Re: Why no review on Doc: NR 1.6.2 - Staff Symbol?

[Xavier Scheuer]

On 3 December 2011 15:56, David Kastrup <address@hidden> wrote:
>
> No doubt about that.  Here is an example based on the new documentation:
>
> \new StaffGroup
> <<
> \new Staff { \grace {d8[ e]} \repeat unfold 20 f1~ }
> \new Staff { \override Staff.StaffSymbol #'line-count = #3
> { d4 d d d } \repeat unfold 19 c'1~ }
> >>
>
> Does it work?  No.  Will the user have an idea how to fix this?  No.
>
> But
>
> \new StaffGroup
> <<
> \new Staff { \grace {d8[ e]} \repeat unfold 20 f1~ }
> \new Staff \with { \override StaffSymbol #'line-count = #3 } {
> { d4 d d d } \repeat unfold 19 c'1 }
> >>
>
> works just fine.  I readily agree that we need to document the use of
> context modifications better.  But removing their use from the
> documentation where they are the correct tool to use, in particular if
> the end result does not even compile without change, is not a step in
> the right direction.

I agree with David here.

There is an other typical example where the use of  \with {…}  would be
better, and therefore should be recommended in the doc: when printing
instrument names.

Experienced users know they'd better use  \with {…}  but lambda users
does not know since in the doc on can find both

  \set Staff.instrumentName = #"Violin "

and

  \new Staff \with {
    instrumentName = #"Bassoon"
  }

and, especially in the relevant section, NR 1.6.3 Writing parts >
Instrument names, this is not the best one that is used and explained.
http://lilypond.org/doc/v2.15/Documentation/notation/writing-parts.html

One _must_ use  \with {…}  to avoid the instrument name _not to be
printed!_ if a parallel voice starts with a  \grace .

This is not an "hypothetical issue", we got at least half a dozen
messages from users experiencing this "issue" (although they did
exactly what is said in the documentation) on the French users mailing
list.

Could you please change the doc, NR 1.6.3 Writing parts > Instrument
names , accordingly and recommend the use of

  \new Staff \with {
    instrumentName = #"Bassoon"
  }

and advise _against_

  \set Staff.instrumentName = #"Violin "

Thanks in advance.

Here is a snippet showing the relevance of this issue (typically what
a lambda user would encounter).

%%%%

\version "2.15.20"

\score {
  <<
    \new Staff \with {
      instrumentName = #"OK"
    } {
      c'1
    }
    \new Staff \with {
      instrumentName = #"OK"
    } {
      \grace b8 c'1
    }
  >>
}

\score {
  <<
    \new Staff {
      \set Staff.instrumentName = #"NOT PRINTED!!"
      c'1
    }
    \new Staff {
      \set Staff.instrumentName = #"NOT OK"
      \grace b8 c'1
    }
  >>
}

%%%%

Cheers,
Xavier

-- 
Xavier Scheuer <address@hidden>