Re: -d option for first-page-number?

[Han-Wen Nienhuys]

Rick Hansen (aka RickH) schreef:
> A -d option to set the \paper first-page-number property from the command
> line job would be a real handy thing to have.  Many people I assume, like
> me, often print a score for inclusion into another separate book, or
> concatenation with a bunch of other PDF files.  It would be nice to not have
> to edit the .ly file just to get the score to start out with the desired
> page number for that particular usage instance.
>
> Can someone add this easily?
>
> Also many or all of the \paper properties would be good candidates for -d
> options, like giving the ability to adjust staff spacing, staff count and
> paper sizes from the job stream instad of having to edit the .ly files. 
> Just like most word processors give you the ability to print on different
> sizes of paper without having to modify your original document.

I can understand that need, but isn't it easier to simply use an include 
file?

  echo 'line-width = 200\pt' > settings.ly

on the commandline, and doing

\paper {
  \input "settings.ly"
}

in the .ly file.

Adding lots and lots of -d settings will overwhelm users when they type 
-dhelp, and it will be confusing, as different paper variables influence 
each other. For example, the default for line-width depends on the paper 
size, so what should  happen when you do

  -dpaper-size="a4" -dline-width="16.\cm"

and what if

  -dline-width="16.\cm" -dpaper-size="a4"

--

Han-Wen Nienhuys - address@hidden - http://www.xs4all.nl/~hanwen

LilyPond Software Design
 -- Code for Music Notation
http://www.lilypond-design.com