Distributed Name Service (DNS) Management Operations Manual

Notation Conventions
31258 Tandem Computers Incorporated xix
The following list summarizes the conventions for syntax presentation and other
elements in this manual.
Notation Meaning
UPPERCASE LETTERS Uppercase letters represent keywords and reserved words; enter these
items exactly as shown.
lowercase italic letters Lowercase italic letters represent variable items that you supply.
Brackets [ ] Brackets enclose optional syntax items. A group of vertically aligned
items enclosed in brackets represents a list of selections from which you
can choose one or none.
Braces { } Braces enclose required syntax items. A group of vertically aligned
items enclosed in braces represents a list of selections from which you
must choose one.
Vertical line | A vertical line separates alternative syntax items in a horizontal list.
Such a list, enclosed in either brackets or braces, is an alternative to a
vertical list for presenting selections.
Ellipsis ... An ellipsis immediately following a pair of brackets or braces indicates
that you can repeat the enclosed syntax items any number of times.
Spaces If a space separates two items, that space is required. If one of the
items is a punctuation symbol, such as a parenthesis or a comma,
spaces are optional.
Punctuation Parentheses, commas, semicolons, and other symbols not described
above must be entered precisely as shown. Quotation marks around
any symbol indicate that it is not a syntax descriptor but a required
character, and you must enter it as shown.
Boldface words A word in boldface indicates that the word is a new and unusual word or
a term specific to Tandem. The word also appears in the glossary.