which slur candidate to use; if extreme positions are requested, the closest one is taken.

`prefer-dotted-right` (boolean)

  For note collisions, prefer to shift dotted up-note to the right, rather than shifting just the dot.

`ratio` (number)

  Parameter for slur shape. The higher this number, the quicker the slur attains its `height-limit`.

`remove-empty` (boolean)

  If set, remove group if it contains no interesting items.

`remove-first` (boolean)

  Remove the first staff of an orchestral score?

`restore-first` (boolean)

  Print a natural before the accidental.

`rhythmic-location` (rhythmic location)

  Where (bar number, measure position) in the score.

`right-bound-info` (list)

  An alist of properties for determining attachments of spanners to edges.

`right-padding` (dimension, in staff space)

  Space to insert on the right side of an object (e.g., between note and its accidentals).

`rotation` (list)

  Number of degrees to rotate this object, and what point to rotate around. For example, `#'(45 0 0)` rotates by 45 degrees around the center of this object.

`same-direction-correction` (number)

  Optical correction amount for stems that are placed in tight configurations. This amount is used for stems with the same direction to compensate for note head to stem distance.

`script-priority` (number)

  A sorting key that determines in what order a script is within a stack of scripts.

`self-alignment-X` (number)

  Specify alignment of an object. The value `-1` means left aligned, `0` centered, and `1` right-aligned in X direction. Other numerical values may also be specified.

`self-alignment-Y` (number)

  Like `self-alignment-X` but for the Y axis.

`shorten-pair` (pair of numbers)

  The lengths to shorten a text-spanner on both sides, for example a pedal bracket. Positive values shorten the text-spanner, while negative values lengthen it.

`shortest-duration-space` (dimension, in staff space)

  Start with this much space for the shortest duration. This is expressed in `spacing-increment` as unit. See also spacing-spanner-interface.

`shortest-playing-duration` (moment)

  The duration of the shortest note playing here.

`shortest-starter-duration` (moment)

  The duration of the shortest note that starts here.

`side-axis` (number)

  If the value is `#X` (or equivalently `0`), the object is placed horizontally next to the other object. If the value is `#Y` or `1`, it is placed vertically.

`side-relative-direction` (direction)

  Multiply direction of `direction-source` with this to get the direction of this object.

`size` (number)

  Size of object, relative to standard size.

`skyline-horizontal-padding` (number)

  For determining the vertical distance between two staves, it is possible to have a configuration which would result in a tight interleaving of grobs from the top staff and the bottom staff. The larger this parameter is, the farther apart the staves are placed in such a configuration.

`skyline-vertical-padding` (number)

  The amount by which the left and right skylines of a column are padded vertically, beyond the `Y-extent`s and `extra-spacing-height`s of the constituent grobs in the column. Increase this to prevent interleaving of grobs from adjacent columns.

`slash-negative-kern` (number)

  The space to remove between slashes in percent repeat glyphs. Larger values bring the two elements closer together.

`slope` (number)

  The slope of this object.

`slur-padding` (number)

  Extra distance between slur and script.

`space-alist` (list)

  A table that specifies distances between prefatory items, like clef and time-signature. The format is an alist of spacing tuples: `(break-align-symbol type . distance)`, where type can be the symbols `minimum-space` or `extra-space`.

`space-to-barline` (boolean)

  If set, the distance between a note and the following non-musical column will be measured to the bar line instead of to the beginning of the non-musical column. If there is a clef change followed by a bar line, for example, this means that we will try to space the non-musical column as though the clef is not there.

`spacing-increment` (number)

  Add this much space for a doubled duration. Typically, the width of a note head. See also spacing-spanner-interface.

`spacing-pair` (pair)

  A pair of alignment symbols which set an object’s spacing relative to its left and right `BreakAlignment`s.

  For example, a `MultiMeasureRest` will ignore prefatory items at its bounds (i.e., clefs, key signatures and time signatures) using the following override:

  >     \override MultiMeasureRest #'spacing-pair = #'(staff-bar . staff-bar)

`spanner-id` (string)

  An identifier to distinguish concurrent spanners.

`springs-and-rods` (boolean)

  Dummy variable for triggering spacing routines.

`stacking-dir` (direction)

  Stack objects in which direction?

`staff-affinity` (direction)

  The direction of the staff to use for spacing the current non-staff line. Choices are `UP`, `DOWN`, and `CENTER`. If `CENTER`, the non-staff line will be placed equidistant between the two nearest staves on either side, unless collisions or other spacing constraints prevent this. Setting `staff-affinity` for a staff causes it to be treated as a non-staff line. Setting `staff-affinity` to `#f` causes a non-staff line to be treated as a staff.

`staff-padding` (dimension, in staff space)

  Maintain this much space between reference points and the staff. Its effect is to align objects of differing sizes (like the dynamics p and f) on their baselines.

`staff-position` (number)

  Vertical position, measured in half staff spaces, counted from the middle line.

