Language Guide

xix
P R E F A C E
Conventions Used in This Guide 0
Words and sample scripts in monospaced font are AppleScript language
elements that must be typed exactly as shown. Terms are shown in boldface
where they are defined. You can also find these definitions in the glossary.
Here are some additional conventions used in syntax descriptions:
language element
Plain computer font indicates an element that you
must type exactly as shown. If there are special symbols
(for example, + or &), you must also type them exactly
as shown.
placeholder Italic text indicates a placeholder that you must replace
with an appropriate value. (In some programming
languages, placeholders are called nonterminals.)
[optional] Brackets indicate that the enclosed language element or
elements are optional.
(a group) Parentheses group together elements. If parentheses are
part of the syntax, they are shown in bold.
[optional]... Three ellipsis points (. . .) after a group defined by
brackets indicate that you can repeat the group of
elements within brackets 0 or more times.
(a group). . . Three ellipsis points (. . .) after a group defined by
parentheses indicate that you can repeat the group
of elements within parentheses one or more times.
a|b|cVertical bars separate elements in a group from which
you must choose a single element. The elements are
often grouped within parentheses or brackets.