xiv Adaptive Server Enterprise
• Syntax statements (displaying the syntax and all options for a command) appear as follows:sp_dropdevice [device_name]
For a command with more options:select column_name
from table_name
where search_conditions
In syntax statements, keywords (commands) are in normal font and identifiers are in lowercase. Italic font shows user-supplied words.• Examples showing the use of Transact-SQL commands are printed like this:select * from publishers
Variables—or words that stand for values that you fill
in—when they are part of a query or statement, are in
italics in Courier font.
select column_name
from table_name
where search_conditions
Type parentheses as part of the command. compute row_aggregate (column_name)
Double colon, equals sign indicates that the syntax is
written in BNF notation. Do not type this symbol.
Indicates “is defined as”.
::=
Curly braces mean that you must choose at least one
of the enclosed options. Do not type the braces.
{cash, check, credit}
Brackets mean that to choose one or more of the
enclosed options is optional. Do not type the brackets.
[cash | check | credit]
The comma means you may choose as many of the
options shown as you want. Separate your choices
with commas as part of the command.
cash, check, credit
The pipe or vertical bar( | ) means you may select only
one of the options shown.
cash | check | credit
An ellipsis (...) means that you can repeat the last unit
as many times as you like.
buy thing = price [cash | check |
credit]
[, thing = price [cash | check |
credit]]...
You must buy at least one thing and give its price. You may
choose a method of payment: one of the items enclosed in
square brackets. You may also choose to buy additional
things: as many of them as you like. For each thing you
buy, give its name, its price, and (optionally) a method of
payment.
Element Example