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Syntax Diagrams

This guide uses syntax diagrams built with the following components to describe the syntax for statements and all commands other than system-level commands.

Note:
Starting in 2004, syntax diagrams have been reformatted to conform to the IBM standard.

Syntax diagrams depicting SQL and command-line statements have changed in the following ways:

The following table describes syntax diagram components.

Component represented in PDF Component represented in HTML Meaning
>>---------------------- 
Statement begins.
-----------------------> 
Statement continues on next line.
>----------------------- 
Statement continues from previous line.
-----------------------><
Statement ends.
--------SELECT----------
Required item.
--+-----------------+---
  '------LOCAL------'
Optional item.
---+-----ALL-------+--- 
   +--DISTINCT-----+
   '---UNIQUE------'
Required item with choice. One and only one item must be present.
---+------------------+---
    +--FOR UPDATE-----+
    '--FOR READ ONLY--'
Optional items with choice are shown below the main line, one of which you might specify.
    .---NEXT---------.
----+----------------+---
    +---PRIOR--------+
    '---PREVIOUS-----'
The values below the main line are optional, one of which you might specify. If you do not specify an item, the value above the line will be used as the default.
 .-------,-----------.
 V                   |
---+-----------------+---
    +---index_name---+
    '---table_name---'
Optional items. Several items are allowed; a comma must precede each repetition.
>>-| Table Reference |-><
Reference to a syntax segment.
Table Reference
|--+-----view--------+--|
   +------table------+
   '----synonym------'
Syntax segment.

How to Read a Command-Line Syntax Diagram

The following command-line syntax diagram uses some of the elements listed in the table in the previous section.

Read syntax diagramSkip visual syntax diagramCreating a No-Conversion Job

>>-onpladm create job--job--+--------------+-- -n--------------->
                            '- -p--project-'

>-- -d--device-- -D--database-- -t--table----------------------->

   .---------------------------------------------------------------------.
   V                                                                     |
>----+-----------------------------------------------------------------+-+-><
     |                                                            (1)  |
     '-+-------------+--+-------------+--| Setting the Run Mode |------'
       '- -S--server-'  '- -T--target-'

Notes:
  1. See page 17-4

The second line in this diagram has a segment named "Setting the Run Mode," which according to the diagram footnote, is on page 17-4. This segment is shown in the following segment diagram (the diagram uses segment start and end components).

Read syntax diagramSkip visual syntax diagramSetting the Run Mode:

               .-l--+---+-.
               |    '-c-' |
|-- -f--+---+--+----------+--+---+--+---+-----------------------|
        +-d-+  '-u--------'  '-n-'  '-N-'
        +-p-+
        '-a-'

To construct a command correctly, start at the top left with the command. Follow the diagram to the right, including the elements that you want. The elements in the diagram are case sensitive.

The Creating a No-Conversion Job diagram illustrates the following steps:

  1. Type onpladm create job and then the name of the job.
  2. Optionally, type -p and then the name of the project.
  3. Type the following required elements:
  4. Optionally, you can choose one or more of the following elements and repeat them an arbitrary number of times:
  5. Follow the diagram to the terminator.

Your diagram is complete.

Keywords and Punctuation

Keywords are words reserved for statements and all commands except system-level commands. When a keyword appears in a syntax diagram, it is shown in uppercase letters. When you use a keyword in a command, you can write it in uppercase or lowercase letters, but you must spell the keyword exactly as it appears in the syntax diagram.

You must also use any punctuation in your statements and commands exactly as shown in the syntax diagrams.

Identifiers and Names

Variables serve as placeholders for identifiers and names in the syntax diagrams and examples. You can replace a variable with an arbitrary name, identifier, or literal, depending on the context. Variables are also used to represent complex syntax elements that are expanded in additional syntax diagrams. When a variable appears in a syntax diagram, an example, or text, it is shown in lowercase italic.

The following syntax diagram uses variables to illustrate the general form of a simple SELECT statement.

Read syntax diagramSkip visual syntax diagram>>-SELECT--column_name--FROM--table_name-----------------------><

When you write a SELECT statement of this form, you replace the variables column_name and table_name with the name of a specific column and table.

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