UPPERCASE

Uppercase letters indicate the name of a command, a file, a parameter, a procedure, a utility, or an abbreviation for a system privilege.

lowercase

In format descriptions, words in lowercase indicate parameters or arguments you must supply.

user input

system prompts

system displays

In interactive examples, this typeface indicates input entered by the user, a system prompt, or displayed system text.

.
.
.

Vertical ellipsis points indicate the omission of information from an example or command format. The information is omitted because it is not important to the topic being discussed.

[ ]

In format descriptions, brackets indicate optional elements. You can choose none, one, or all of the options. (Brackets are not optional, however, in the syntax of a directory name in an OpenVMS file specification.)

,...

In format descriptions, horizontal ellipsis points indicate additional parameters, values, or other information that you can enter separated by commas.

{ }

In format descriptions, braces indicate required elements. You must choose one of the elements.

|

In format descriptions, a vertical bar indicates required elements. You must choose one of the elements.

( )

In format descriptions, parentheses delimit the parameter or argument list.

Ctrl+x

Ctrl+x indicates that you hold down the Ctrl key while you press another key or mouse button (indicated here by x).

MB1, MB2, MB3

MB1 indicates the left mouse button. MB2 indicates the middle mouse button. MB3 indicates the right mouse button. (You can redefine the mouse buttons.)