SQL/MP Programming Manual for COBOL

About This Manual
HP NonStop SQL/MP Programming Manual for COBOL—529758-002
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General Syntax Notation
italic computer type. Italic computer type letters within text indicate C and Open
System Services (OSS) variable items that you supply. Items not enclosed in brackets
are required. For example:
pathname
[ ] Brackets. Brackets enclose optional syntax items. For example:
TERM [\system-name.]$terminal-name
INT[ERRUPTS]
A group of items enclosed in brackets is a list from which you can choose one item or
none. The items in the list can be arranged either vertically, with aligned brackets on
each side of the list, or horizontally, enclosed in a pair of brackets and separated by
vertical lines. For example:
FC [ num ]
[ -num ]
[ text ]
K [ X | D ] address
{ } Braces. A group of items enclosed in braces is a list from which you are required to
choose one item. The items in the list can be arranged either vertically, with aligned
braces on each side of the list, or horizontally, enclosed in a pair of braces and
separated by vertical lines. For example:
LISTOPENS PROCESS { $appl-mgr-name }
{ $process-name }
ALLOWSU { ON | OFF }
| Vertical Line. A vertical line separates alternatives in a horizontal list that is enclosed in
brackets or braces. For example:
INSPECT { OFF | ON | SAVEABEND }
… 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