How to Read Syntax Diagrams

Throughout this document, diagrams illustrate XL Fortran syntax. This section will help you to interpret and use those diagrams.

If a variable or user-specified name ends in _list , you can provide a list of these terms separated by commas.

You must enter punctuation marks, parentheses, arithmetic operators, and other special characters as part of the syntax.

 

• Read syntax diagrams from left to right and from top to bottom, following the path of the line:
  • The >>--- symbol indicates the beginning of a statement.
  • The ---> symbol indicates that the statement syntax continues on the next line.
  • The >--- symbol indicates that a statement continues from the previous line.
  • The --->< symbol indicates the end of a statement.
  • Program units, procedures, constructs, interface blocks and derived-type definitions consist of several individual statements. For such items, a box encloses the syntax representation, and individual syntax diagrams show the required order for the equivalent Fortran statements.
  • IBM and Fortran 95 extensions are marked by a number in the syntax diagram with an explanatory note immediately following the diagram.
• Required items appear on the horizontal line (the main path):
  

   

  >>-keyword --required_argument ----------------------------------><

• Optional items appear below the main path:
  

   

  >>-keyword --+-------------------+------------------------------>< '-optional_argument -'

   

  Note:

  Optional items (not in syntax diagrams) are enclosed by square brackets ([ and ]). For example, [UNIT=]u

• If you can choose from two or more items, they appear vertically, in a stack.

  If you must choose one of the items, one item of the stack appears on the main path:

   

  >>-keyword--+-required_argument -+------------------------------>< '-required_argument -'

   

  If choosing one of the items is optional, the entire stack appears below the main path:

   

  >>-keyword--+-------------------+------------------------------>< +-optional_argument -+ '-optional_argument -'

• An arrow returning to the left above the main line (a repeat arrow) indicates that you can repeat an item, and the separator character if it is other than a blank:
  

   

  .-,-------------------. V | >>-keyword----repeatable_argument -+----------------------------><

   

  A repeat arrow above a stack indicates that you can make more than one choice from the items in the stack.

   

  .-,---------------------. V | >>-keyword----+-required_argument -+-+-------------------------->< '-required_argument -'

Sample Syntax Diagram

The following is an example of a syntax diagram with an interpretation:

 

.-,-. (1) V | >>-EXAMPLE-------char_constant --+-a -+--+---+----e -+-------------> '-b -' +-c -+ '-d -' >--name_list ---------------------------------------------------><   Notes: IBM Extension

Interpret the diagram as follows:

• Enter the keyword EXAMPLE .
• EXAMPLE is an IBM extension.
• Enter a value for char_constant .
• Enter a value for a or b , but not for both.
• Optionally, enter a value for c or d .
• Enter at least one value for e . If you enter more than one value, you must put a comma between each.
• Enter the value of at least one name for name_list . If you enter more than one value, you must put a comma between each. (The _list syntax is equivalent to the previous syntax for e .)