HP System Dictionary/XL SDMAIN Reference Manual (32256-90001)

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User Input Rules

When running SDMAIN, you can enter all commands, subcommands, etc., in either uppercase or lowercase

letters. However, all lowercase letters are upshifted when they are processed. Therefore, names such as

"TaxRate," "taxrate," and "TAXRATE," all refer to the same object.

NOTE Passwords and character strings (attribute values) are case-sensitive. They are NOT

shifted (up OR down), and are read exactly as entered.

User-Deﬁned Names

All user-deﬁned dictionary names must be 32 characters or less. The valid characters for user-deﬁned

names are shown below:

All alphanumeric characters (all lowercase characters are upshifted)

All special characters EXCEPT:

, ; : . ) " = > < ^ !

Scope Password

Scope passwords must be 32 characters or less. All characters are valid in a scope password. However, if

the password does not qualify as a valid user-deﬁned name, it must be enclosed in double quotes, for

example, "password" .

Special Character Responses

When entering commands in SDMAIN, you may realize that you have typed the wrong command or have

misspelled a command name. In such cases, you will want to have the option to begin typing again and not

execute the command.

Each of the following responses to an SDMAIN prompt allow you to correct your error:

[[Control]] X Causes the line on which the [[Control]] X was typed to be ignored. The system displays

" Delimits character string values. Use two double quotes ("") to represent a single double quote

(") within a string. Required around variable length attribute values, the description attribute of

stored reports, and the TITLE and PAGE-HEADER parameters of the FORMAT command.

Optional around passwords, character attribute values, and alias attribute values, as long as the

value is a valid dictionary name. If the string contains any invalid characters (See "User

Deﬁned Names" later in this Chapter) or has more than 32 characters, the value must be

enclosed in quotes.

ÅPP Speciﬁes a blank. You must use blanks to separate a command and subcommand, a command

and object clause, and a subcommand and object clause. Any number of blanks may appear

between any name and any punctuation character.

[[Return]] Speciﬁes a carriage return. Treated the same as a blank. Wherever a blank is legal, a [[Return]]

is legal. A [[Return]] is not legal inside a scope password.

Table 2: Command Language Punctuation Characters

CHARACT

DESCRIPTION