Provided by: abcm2ps_8.14.11-0.1_amd64 bug

NAME

       abcm2ps - translate ABC music notation to PostScript or SVG

SYNOPSIS

          abcm2ps [global_options] ABC_file [file_options] ...

DESCRIPTION

       abcm2ps translates tunes written in the ABC music notation format to customary sheet music
       scores in PostScript or SVG. It is based on abc2ps 1.2.5 and was developed mainly to print
       Baroque  organ  scores  that  have  independent  voices played on multiple keyboards and a
       pedal-board. The program has  since  been  extended  to  support  various  other  notation
       conventions in use for sheet music.

       Options  given  immediately  after  the  command name apply to the run as a whole; options
       given after an ABC file name apply to that file.

       Formatting parameters can also be set in "format files" and in the ABC files themselves.

OPTIONS

       The list of the command line options may be known running:

          abcm2ps -h

       The options may be grouped when they have no argument, but the last one (ex: -lnGI20).

       The options may be disabled when starting with '+' or ending with '-'  (ex:  +MT1  is  the
       same as -MT1-).

       The general output format is the last found in the command line.  It may be:

       -E     for Encapsulated PostScript, one file per tune

       -g     for SVG, one file per tune

       -v     for SVG, one file per page

       -X     for XHTML+SVG

       -z     for (X)HTML+SVG with (X)HTML+ABC input

       (see below for more information)

   List of the options
       -      Read the abc file from stdin.

       --<format> <value>
              Set the <format> parameter to <value>.

              This has the same effect as a format parameter directly in the source file.

       -a <float>
              Maximal  horizontal compression when staff breaks are chosen automatically. Must be
              a float between 0 and 1.

              This correspond to the %%maxshrink formatting parameter (default: 0.65).

       -A     This option inserts reference elements in the PostScript or SVG output.

       -B <int>, +B
              Try to typeset <int> bars on each staff line.

              This corresponds to the %%barsperstaff formatting parameter.

       -b <int>
              Start measure numbering at <int>.

              This corresponds to the %%measurefirst formatting parameter.

       -c, +c The continuation symbol is implicitly appended to each music line. This amounts  to
              automatic line breaking.

              This corresponds to the %%continueall formatting parameter.

       -D <dir>
              Search the format files in the directory <dir>.

       -d <unit>
              Set the vertical interstaff space to <unit>.

              This corresponds to the %%staffsep formatting parameter (default: 46pt).

       -E     Produce EPS output instead of simple PS.

              In  this  mode, each tune goes to a different file which name is "<name>nnn.eps" or
              "<title>.eps" (see option '-O')

                 • 'nnn' is a sequence number incremented at each tune

              Output to stdout is forbidden.

              EPS files are normally embedded into Postscript documents, but they may be a way to
              generate graphical images. For example, using GhostScript:

                 abcm2ps voices -Ee7
                 gs -sDEVICE=pngmono -r80 -g590x174 \
                    -dBATCH -dNOPAUSE \
                    -sOutputFile=quitolis.png Out001.eps

              (the  values  for  -g are the values of the bounding box in the .eps, multiplied by
              (80 / 72), where 80 is the value for -r, and 72 is the default resolution)

       -e [ <tune index list> ] [ <regular expression> ]
              Select which tunes from an ABC file to print.

              <tune index list> is either a comma-separated list of tune numbers (as per  the  X:
              header),  or a regular expression which will be matched against the tune headers as
              a whole.  The -e option must occur after an ABC file name and applies to that file.

              Ranges of tune numbers may be specified like <t1>-<t2>; <t2> may be  omitted  which
              means  "all  remaining  tunes until the end of file". Note that filtering may cause
              problems, e.g., with global (non-tune) definitions in the ABC file.

              This corresponds to the %%select formatting parameter.

       -F <file>, +F
              Read the format (or PostScript) file <file>.

              When omitted, the default type of a format file is '.fmt'.

              In the form '+F', the default format file ('default.fmt') is not read.

       -f     Enable flat beams (useful for bagpipe tunes).

              This corresponds to the %%flatbeams formatting parameter.

       -G, +G Omit slurs on grace notes.

              This corresponds to the %%graceslurs formatting parameter.

       -g     Produce SVG output instead of EPS.

              In this mode each tune goes to a different file which  name  is  'Outnnn.svg'  (see
              option '-O').

