HP System Dictionary/XL COBOL Definition Extractor (32257-90001)

Pre- 7
versions prefixed with "HP" .
Conventions
NOTATION DESCRIPTION
nonitalics Words in syntax statements which are not in italics must be entered exactly as shown. Punc-
tuation characters other than brackets, braces and ellipses must also be entered exactly as
shown. For example: EXIT;
italics Words in syntax statements which are in italics denote a parameter which must be replaced
by a user-supplied variable. For example: CLOSE filename
[ ] Anelementinsidebracketsinasyntaxstatementisoptional.Severalelementsstackedinside
brackets means the user may select any one or none of these elements. For example:
[A]
[B] User may select A or B or neither.
{ } When several elements are stacked within braces in a syntax statement, the user must select
one of those elements. For example:
{A}
{B} User must select A or B or C.
{C}
... A horizontal ellipsis in a syntax statement indicates that a previous element may be repeat-
ed. For example: [,itemname ]...;
In addition, vertical and horizontal ellipses maybe used in examples to indicate that portions
of the example have been omitted.
, A shaded delimiter preceding a parameter in a syntax statement indicates that the delimiter
must be supplied whenever (a) that parameter is included or (b) that parameter is omitted
and any other parameter which follows is included. For example:
itema [, itemb ][, itemc ]
means that the following are allowed:
itema
itema,itemb
itema,itemb,itemc
itema,,itemc
Å When necessary for clarity, the symbol Å may be used in a syntax statement to indicate a re-
quired blank or an exact number of blanks. For example: SET[(modifier )] Å (variable );
underlining Brackets, braces or ellipses appearing in syntax or format statements which must be entered
as shown will be underlined. For example:
LET var [
[subscript] ] = value
Output and input/output parameters are underlined. A notation in the description of each pa-