OSI/AS Programming Manual

Notation Conventions
056783 Tandem Computers Incorporated xix
The following list summarizes the conventions for syntax presentation 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.
I/O In procedure calls, input parameters (those passing data to the called
procedure) are followed by an I; output parameters (those that return
data to the calling program) are followed by an O.
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.