LilyPond Notation Reference: 4.3.4 Optimal page turning

### 4.3.4 Optimal page turning

Often it is necessary to find a page breaking configuration so that there is a rest at the end of every second page. This way, the musician can turn the page without having to miss notes. The `ly:page-turn-breaking` function attempts to find a page breaking minimizing cramping and stretching, but with the additional restriction that it is only allowed to introduce page turns in specified places.

There are two steps to using this page breaking function. First, you must enable it in the `\paper` block, as explained in Page breaking. Then you must tell the function where you would like to allow page breaks.

There are two ways to achieve the second step. First, you can specify each potential page turn manually, by inserting `\allowPageTurn` into your input file at the appropriate places.

If this is too tedious, you can add a `Page_turn_engraver` to a Staff or Voice context. The `Page_turn_engraver` will scan the context for sections without notes (note that it does not scan for rests; it scans for the absence of notes. This is so that single-staff polyphony with rests in one of the parts does not throw off the `Page_turn_engraver`). When it finds a sufficiently long section without notes, the `Page_turn_engraver` will insert an `\allowPageTurn` at the final bar line in that section, unless there is a ‘special’ bar line (such as a double bar), in which case the `\allowPageTurn` will be inserted at the final ‘special’ bar line in the section.

The `Page_turn_engraver` reads the context property `minimumPageTurnLength` to determine how long a note-free section must be before a page turn is considered. The default value for `minimumPageTurnLength` is `#(ly:make-moment 1 1)`. If you want to disable page turns, you can set it to something very large.

>     \new Staff \with { \consists "Page_turn_engraver" }
>     {
>       a4 b c d |
>       R1 | % a page turn will be allowed here
>       a4 b c d |
>       \set Staff.minimumPageTurnLength = #(ly:make-moment 5 2)
>       R1 | % a page turn will not be allowed here
>       a4 b r2 |
>       R1*2 | % a page turn will be allowed here
>       a1
>     }

The `Page_turn_engraver` detects volta repeats. It will only allow a page turn during the repeat if there is enough time at the beginning and end of the repeat to turn the page back. The `Page_turn_engraver` can also disable page turns if the repeat is very short. If you set the context property `minimumRepeatLengthForPageTurn` then the `Page_turn_engraver` will only allow turns in repeats whose duration is longer than this value.

The page turning commands, `\pageTurn`, `\noPageTurn` and `\allowPageTurn`, may also be used at top-level, between scores and top-level markups.

#### Predefined commands

`\pageTurn`, `\noPageTurn`, `\allowPageTurn`.

#### See also

Snippets: Spacing.

#### Known issues and warnings

There should only be one `Page_turn_engraver` in a score. If there is more than one, they will interfere with each other.

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