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bSQL Syntax Conventions

The following table lists and describes conventions that are used in the syntax diagrams in the bSQL Reference.

ConventionUsed for
UPPERCASEbSQL keywords.
italicUser-supplied parameters of bSQL syntax.
| (vertical bar)Separates syntax items enclosed in brackets or braces. You can use only one of the items.
[ ] (brackets)Optional syntax items. Don't type the brackets.
{ } (braces)Required syntax items. Don't type the braces.
[,...n]Indicates the preceding item can be repeated n number of times. The occurrences are separated by commas.
[...n]Indicates the preceding item can be repeated n number of times. The occurrences are separated by blanks.
/ ::=The name for a block of syntax. Use this convention to group and label sections of lengthy syntax or a unit of syntax that you can use in more than one location within a statement.
Each location in which the block of syntax could be used is indicated with the label enclosed in chevrons: /. A set is a collection of expressions, for example /; and a list is a collection of sets, for example /.

Multipart Names​

Unless specified otherwise, all bSQL references to the name of a database object can be a two-part name in the following form:

database_name.object_name
| object_name

database_name​

Specifies the name of the database that contains the object.

object_name​

Refers to the name of the object.

When referencing a specific object, you don't always have to specify the database, however, if the object can't be found, an error is returned.