1.3 Format for describing the files

This chapter describes the format for describing the files and symbols used in the syntax.

Organization of this section
(1) Description
(2) Symbols used in syntax

(1) Description

Chapter 2 and subsequent chapters use the following format for describing files:

(2) Symbols used in syntax

The syntax is described by using the symbols and syntax elements shown in the following table.

Table 1-4 Symbols used in the syntax

SymbolConvention
|In syntax explanations, a vertical bar separates multiple items, and has the meaning of OR. For example:
A|B|C means A, or B, or C.
[ ]In syntax explanations, square brackets indicate that the enclosed item or items are optional. For example:
[A] means that you can specify A or nothing.
[B|C] means that you can specify B, or C, or nothing.
{ }In syntax explanations, curly brackets indicate that only one of the enclosed items is to be selected. For example:
{A|B|C} means only one of A, or B, or C.
...In syntax explanations, ... indicate that a description is omitted.
ABC... means that there is a description after ABC, and this description is omitted.
Alternatively, in syntax explanations, an ellipsis indicates that the immediately preceding item can be repeated as many times as necessary. For example:
<Property>...means that you can specify as many properties as necessary.
< >In syntax explanations, angle brackets indicate a variable.
For example:
<Property> means that the user enters a property name or a property name is displayed.
<File name> means that the user enters a file name.

Table 1-5 Permitted characters used in the syntax

TypeDefinition
Upper-case alphabetic charactersA to Z
Lower-case alphabetic charactersa to z
Alphabetic charactersA to Z, a to z
Numeric characters0 to 9
Alphanumeric charactersA to Z, a to z, 0 to 9
Symbols! " # $ % & ' ( ) + , _ [Figure] . / : ; < = > @ [ ] ^ - { } [Figure]tab space

Note: Use single-byte characters for all the symbols.