Reading the syntax diagrams

Syntax diagrams provide details on how to write specific procedure commands.

The procedure command syntax diagrams read from left to right, top to bottom. Each command starts with ">>" and ends with "<<". If a command is continued from one line to the next, the first line ends with "<" and the next line begins with ">".

A command can have two types of parameters. Positional parameters must be placed in a certain position within a command. Keyword parameters are assigned a value and can be placed in any order within a command. The first keyword parameter used in a command must be preceded by a left parenthesis. No parameter can be longer than 80 characters. All parameters are separated from each other with a comma. A right parenthesis is not required, but can be used to end the command.

Required Parameters

Parameters are on the main path if they are required.

>>-- CONNECT TO ServerName ------------------<<

When one parameter is on the main path with others listed on a separate line, you must select at least one from parameter from the list.

>>-- DISPLAY --- QUERY ----------------------<<
              +- PROC ---+
              +- FORM ---+
              +- REPORT -+

Optional Parameters

When a parameter is part of a list that is separate from the main path, it is optional. When all parameters are shown in a list separate from the main path, you can specify any one of them or none.

>>-- ERASE --- ObjectName ------------<<
            +- QUERY -+
            +- FORM  -+
            +- PROC  -+
            +- TABLE -+

Sometimes two values are separated by a forward slash (/). This indicates that one of the two values must be entered:

>>-------------------------------------<<
       +- ( CONFIRM = YES/NO -+