MusicXML 4.1 Draft
MusicXML 4.1 Draft > MusicXML Reference > Elements > The <link> element

The <link> element

Parent elements: <credit><measure> (partwise)<part> (timewise)

The <link> element serves as an outgoing simple XLink. If a relative link is used within a document that is part of a compressed MusicXML file, the link is relative to the root folder of the zip file.

Content

Always empty.

Attributes

Name Type Required?(Default) Description
xlink:href xlink:href Yes The href attribute provides the data that allows an application to find a remote resource or resource fragment. See the definition in the XML Linking Language recommendation.
The href attribute provides the data that allows an application to find a remote resource or resource fragment. See the definition in the XML Linking Language recommendation.
default-x tenths No Changes the computation of the default horizontal position. The origin is changed relative to the left-hand side of the note or the musical position within the bar. Positive x is right and negative x is left.

This attribute provides higher-resolution positioning data than the <offset> element. Applications reading a MusicXML file that can understand both features should generally rely on this attribute for its greater accuracy.
Changes the computation of the default horizontal position. The origin is changed relative to the left-hand side of the note or the musical position within the bar. Positive x is right and negative x is left.

This attribute provides higher-resolution positioning data than the <offset> element. Applications reading a MusicXML file that can understand both features should generally rely on this attribute for its greater accuracy.
default-y tenths No Changes the computation of the default vertical position. The origin is changed relative to the top line of the staff. Positive y is up and negative y is down.

This attribute provides higher-resolution positioning data than the placement attribute. Applications reading a MusicXML file that can understand both attributes should generally rely on this attribute for its greater accuracy.
Changes the computation of the default vertical position. The origin is changed relative to the top line of the staff. Positive y is up and negative y is down.

This attribute provides higher-resolution positioning data than the placement attribute. Applications reading a MusicXML file that can understand both attributes should generally rely on this attribute for its greater accuracy.
element xs:NMTOKEN No The element attribute specifies an element type for a descendant of the next sibling element that is not a <link> or <bookmark> element. When not present, the <bookmark> or <link> element refers to the next sibling element in the MusicXML file.
The element attribute specifies an element type for a descendant of the next sibling element that is not a <link> or <bookmark> element. When not present, the <bookmark> or <link> element refers to the next sibling element in the MusicXML file.
name xs:token No The name of this link.
The name of this link.
position xs:positiveInteger No The position attribute specifies the position of the descendant element specified by the element attribute, where the first position is 1. The position attribute is ignored if the element attribute is not present.

For instance, an element value of “beam” and a position value of “2” defines the <link> or <bookmark> to refer to the second beam descendant of the next sibling element that is not a <link> or <bookmark> element. This is equivalent to an XPath test of [.//beam[2]] done in the context of the sibling element.
The position attribute specifies the position of the descendant element specified by the element attribute, where the first position is 1. The position attribute is ignored if the element attribute is not present.

For instance, an element value of “beam” and a position value of “2” defines the <link> or <bookmark> to refer to the second beam descendant of the next sibling element that is not a <link> or <bookmark> element. This is equivalent to an XPath test of [.//beam[2]] done in the context of the sibling element.
relative-x tenths No Changes the horizontal position relative to the default position, either as computed by the individual program, or as overridden by the default-x attribute. Positive x is right and negative x is left. It should be interpreted in the context of the <offset> element or directive attribute if those are present.
Changes the horizontal position relative to the default position, either as computed by the individual program, or as overridden by the default-x attribute. Positive x is right and negative x is left. It should be interpreted in the context of the <offset> element or directive attribute if those are present.
relative-y tenths No Changes the vertical position relative to the default position, either as computed by the individual program, or as overridden by the default-y attribute. Positive y is up and negative y is down. It should be interpreted in the context of the placement attribute if that is present.
Changes the vertical position relative to the default position, either as computed by the individual program, or as overridden by the default-y attribute. Positive y is up and negative y is down. It should be interpreted in the context of the placement attribute if that is present.
xlink:actuate xlink:actuate No (onRequest) The actuate attribute is used to communicate the desired timing of traversal from the starting resource to the ending resource. The default value is onRequest. See the definition in the XML Linking Language recommendation.
The actuate attribute is used to communicate the desired timing of traversal from the starting resource to the ending resource. The default value is onRequest. See the definition in the XML Linking Language recommendation.
xlink:role xlink:role No The role attribute indicates a property of the link. See the definition in the XML Linking Language recommendation.
The role attribute indicates a property of the link. See the definition in the XML Linking Language recommendation.
xlink:show xlink:show No (replace) The show attribute is used to communicate the desired presentation of the ending resource on traversal from the starting resource. The default value is replace. See the definition in the XML Linking Language recommendation.
The show attribute is used to communicate the desired presentation of the ending resource on traversal from the starting resource. The default value is replace. See the definition in the XML Linking Language recommendation.
xlink:title xlink:title No The title attribute describes the meaning of a link or resource in a human-readable fashion. See the definition in the XML Linking Language recommendation.
The title attribute describes the meaning of a link or resource in a human-readable fashion. See the definition in the XML Linking Language recommendation.
xlink:type xlink:type No The type attribute identifies XLink element types. In MusicXML, the value is always simple. See the definition in the XML Linking Language recommendation.
The type attribute identifies XLink element types. In MusicXML, the value is always simple. See the definition in the XML Linking Language recommendation.

Examples

This element is used in the following example:

<link>