Notational conventions

IBM® uses a uniform notation to describe the syntax of access method services commands. This notation is not part of the language; it is a way of describing the syntax of the commands, and uses these conventions:

[ ]

Brackets enclose an optional entry. You can, but need not, include the entry. Examples are:

[length]
[MF=E]

|

An OR sign separates alternative entries. You must include one, and only one, of the entries unless you allow an indicated default. Examples are:

[REREAD|LEAVE]
[length|'S']

{ }

Braces enclose alternative entries. You must use one, and only one, of the entries. Examples are:

BFTEK={S|A}
{K|D}
{address|S|O}

Sometimes alternative entries are shown in a vertical stack of braces. An example is:

MACRF={{(R[C|P])}
{(W[C|P|L])}
{(R[C],W[C])}}

In the example above, you must choose only one entry from the vertical stack.

...

An ellipsis indicates that the entry immediately preceding the ellipsis can be repeated. For example:

(dcbaddr,[(options)],. . .)

‘ ’

A blank indicates that a blank must be present before the next parameter.

UPPERCASE BOLDFACE

Uppercase-boldface type indicates entries that you must code exactly as shown. These entries have keywords and the following punctuation symbols: commas, parentheses, and equal signs. Examples are:

CLOSE , , , ,TYPE=T
MACRF=(PL,PTC)

UNDERSCORED UPPERCASE BOLDFACE

Underscored uppercase boldface type indicates the default used if you do not specify any of the alternatives. Examples are:

[EROPT={ACC|SKP|ABE}]
[BFALN={F|D}]

lowercase italic

Lowercase italic type indicates a value that you supply according to specifications and limitations described for each parameter. Examples are:

number
image-id
count