PMW(1)PMW(1)NAMEpmw - a program for typesetting music
SYNOPSISpmw [options] [input file]
DESCRIPTION
PMW (Philip's Music Writer) is a program for typesetting music. It is
not an interactive program; instead, it reads a description of the
music from a textual input file, which can be prepared by any text edi‐
tor. The output from PMW is a PostScript file of page images of typeset
music. This output uses the PMW-Music PostScript font, which must
therefore be available for viewing or printing. A secondary output in
the form of a MIDI file can be requested.
A full description of PMW and its markup language is given in the ref‐
erence manual. This man page just summarizes the command line options.
OPTIONS-a4ona3 The pages are A4-sized; print them 2-up, assuming A3 paper.
-a5ona4 The pages are A5-sized; print them 2-up, assuming A4 paper.
-a4sideways
The paper is A4, but the printer feeds it sideways, so rotate
the page images before printing.
-c <number>
Print <number> copies.
-debug Write general debugging information to stderr (not currently
very comprehensive). This option is of use only to the pro‐
gram maintainer.
-drawbarlines
Instead of using characters from the font to print bar lines,
generate PostScript drawing instructions. Some PostScript
interpreters do not display the font bar line characters cor‐
rectly on the screen when several of them are used to gener‐
ate a long vertical line; drawing them instead may give a
better result. -dbl is an abbreviation for -drawbarlines.
-drawstavelines
Instead of using characters from the font to print stave
lines, generate PostScript drawing instructions. Some Post‐
Script interpreters do not display the font stave characters
correctly on the screen; drawing them instead may give a bet‐
ter result. -dsl is an abbreviation for -drawstavelines.
-dsb [[<movement>,]<stave>,]<bar>
Write debugging data for the bar to stderr. This option is of
use only to the program maintainer.
-dtp <bar>
Write debugging positioning data for the bar to stderr. If
there is more than one movement (not likely while debugging
at this level), the data is output for every bar with the
given number. If the number is -1, data is output for all
bars. This option is of use only to the program maintainer.
-duplex This option sets the PostScript option for duplex printing
(see also -tumble).
-eps Write the output as encapsulated PostScript (useful if this
is an illustration that is going to be included in some other
document).
-F <directory>
Search the given directory for fontmetrics files, before
searching the default directory that was set up when PMW was
built.
-f <name> Specifies a format name, used when the input file is set up
to output in several different formats.
-H <file> Use the given file as the PostScript header file, instead of
the default that was set up when PMW was built.
-help or --help
Output a list of options, then stop. No file is read.
-includefont
This option causes PMW to include the music font within the
PostScript output that it generates. (If the PMW-Alpha font
is used, that is also included.) If you use this option,
there is no need to install the font(s) for GhostScript (or
any other display program) to find.
-MF <directory>
Search the given directory for music fonts, before searching
the default directory that was set up when PMW was built.
-MP <file>
Use the given file as the MIDIperc file, instead of the
default that was set up when PMW was built. This file trans‐
lates between names and "pitches" for untuned percussion
voices.
-MV <file>
Use the given file as the MIDIvoices file, instead of the
default that was set up when PMW was built. This file trans‐
lates voice names to MIDI voice numbers.
-manualfeed
Set the `manualfeed' option in the generated PostScript. Most
PostScript printers interpret this to mean that the paper
should be taken from an alternate input tray or slot. Some
also require the user to push a button before each page is
printed.
-midi <file>
Write MIDI output to the given file (in addition to the nor‐
mal PostScript output). The stave selection (see -s below)
also applies to MIDI output.
-midibars <range>
If -midi is given, write only the given bars to the MIDI out‐
put. The range can be two numbers separated by a hyphen or a
single number for just one bar. A single number followed by a
hyphen plays from that bar to the end of the movement. -mb is
an abbreviation for -midibars.
-midimovement <number>
For a multi-movement input file, this specifies the movement
that is to be output as MIDI when -midi is given. The default
is the first movement. -mm is an abbreviation for -midimove‐
ment.
-norc Do not read the caller's .pmwrc file. This must be the first
option given.
-norepeats
When generating a MIDI output file, do not repeat repeated
sections of the music. -nr is an abbreviation for -norepeats.
-nowidechars
This option stops PMW from using the 100-point wide stave
characters when printing staves. Instead, staves are con‐
structed entirely from the 10-point wide characters. This
option is provided because it seems that some PostScript
interpreters cannot deal correctly with the very wide charac‐
ters. -nw is an abbreviation for -nowidechars.
-o <file> Send the output to the given file, or, if "-" is given, to
stdout. The default file name is the input file with the
extension ".ps" replacing any existing extension, or being
added if there is no extension. If there is no input file
(input from stdin) the default output is to stdout.
-p <list> Output only the specified pages. These can be individual page
numbers, or pairs of numbers separated by a hyphen, to spec‐
ify a range. Use commas to separate items in the list.
-pamphlet Output pages in pamphlet order. This is usually used in con‐
junction with -a5ona4 or -a4ona3.
-printadjust <x> <y>
Move the image on the page by (x,y) points.
-printgutter <x>
This option specifies a distance by which righthand (recto)
page images are moved to the right, and lefthand (verso) page
images are moved to the left, thus creating a "gutter" for
binding when the images are printed doublesided. The
-printgutter setting applies only when pages are being
printed 1-up. It is ignored for any of the 2-up printing
styles.
-printscale <n>
Scale the output image by <n>.
-printside <n>
Output only odd or only even pages; <n> must either be 1 or
2.
-reverse Output the pages in reverse order.
-s <list> Output only the specified staves. These can be individual
stave numbers, or pair of numbers separated by a hyphen, to
specify a range. Use commas to separate items in the list.
-t <number>
Specify a transposition, in semitones.
-tumble When -duplex is set, -tumble causes the PostScript option for
"tumbled" duplex printing.
-V or --version
Output the PMW version number to stdout, then stop. No file
is read.
-v Output verification information about the typesetting to
stderr.
EXAMPLESpmw myscore
pmw-format A5 -a5ona4 -pamphlet myscore
pmw-s 3 -o quartet.ps-viola quartet.pmw
AUTHOR
Philip Hazel
Email local part: ph10
Email domain: cam.ac.uk
Last updated: 26 October 2013Copyright (c) 2013 Philip HazelPMW(1)
