Command syntax rules

The following general rules apply to BMC AMI Utilities command syntax:

• In a BMC AMI Utility command, the product recognizes the following comment characters:

  • An asterisk (*) in column 1

    The product ignores the entire line.

  • Two consecutive hyphens in a line

    The product ignores the remainder of the line.

  • REXX-like comments (starting with /* and ending with */)

    The product ignores the comment text, including /* and */. You can specify these comments anywhere within the statement except in the first line of a statement. You can also nest these comments.

    Warning

    If you specify /* or */ in the first line of the statement, the job fails. 

• When you use a signed token, do not place a space between the sign and the value.

• You can split a token (such as a keyword, identifier, or constant) across a line. However, the product ignores anything in columns 73 through 80.

  A blank, or a delimiter if the token is delimited, indicates the end of the token. If an undelimited token ends in column 72, column 1 on the next line must be blank. 

  Important

  If you use applications that automate JCL submission and resolve symbolic variables within your JCL, the resulting control cards might not appear as they do in the JCL that you created. These applications might produce an invalid command statement.

• Except where indicated in the syntax diagram, you cannot specify the same command option more than once. Duplicate command options cause the product to terminate.
• In the syntax diagrams, underlined options indicate default options.