              If  the  output is stdout (option '-O-'), all the SVG images are output without XML
              header.

       -H     Display the current format values.

       -h     Quick help, equivalent to "abcm2ps" without any arguments.

              This also shows the default settings for some parameters.

       -I <unit>
              Indent the first line of the tune by <unit> (default: 0).

              This corresponds to the %%indent formatting parameter.

       -i, +i Insert a red cercle around the errors in the PostScript output.

       -j <int>[b], +j
              Output a measure number every <int> measures.

              If <int> is 0, the measure number appears at the left of each staff.  The  trailing
              b  causes  a  box  to  be  drawn  around  each  measure number (default: no measure
              numbering).

              This corresponds to the %%measurenb formatting parameter.

       -k <int>
              Set the size of the PostScript output buffer in Kibytes.

              Setting this value to a higher value permits the generation of big tunes with -E or
              -g. The default value is 64.

       -l, +l Generate landscape output.

              This corresponds to the %%landscape formatting parameter.

       -M, +M Suppress lyrics.

              See the %%writefields w formatting parameter.

       -m <unit>
              Set the left margin to <unit> (default: 1.8cm).

              This corresponds to the %%leftmargin formatting parameter.

       -N <int>, +N
              Number the pages.

              <int> indicates the mode:

                 0      no page numbers

                 1      at top left

                 2      at top right

                 3      at top left on even pages, top right on odd pages

                 4      at top right on even pages, top left on odd pages

              For  compatibility  with  previous versions, '+N' is the same as '-N0', and '-N' is
              the same as '-N2'.

              If a header is defined ("%%header"), this option is ignored.

       -n, +n Include notes and history from ABC tune N: fields.

              See the %%writehistory N formatting parameter.

       -O [ <directory> ] [ <name> ], +O
              Define the output file directory and/or name.

              The directory must end with the directory separator ('/' for unix/windows, '\'  for
              mac).

              By default, the output file goes to the current directory with the name:
                 'Out.ps' for PS,

                 'Outnnn.eps' for EPS (see option '-E'),

                 'Outnnn.svg' for SVG (see options '-g' and '-v') or

                 'Out.xhtml' for XHTML+SVG (see options '-X' and '-z').

              'nnn' is a sequence number.

              When  <name>  is  present,  it is the name of the file, or it replaces "Out" in the
              file name.

              If <name> is '=', it is replaced by the name of the ABC source file (not for '-z').

              If <name> is '-', the result is output to stdout (not for EPS).   '+O'  resets  the
              output file directory and name to their defaults.

       -p     Bagpipe format.

              When present, format output for bagpipe regardless of key.

       -q     Quiet mode.

              When present, only the errors are shown.

       -s <float>
              Set  the  page  scale  factor  to  <float>. Note that the header and footer are not
              scaled (default: 0.75).

              This corresponds to the %%scale formatting parameter.

       -S     Secure mode.

              When  present,  file  inclusion  (%%format  and  %%EPS)  and  PostScript  injection
              (%%beginps and %%postscript) are disabled.

       -T <int> [ <voice> ], +T [ <int> [<voice> ] ]
              Activate or deactivate tablature drawing.

              •

                <int> is the tablature number as defined in %%tablature.
                       There may be only 8 different tablatures.

              •

                <voice> is the voice name, full name or subname as found in V:.
                       When absent, apply to all voices.

              Up to 4 such commands may be defined.
                 Ex: '-T1flute +T2'

       -V     Show the version number.

       -v     Produce SVG output instead of simple PS.

              In  this  mode  each  page goes to a different file which name is 'Outnnn.svg' (see
              option '-O').

       -w <unit>
              Adjust the right margin such that the staff width is <unit> (default: none).

              This corresponds to the %%staffwidth formatting parameter.

       -X     Produce XML+SVG output instead of simple PS.

              The default file name is 'Out.xhtml' (see option '-O').

       -x, +x Include the X: tune number in the title.

              This corresponds to the %%writefields formatting parameter.

       -z     Produce SVG images from ABC embedded in markup language files (HTML, XHTML..).

              The source file is copied to the output file and the ABC sequences are converted to
              SVG  images.   The  ABC  sequences  start by either %abc.. or X:..  and stop on the
              first markup tag (<..).

