Provided by: pmw_4.50-1_amd64 
NAME
pmw - a program for typesetting music
SYNOPSIS
pmw [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
editor. 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 reference 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>
Arrange to print <number> copies. This number is honoured by PostScript printers. It may not be
honoured by other programs that interpret PostScript.
-debug Write general debugging information to stderr (not currently very comprehensive). This option
is of use only to the program maintainer.
-drawbarlines
Instead of using characters from the music font to print bar lines, generate PostScript drawing
instructions. Some PostScript interpreters do not display the font bar line characters
correctly on the screen when several of them are used to generate a long vertical line; drawing
them instead may give a better result. -dbl is an abbreviation for -drawbarlines.
-drawstavelines [<thickness>]
Instead of using characters from the music font to print stave lines, generate PostScript
drawing instructions. Some PostScript interpreters do not display the font stave characters
correctly on the screen; drawing them instead may give a better result. The default thickness
of drawn stave lines is 0.3 points, scaled according to relative stave size and overall
magnification. An integer number given with this option specifies the thickness in tenths of a
point. -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).
-errormaximum <number>
Set the maximum number of errors before the program gives up. The default is 40. This option is
provided mainly so that an error test can generate a large number of errors. -em is an
abbreviation for -errormaximum.
-F <directory-list>
Search the given colon-separated list of directories for fontmetrics files, before searching
the default directory that was set up when PMW was built. These directories are also searched
for optional Unicode translation (.utr) files for fonts that do not use Adobe standard
encoding, and for any special text fonts (.pfa files) that are requested to be included in the
output.
-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.
-incPMWfont or -incpmwfont or -ipf
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 PMW music font(s) for GhostScript (or any other display
program) to find.
-MF <directory>
Search the given colon-separated list of directories for PMW's 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 translates 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 translates 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 normal 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 output. 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 -midimovement.
-norc or -nopmwrc
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 constructed 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 characters. -nw is an abbreviation for -nowidechars. The -drawstavelines option overrides
this option.
-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 specify a range. Use commas to separate items in the list.
-pamphlet Output pages in pamphlet order. This is usually used in conjunction 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.
DIAGNOSTICS AND RETURN CODES
Error messages are written to the standard error stream. The return code is 0 for success, 1 for
warnings, 2 for errors where processing carries on, and 3 for serious errors that cause an immediate
exit.
EXAMPLES
pmw myscore
pmw -format A5 -a5ona4 -pamphlet myscore
pmw -s 3 -o quartet-viola.ps quartet.pmw
AUTHOR
Philip Hazel
Email local part: ph10
Email domain: cam.ac.uk
PMW(1)