Syntax of Keywords

Keywords may have no parameters, optional parameters, or required parameters. The syntax for keywords is as follows: 

    Keyword(parameter1 : parameter2)
where:
  • Parameter(s) are enclosed in parentheses ( ).
    Note: Parentheses should not be specified if there are no parameters.
  • Colons (:) are used to separate multiple parameters.
The following notational conventions are used to show which parameters are optional and which are required:
  • Braces { } indicate optional parameters or optional elements of parameters.
  • An ellipsis (…) indicates that the parameter can be repeated.
  • A colon (:) separates parameters and indicates that more than one may be specified. All parameters separated by a colon are required unless they are enclosed in braces.
  • A vertical bar (|) indicates that only one parameter may be specified for the keyword.
  • A blank separating keyword parameters indicates that one or more of the parameters may be specified.
Note: Braces, ellipses, and vertical bars are not a part of the keyword syntax and should not be entered into your source.
Table 1. Examples of Keyword Notation
Notation Example of Notation Used Description Example of Source Entered
braces {} PRTCTL (data_struct {:*COMPAT}) Parameter data_struct is required and parameter *COMPAT is optional. PRTCTL (data_struct1)
braces {} TIME(format {separator}) Parameter format{separator} is required, but the {separator} part of the parameter is optional. TIME(*HMS&)
colon (:) RENAME(Ext_format :Int_format) Parameters Ext_format and Int_format are required. RENAME (nameE: nameI)
ellipsis (…) IGNORE(recformat {:recformat…}) Parameter recformat is required and can be specified more than once. IGNORE (recformat1: recformat2: recformat3)
vertical bar (|) FLTDIV{(*NO | *YES)} Specify *NO or *YES or no parameters. FLTDIV
blank OPTIONS(*OMIT *NOPASS *VARSIZE *STRING *TRIM *RIGHTADJ) One of *OMIT, *NOPASS, *VARSIZE, *STRING, *TRIM, or *RIGHTADJ is required and more than one parameter can be optionally specified. OPTIONS(*OMIT : *NOPASS : *VARSIZE : *TRIM : *RIGHTADJ)