              The generation creates one image per block, i.e. a music line or a text block.  For
              a  same  rendering  as the other SVG generation (-g, -v or -X), don't forget to set
              the line space to null, for example enclosing the ABC sequences by:

                 <div style="line-height:0"> .. </div>

              There can be only one output file.

              Note that the default output file is 'Out.xhtml', so, don't forget  to  change  the
              file type if you generate HTML (.html) or XML (.xml) files.

              See "sample8.html" for a source example.

       -0, +0 Split tunes across page breaks if necessary.

              This corresponds to the %%splittune formatting parameter.

       -1, +1 Output one tune per page.

              This corresponds to the %%oneperpage formatting parameter.

ADDITIONAL FEATURES

       Clefs  Clefs can be given in K: and V: headers.  The full syntax is:

                 clef=<type><line>[+8|-8]

              "clef=" can be omitted when the <type> is a clef name.

              <type> denotes the clef type. It  may be:

              • A note pitch (G, C, or F)
                   The pitch indicates which clef is meant: G is the treble clef, C the alto clef
                   and F the bass clef.  It also gives the name of the note that appears  on  the
                   clef's line.

              • A clef name
                   The  available  clef  names  are  treble (clef gives the pitch for G), alto or
                   tenor (C), and bass (F).

              • perc or P
                   In percussion mode, accidentals change the glyphs  used  for  note  heads.  By
                   default, sharp notes are drawn as "x" and flat notes as circled "x".  This may
                   be changed by redefining the PostScript functions pshhd and pflhd.

              • none
                   No clef will be displayed.

              The <line> gives the number of the line within the staff that the base clef will be
              written  on. The default values are 2 for the treble clef, 3 for the alto clef, and
              4 for the tenor and bass clefs.

              The "+8" and "-8" options draw an 8 above or below the staff, respectively.

              When no clef is specified,  clef  changes  between  "bass"  and  "treble"  will  be
              inserted automatically.

       Multi-voice typesetting
              Multiple voices may be defined within the header or the tune using:

                 V:<name> <definition> ...

              where  <name>  is a word consisting of letters and digits only (like "violin1"). In
              the tune body, the following notes refer  to  this  voice  until  another  "V:"  is
              encountered.

              A <definition> can be one of:

              • "clef="...
                   See above

              • "name="<name> or "nm="<name>
                   The  <name>  will  be  displayed  at  the beginning of the first staff. It can
                   contain "\n" sequences which will force line breaks. If it contains whitespace
                   it must be double-quoted.

              • "subname="<name> or "snm="<name>
                   The  <name>  will  be  displayed at the beginning of all staves except for the
                   first. It can contain "\n" sequences which  will  force  line  breaks.  If  it
                   contains whitespace it must be double-quoted.

              • "merge"
                   The voice goes on the same staff as the previous voice.

              • "up" or "down"
                   Forces the direction of the stems for the voice.

              • "dyn=up" or "dyn=down" or "dyn=auto"
                   Forces  positioning  of dynamic marks (above or below the staff) or reverts to
                   automatic positioning (the default).

              • "gstem=up" or "gstem=down" or "gstem=auto"
                   Forces the direction of the stems of grace notes (always up or always down) or
                   reverts to automatic positioning (the default).

              • "stem=auto"
                   Reverts to automatic positioning of note stems (up or down) (the default).

              • "lyrics=up" or "lyrics=down" or "lyrics=auto"
                   Places  lyrics  above  or  below the staff or reverts to automatic positioning
                   (the default)

              • "gchord=up" or "gchord=down"
                   Places guitar chords above (the default) or below the staff.

              • "stafflines="<value>
                   Sets the number of lines on the staff in question. (default: 5)

              • "staffscale="<value>
                   Sets the scale of the associated staff up to 3. (default: 1)

              All other definitions are ignored.

       Definition of the staff system
              By  default,  each  voice  goes  on  its  own  staff.  The  %%staves   <definition>
              pseudo-comment  can  be used to control staff assignment. The <definition> consists
              of voice names (from V:) and pairs of parentheses, braces or brackets.

              • When a voice name is not within a pair  of  special  characters,  it  goes  on  a
                separate staff.

              • For  voice names enclosed in brackets, a bracket is displayed at the beginning of
                each line that joins the staves of the voices in question.

              • For voice names enclosed in braces, all the voices go  on  two  staves  (keyboard
                score). There can be at most four voices between a single pair of braces.

