Re: Support for pdf layers?

[Ralph Palmer]

On Fri, May 18, 2012 at 7:10 AM, Urs Liska <address@hidden> wrote:

> Hello LilyPonders,
>
> is it possible to think of LilyPond supporting pdf layers, i.e. producing
> output that is distributed on several layers?
>
> The most obvious use for such a thing would be the option to have
> different languages in one document (and the enduser being able to chose
> from by selecting/deselecting layers). Or for teaching purposes (documents
> where you can hide/show solutions, hints or explanations). Or show/hide
> fingerings. Or to produce by default a hidden layer with \debugCurvesOn.
>  (I think the options are numerous).
>
> But I'm even more interested in such a use for scholarly editions.
>
> There have been many experiments and discussions recently in the world of
> musicological editing dealing with options to present the material,
> different readings, different musical sources etc.
>
> Being able to produce layered pdfs could be a major 'selling point' for
> LilyPond. And make it better known in the editorial world.
> As I just now experienced LilyPond's potential as a tool for collaborative
> editing, I could imagine that this would be an interesting target group.
>
> I don't know how pdf layers work internally, but I imagine it should
> _basically_ be quite simple to create layers and write music on a specific
> layer. This could be entered with a syntax similar to tags or a modified
> \change command.
>
> I am well aware that it wouldn't be trivial at all to deal with the more
> complex implications, especially the question of layers being involved in
> collision handling or not (which would have to be very flexible - and
> therefore at the same time complex).
> But for now I'd just like to know if such a thing would in principle be
> considered possible.
>
> Best
> Urs
>
> P.S.
> Any hints why I don't receive my own posts on this list?
> I have of course ticked the option to receive my own posts.
> And on lilypond-user I don't have this problem ...


Greetings, Urs -

This has been submitted as Issue 2542 :
http://code.google.com/p/lilypond/issues/detail?id=2542

As for receiving your own posts, I'm afraid I cannot address that issue.

Ralph