LilyPond Internals Reference: 3.1.120 SpacingSpanner

### 3.1.120 `SpacingSpanner`

An auxiliary grob to set all horizontal spacing constraints across a score. There is normally one such grob for the whole score, but there can be several if `\newSpacingSection` is used. See also `GraceSpacing`, `NoteSpacing`, and `StaffSpacing`.

`SpacingSpanner` objects are created by: `Spacing_engraver`.

Standard settings:

`average-spacing-wishes` (boolean):

  `#t`

  If set, the spacing wishes are averaged over staves.

`base-shortest-duration` (moment):

  `#<Mom 3/16>`

  Spacing is based on the shortest notes in a piece. Normally, pieces are spaced as if notes at least as short as this are present.

`common-shortest-duration` (moment):

  `ly:spacing-spanner::calc-common-shortest-duration`

  The most common shortest note length. This is used in spacing. Enlarging this sets the score tighter.

`shortest-duration-space` (number):

  `2.0`

  Start with this multiple of `spacing-increment` space for the shortest duration. See also spacing-spanner-interface.

`spacing-increment` (dimension, in staff space):

  `1.2`

  The unit of length for note-spacing. Typically, the width of a note head. See also spacing-spanner-interface.

`springs-and-rods` (boolean):

  `ly:spacing-spanner::set-springs`

  Dummy variable for triggering spacing routines.

This object supports the following interface(s): `grob-interface`, `spacing-options-interface`, `spacing-spanner-interface` and `spanner-interface`.

This object is of class Spanner (characterized by `spanner-interface`).

#### LilyPond – Internals Reference v2.24.4 (stable-branch).