How to read the syntax diagrams

This section provides information about the following topics:

Beginning, Continuation, and Ending arrowheads

The arrowheads shown mark the beginning, continuation, and ending of a command syntax diagram.

Fragments

If a diagram contains syntax that is too long, too complex, or too repetitious to show in-line then the fragment is separated from the main syntax diagram as shown as follows:

Keywords and variable operands

Keywords are shown in bold-faced upper case or mixed upper and lower case. You must spell the keyword as shown (in your choice of upper, lower, or mixed case). You might abbreviate the keyword by using only the letters shown in upper case, or the letters shown in upper case and any leading subset of the characters shown in lower case. Using the example shown here, you could code OPT, OPTION, Optio, or options (but not OP or OPTS).

User-specifiable variable items are shown in lower case italic.

Parameters

Required parameters are shown on the main path. Optional parameters are shown here in the main path. Any default parameter is shown above the main path. Choices are stacked bracketed by vertical lines.

Selecting more than one option

When you specify multiple items, or specify one item more than once, it is indicated by an arrow returning to the left above the items.

Special characters and blanks

When a comma, equal sign, parenthesis or blank is shown in the diagram then you must code it as shown. For the instance here, you must code the parentheses, commas, and spaces, such as PARM(A,B X,Y).