bSQL Syntax Conventions
The following table lists and describes conventions that are used in the syntax diagrams in the bSQL Reference.
| Convention | Used for |
|---|---|
| UPPERCASE | bSQL keywords. |
| italic | User-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 / |
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.