              • For voice names enclosed in parentheses, all the voices appear on a single staff.

              The  |  character  prevents  measure  bars from being drawn between two staves.  If
              %%staves occurs in a tune, all the voices not mentioned will not be output at all.

              The %%score directive occurs in the ABC draft 2.0 standard and is  similar  to  the
              %%staves specification described above. The rules are:

              • Voice  names  within parentheses form a "voice group" and go on a single staff. A
                voice name that is not within parentheses forms its own voice group and goes on a
                staff by itself.

              • Voice  groups  within braces form a "voice block" and are preceded by a big brace
                in the output. This is especially useful for keyboard music.

              • Voice groups or voice blocks within brackets form a "voice  block"  and  will  be
                preceded by a big bracket in the output.

              • If  a  | character occurs between two voice groups or voice blocks, the bar lines
                in all of the associated staves will be continuous.

              • A single voice surrounded by two voice groups can be preceded by an  asterisk  to
                make  it  into a "floating" voice. This means that, for each note of the voice, a
                separate decision is made whether it is printed on the preceding or the following
                voice group's staff.

              • Voices  that appear in the tune body but not in the %%score directive will not be
                output at all. If there is no %%score directive, each voice will be output on its
                own staff.

              • A  %%score  directive inside a tune resets the mechanism so voices can be removed
                or added.

       Voice overlay
              You can add notes to a staff without introducing a complete extra  voice  by  using
              the ampersand (&).  A single measure can be split into two voices like:

                 |F2A2Bc&F2c2bc|

              The (&...&...&) construction allows splitting multiple measures:

                 |!f!(&GG<G|GG F=E| E2  E(_D/E)|_D D  C      D |C4- |C
                    &DC<C|CC_D C|=B,2_B,B,   |_A,A,(G,/A,/)B,|F,4-|F,&)zzD=E|

              A double ampersand (&&) will allow overlaying more than two lines of music but this
              feature has not yet been implemented.

       Lyrics Aligned lyrics under a staff are written as a w:  line  directly  below  the  staff
              line. For example:

                 edc2 edc2|
                 w:Three blind mice, three blind mice

              Each  word  in  the  w:  line (delimited by blanks) is associated with one note, in
              sequence. The following special symbols modify this behaviour:

              *      Skips one note.

              -      Splits a word into two syllables which  are  associated  with  two  adjacent
                     notes. A "-" is drawn between them.

              |      Advances to the next bar line.

              ~      Is  output  as  a  space, but unites two words so they appear under a single
                     note.

              _      Draws a thin underscore from the previous note to the next.

              To include more than one line of lyrics, use multiple w: lines. To include  hyphens
              without splitting a word over multiple notes, use \-.

              If a word starts with a digit, this is interpreted as a stanza number and outdented
              a bit to the left.

       Slurs and ties
              The direction of slurs and ties may be controlled using the "(," / "('" and "-,"  /
              "-'" constructions.

       Microtone pitches
              Microtone  pitches  are  indicated  by a fraction after an accidental, as in ^3/4c.
              When omitted, the numerator defaultes to 1 and the denominator to 2 (so ^/c is  the
              same  as  ^1/2c). The numerator and denominator values may not exceed 256. There is
              built-in support for quarter-tone accidentals (1/2 and 3/2 sharps and  flats);  for
              other values, rendering functions must be defined using %%postscript.

       EPS inclusion
              EPS files may be included inside tunes using the pseudo-comment %%EPS <file>.

SEE ALSO

       A    brief    introduction    referencing    further   documentation   is   installed   in
       <docdir>/abcm2ps/README.md.

       The ABC music notation is at http://abcnotation.com/.

       Especially,  you  may  find  a  discussion  of  differences  with  the  ABC  standard   at
       http://moinejf.free.fr/abcm2ps-doc/features.xhtml  and  a  list  of  formatting options at
       http://moinejf.free.fr/abcm2ps-doc/.

AUTHOR

       abcm2ps was written by Jean-François Moine <http://moinejf.free.fr/> starting from  abc2ps
       by Michael Methfessel.

       Parts  of  this  manual  have  been written by Anselm Lingnau <lingnau@debian.org> for the
       Debian system.

       Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify  this  document  as  long  as  its
       origin is not misrepresented.

                                                                                        ABCM2PS()