Specifies conventions used in the InterSystems SQL Reference.
Description
The following are the format conventions used in this manual. These
format characters explain usage; they are not specified
when coding an SQL program. For a table of the symbols that are used in SQL
coding, refer to the SQL Symbols table.
| Symbol |
Meaning |
| [ nnnn ] |
An argument enclosed
in square brackets is optional. Specify none or one. |
| { nnnn } |
An argument
enclosed in curly braces is optional, and may be repeated multiple times.
Specify none, one, or more than one.
Curly braces are also used
as literal characters, for example in ODBC scalar functions with the form:
{fn FUNCTION(arg)} |
| mmmm | nnnn |
A
vertical bar means OR. Specify either one or the other. |
| . . . |
An ellipsis indicates an unspecified portion
of a complete SQL statement. It can also be used to specify repetition: var1,var2,... |
| ::= |
Is equivalent to. |
If an argument appears as an "item-list", then the
argument can consist of one or more of the particular items
delimited by a particular character. A cross-reference from an item-list points
to the page for item itself.
If an argument appears as an "item-commalist", then
the argument can consist of one or more of the particular items
delimited by a comma. A cross-reference from an item-commalist points
to the page for item itself.
When an item is listed in bracketed parentheses, such as [(] identifier [)] then
the pair of parentheses (as a unit) is
optional.
