TransformNotes(3)

NAME
TransformNotes - macro to transform notes command arguments in MusiXTeX

SYNOPSIS

  \input musixtnt

  \TransformNotes{input}{output}%

USAGE

musixtnt.tex is an extension library for MusiXTeX. It is available at CTAN and at WIMA in the software archive.

\TransformNotes makes possible transformations of the effect of notes commands such as \notes. In general, the effect of \TransformNotes{input}{output} is that notes commands in the source will expect their arguments to match the input pattern, but the notes will be typeset according to the output pattern.

For example, \TransformNotes{#2&#3&#4&#5}{#2&#3&#5}% would be appropriate for a four-instrument score (arguments #2, #3, #4, and #5, separated by three &s), but the notes for the usual third argument (#4) will be discarded in the typeset output.

The instrument/staff numbers in the first argument must start at 2 and increase consecutively, using & (or | for multi-staff instruments) as a separator. The reason that the segment identifiers start at 2 is that argument #1 for the basic \vnotes macro is a spacing parameter. It is essential that every \znotes, \notes, \Notes, \NOtes, etc. command in the score match the pattern of the first argument to \TransformNotes exactly; too few (or too many) note segments will result in unintentionally discarded material and possibly compilation failure. An auxiliary program msxlint(1) can be used to detect such inconsistencies. Notes commands are assumed to be terminated by \en, not \enotes.

\TransformNotes may be used anywhere between \startpiece and the command that ends the piece.

To extract a single-instrument part from a (copy of a) multi-instrument musixtex score: set \nbinstrument to 1 (for example, with command \instrumentnumber1), and use \TransformNotes to discard all but one of the note segments in notes commands. For example, the following line placed after \startpiece (but before any note commands) would be appropriate for a four-instrument score and will result in a single-instrument part for the second of these: \TransformNotes{#2&#3&#4&#5}{#3}% .

Some additional revisions to the source for the part might be necessary:

   + adjusting \setname1, \setclef1, \setsign1, \setmeter1 and \setstaffs1 commands, as necessary;

   + ensuring that tempo and roadmap markings (D.C., Fine, etc.) are in the appropriate instrument segment;

When the extracted part score is compiled and viewed, it may be seen that horizontal-spacing commands designed for multiple instruments can produce bad spacing when used for a single instrument. Bad spacing can be corrected manually but this is very tedious; an auxiliary program called autosp(1) automates this process; it is available at WIMA in the software archive.

The \TransformNotes macro may be used for other purposes. Here are some examples:

\TransformNotes{#2&#3}{#2&\transpose+7#3}% will transpose just the second instrument (argument #3).

\TransformNotes{#2|#3&#4}{#2|#3&\tinynotesize#4}% will begin typesetting the notes of the second instrument (#4) in tiny size.

\TransformNotes{#2&#3}{#3&#2}% will switch the order of the two instruments.

\TransformNotes{#2&#3}{#2&#3}% will restore normal two-instrument processing.

LIMITATIONS
The \TransformNotes macro is currently incompatible with the musixlyr extension package for lyrics.

SEE ALSO
msxlint(1), autosp(1)

musixdoc.pdf

AUTHOR
This manual page was written by Bob Tennent <rdt@cs.queensu.ca>.