`staff-space` (dimension, in staff space)

  Amount of space between staff lines, expressed in global `staff-space`.

`staff-staff-spacing` (list)

  When applied to a staff-group’s `StaffGrouper` grob, this spacing alist controls the distance between consecutive staves within the staff-group. When applied to a staff’s `VerticalAxisGroup` grob, it controls the distance between the staff and the nearest staff below it in the same system, replacing any settings inherited from the `StaffGrouper` grob of the containing staff-group, if there is one. This property remains in effect even when non-staff lines appear between staves. The alist can contain the following keys:

  - `basic-distance` – the vertical distance, measured in staff-spaces, between the reference points of the two items when no collisions would result, and no stretching or compressing is in effect.
  - `minimum-distance` – the smallest allowable vertical distance, measured in staff-spaces, between the reference points of the two items, when compressing is in effect.
  - `padding` – the minimum required amount of unobstructed vertical whitespace between the bounding boxes (or skylines) of the two items, measured in staff-spaces.
  - `stretchability` – a unitless measure of the dimension’s relative propensity to stretch. If zero, the distance will not stretch (unless collisions would result).
`staffgroup-staff-spacing` (list)

  The spacing alist controlling the distance between the last staff of the current staff-group and the staff just below it in the same system, even if one or more non-staff lines exist between the two staves. If the `staff-staff-spacing` property of the staff’s `VerticalAxisGroup` grob is set, that is used instead. See `staff-staff-spacing` for a description of the alist structure.

`stem-attachment` (pair of numbers)

  An `(x . y)` pair where the stem attaches to the notehead.

`stem-end-position` (number)

  Where does the stem end (the end is opposite to the support-head)?

`stem-spacing-correction` (number)

  Optical correction amount for stems that are placed in tight configurations. For opposite directions, this amount is the correction for two normal sized stems that overlap completely.

`stemlet-length` (number)

  How long should be a stem over a rest?

`stencil` (stencil)

  The symbol to print.

`stencils` (list)

  Multiple stencils, used as intermediate value.

`strict-grace-spacing` (boolean)

  If set, main notes are spaced normally, then grace notes are put left of the musical columns for the main notes.

`strict-note-spacing` (boolean)

  If set, unbroken columns with non-musical material (clefs, bar lines, etc.) are not spaced separately, but put before musical columns.

`stroke-style` (string)

  Set to `"grace"` to turn stroke through flag on.

`style` (symbol)

  This setting determines in what style a grob is typeset. Valid choices depend on the `stencil` callback reading this property.

`text` (markup)

  Text markup. See Formatting text.

`text-direction` (direction)

  This controls the ordering of the words. The default `RIGHT` is for roman text. Arabic or Hebrew should use `LEFT`.

`thick-thickness` (number)

  Bar line thickness, measured in `line-thickness`.

`thickness` (number)

  Line thickness, generally measured in `line-thickness`.

`thin-kern` (number)

  The space after a hair-line in a bar line.

`tie-configuration` (list)

  List of `(position . dir)` pairs, indicating the desired tie configuration, where position is the offset from the center of the staff in staff space and dir indicates the direction of the tie (`1`=>up, `-1`=>down, `0`=>center). A non-pair entry in the list causes the corresponding tie to be formatted automatically.

`to-barline` (boolean)

  If true, the spanner will stop at the bar line just before it would otherwise stop.

`toward-stem-shift` (number)

  Amount by which scripts are shifted toward the stem if their direction coincides with the stem direction. `0.0` means keep the default position (centered on the note head), `1.0` means centered on the stem. Interpolated values are possible.

`transparent` (boolean)

  This makes the grob invisible.

`uniform-stretching` (boolean)

  If set, items stretch proportionally to their durations. This looks better in complex polyphonic patterns.

`used` (boolean)

  If set, this spacing column is kept in the spacing problem.

`vertical-skylines` (pair of skylines)

  Two skylines, one above and one below this grob.

`when` (moment)

  Global time step associated with this column happen?

`whiteout` (boolean)

  If true, the grob is printed over a white background to white-out underlying material, if the grob is visible. Usually #f by default.

`width` (dimension, in staff space)

  The width of a grob measured in staff space.

`word-space` (dimension, in staff space)

  Space to insert between words in texts.

`X-extent` (pair of numbers)

  Hard coded extent in X direction.

`X-offset` (number)

  The horizontal amount that this object is moved relative to its X-parent.

`Y-extent` (pair of numbers)

  Hard coded extent in Y direction.

`Y-offset` (number)

  The vertical amount that this object is moved relative to its Y-parent.

`zigzag-length` (dimension, in staff space)

  The length of the lines of a zigzag, relative to `zigzag-width`. A value of `1` gives 60-degree zigzags.

`zigzag-width` (dimension, in staff space)

  The width of one zigzag squiggle. This number is adjusted slightly so that the glissando line can be constructed from a whole number of squiggles.

#### Internals Reference