Re: NR 1.2.4 "Setting automatic beam"

[Trevor Daniels]

Federico Bruni wrote Sunday, January 06, 2013 6:16 PM


>I found three problems in the section "Setting automatic beam":
> 
> 1) Can/Must confusion
> 
> """
> If a common time signature is being used, beamExceptions must be 
> disabled to enable beatStructure to work. The \set Timing.beamExceptions 
> = #'() command can always be included if beaming is being determined by 
> beatStructure.
> """
>
> As it is, it may be a bit confusing, since first you say that you "must 
> do" then you say that you "can do".
> I understand that the two sentences want to say two slightly different 
> things, but it is not straightforward.

The second sentence uses 'can' because it may not be necessary: if
the time-signature has no entry for beamExceptions there is no need
for it.  But including it does no harm.
 
> An user doesn't know yet that beamExceptions can't be empty if beaming 
> is to be defined by it (well, obvious, you'd say), which is what the 
> second sentence probably wants to say, IIUC.  So I would rewrite the 
> second sentence as:
> 
> beamExceptions can and should be an empty list if beaming is being 
> determined by beatStructure.

Not sure that this is clearer, but I agree it needs to be revisited.

> 2) Second comment: beatLength has been deprecated, right?
> 
> \time 3/4
> % by default we beam in (6) due to beamExceptions
> \repeat unfold 6 {a8} |
> % This will beam (1 1 1) due to beatLength
> \set Timing.beamExceptions = #'()
> \repeat unfold 6 {a8}

Yes.  It should be "default baseMoment and beatStructure".

> 3) typo in this sentence
> """
> if a beam-ending rule is defined in beamExceptions for a longer 
> beam-type, use it to determined the valid places where beams may end, 
> otherwise
> """
> 
> /s/determined/determine

Yup.

Thanks.  Will deal with these after an issue has been raised by the bug-squad.

Trevor