About This Manual
Data Definition Language (DDL) Reference Manual — 426798-002
xvii
General Syntax Notation
… Ellipsis. An ellipsis immediately following a pair of brackets or braces indicates that you
can repeat the enclosed sequence of syntax items any number of times. For example:
M address [ , new-value ]
…
[ - ] {0|1|2|3|4|5|6|7|8|9}
…
An ellipsis immediately following a single syntax item indicates that you can repeat that
syntax item any number of times. For example:
"s-char
…
"
Punctuation. Parentheses, commas, semicolons, and other symbols not previously
described must be typed as shown. For example:
error := NEXTFILENAME ( file-name ) ;
LISTOPENS SU $process-name.#su-name
Quotation marks around a symbol such as a bracket or brace indicate the symbol is a
required character that you must type as shown. For example:
"[" repetition-constant-list "]"
Item Spacing. Spaces shown between items are required unless one of the items is a
punctuation symbol such as a parenthesis or a comma. For example:
CALL STEPMOM ( process-id ) ;
If there is no space between two items, spaces are not permitted. In this example, no
spaces are permitted between the period and any other items:
$process-name.#su-name
Line Spacing. If the syntax of a command is too long to fit on a single line, each
continuation line is indented three spaces and is separated from the preceding line by
a blank line. This spacing distinguishes items in a continuation line from items in a
vertical list of selections. For example:
ALTER [ / OUT file-spec / ] LINE
[ , attribute-spec ]
…
!i and !o. In procedure calls, the !i notation follows an input parameter (one that passes data
to the called procedure); the !o notation follows an output parameter (one that returns
data to the calling program). For example:
CALL CHECKRESIZESEGMENT ( segment-id !i
, error ) ; !o
!i,o. In procedure calls, the !i,o notation follows an input/output parameter (one that both
passes data to the called procedure and returns data to the calling program). For
example:
error := COMPRESSEDIT ( filenum ) ; !i,o