PS TEXT FORMAT Reference Manual

Notation Conventions
11387 Tandem Computers Incorporated xv
You must enter commands in a certain form so that TFORM understands
them. This form is called syntax. To help you learn to use the TFORM
commands, this manual and the TFORM HELP facility adopt certain
conventions for representing syntax. Upper- and lowercase letters have
specific meanings, and certain other symbols are also used to explain how
to enter the command. Spaces and commas separate the parts of the
commands (command name, options, and keywords).
If you would like to study a certain command’s syntax, look up the
individual command in Section 3, “TFORM Commands.”
Notation Meaning
UPPERCASE
LETTERS
Uppercase letters represent keywords and reserved words; you must
enter these items exactly as shown.
italics Lowercase italic letters represent variable items that you must supply.
Brackets [ ] Brackets enclose optional syntax items. A group of vertically aligned
items enclosed in brackets represents a list of selections from which you
may 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 separating items in a horizontally aligned list of options,
enclosed in either braces or brackets, is an alternative to vertical
alignment of the 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 two items are separated by a space, that space is required between the
items. (But if either of the items is a punctuation symbol, such as a
parenthesis or a comma, the space is optional.)