Re: Shortening ties

[Kieren MacMillan]

Hi, Michael:

> Logic dictates, to me at least, that one of these should work:
> \once\override Tie #'X-extent = #'(-10 . -10) <b,, b,,, >4--~
> \once\override Staff.Tie #'X-extent = #'(-10 . -10) < b,, b,,, >4--~
> \once\override Voice.Tie #'X-extent = #'(-10 . -10) < b,, b,,, >4--~

Unfortunately, your logic is flawed!  =)

If I'm not mistaken, #'X-extent represents the horizontal space  
APPARENTLY taken up by an object, not the actual width of the object.  
It's more like a padding value than a size value.

For example, I can reserve a lot of space for a quarter note by using

%%%  CODE BEGINS
\version "2.9.14"

\paper
{
        ragged-right = ##t
}

stuff = \relative
{
        c4 c
        \once \override NoteColumn #'X-extent = #'(0 . 20) c
        c
}

\score
{
        \stuff
}
%%%  CODE BEGINS

However, it's important to realise that I haven't changed the  
physical (visual) width of the object itself -- I've only made  
Lilypond THINK the note is wider than it actually is, and therefore  
Lilypond leaves more room (padding) around it.

Make sense?

Best regards,
Kieren.