Butler SQL Programmer Guide

Conventions Chapter 1 • Basic SQL Elements Butler SQL statements use a number of basic language elements. Some of these elements are the same as those found in programming languages such as C or Pascal. Other elements are related to Level 1 of the ANSI SQL standard, which defines data manipulation language statements. All SQL statements employ SQL style, with an initial verb, one or more English- like clauses, and a statement terminator. This guide describes the basic language elements that are used in state- ments in Butler SQL’s SQL dialect. Conventions The following conventions are used throughout this and the following chapter. [ ] Terms placed between square brackets indicate optional syntax items unless the syntax descrip- tion indicates that you should include the brack- ets as literal characters in the statement. For example, you use brackets to enclose a column index. < > Terms placed between angle brackets are noise keywords. (See “Keywords” on page 8.) { } Terms placed between braces indicate required syntax items unless the syntax description tells you to include the braces as literal characters in the statement. For example, you use braces to enclose compound statements. ... An ellipsis indicates a variable that may be repeated one or more times. | Vertical lines separate alternate syntax items. 1 Chapter 1 • Basic SQL Elements := This symbol is used to separate the term that is defined (left) from the definition (right). It should be read as “is defined as.” italics Terms that appear in italics indicate variables that you supply. UPPERCASE Terms that appear in UPPERCASE LETTERS identify SQL keywords. You may use either uppercase or lowercase letters in actual usage. boldface Terms that appear in bold identify API func- …