DDL Language Elements
Data Definition Language (DDL) Reference Manual — 426798-002
2 -8
DDL Special Characters
CHARACTER
FILLER
OF
TIME
COMPLEX
FLOAT
ON
TIMESTAMP
In addition to checking for reserved words, the DDL compiler checks DDL names to
see if they are reserved words in a host language for which DDL is generating source
code. If a DDL name is a host-language reserved word, DDL issues an error message
and does not generate source code for the object identified by the reserved word or
containing an element identified by the reserved word. In this way, DDL avoids
generating source code that does not compile.
The DDL compiler also checks data names in DDL RECORD statements for Enform
reserved words. If it finds an Enform reserved word, DDL issues only a warning
message, not an error message. This message warns users when they define a record
that cannot be used for an Enform query.
For a list of the reserved words that pertain to a host language, see the reference
manual for that language. For a list of Enform reserved words, see the Enform Plus
Reference Manual.
DDL Special Characters
The special characters shown in
Table 2-1
provide punctuation and other services in a
DDL source file.
Table 2-1. DDL Special Characters
Name
Character
Function
Blank
Separates keywords, data names, and other language
elements.
Percent Sign
%
Denotes an octal number.
Quote
“
Used as a delimiter for various language elements.
Apostrophe
‘
Can be used in place of a quotation mark.
Exclamation
Point
!
The DDL interactive prompt; separates listing comments from
statements and commands; after a file name in a DDL
command, ! clears the file.
Asterisk
*
Denotes dictionary comment when * is the first character of a
line; can be used as a wild-card character for dictionary
references.
Question
Mark
?
Denotes a compiler command when ? is the first character of
a line.
Comma
,
Separates multiple commands on the same line; separates
multiple sections in a SOURCE command.
Period
.
Ends statements and parts of compound statements; used in
qualification of field names.
Semicolon
;
Needed in previous DDL versions, but now interpreted as
blank.