Re: spacing staff...can it be done?

[David Kastrup]

Dirck Nagy <dnagy@uwlax.edu> writes:

> Hi all
>
> In the past, i have used a separate voice as a "spacing voice" to
> control measures per line, horizontal space, etc.
>
> For example, if i wanted 4 measures in a line, i would write : "s1*4
> \break. etc..." in the new voice.
>
> However if i do this to a monophonic staff, the default stem direction
> changes to either "all up" or "all down", simply because there are now
> two "voices" present.

No, it doesn't.  Stem directions of voice contexts are not influenced by
the stem directions in other voice contexts.

It is an easy guess that you are using the << ... \\ .. >> shortcut for
creating parallel voices with _explicitly_ different stem direction.
Don't do that.  Introduce your ghost voice with

<< \context Voice { the normal voice ... } \new Voice { the ghost voice } >>

And in particular _not_ using \\ .

> My question: is it possible to add another STAFF to the score, to use
> only to control horizontal spacing?  If so, how can it be hidden so it
> won't affect vertical space, show clefs & key signatures, etc?

That way lies madness.

-- 
David Kastrup