Conventions Used in This Book
This book uses a number of standard conventions that let me clearly display the detailed syntax of SQL statements:
Constant width
Used to show syntax diagrams and the output of commands.
Contant width bold
Used to represent user input in examples that show user interaction.
Initial_Cap_Italics
Indicates a common element of SQL that is documented in Chapter 4. These elements usually end in "Clause," as in Storage_Clause.
lowercase italics
Indicates items that are replaced by actual values in a SQL statement.
UPPERCASE
Indicates keywords or components of SQL syntax.
Braces { }
Indicate that one item is required from the list provided within the braces. Items in the list are separated by vertical bars (|). Note that this list may be quite extensive and that a single item may include several keywords.
Ellipses (...)
Indicate that the previous keyword or group of keywords may be repeated as required.
Square brackets [ ]
Indicate that the item(s) enclosed within the square brackets are optional. Multiple optional items are separated by a vertical bar (|).
Underline
Indicates that the underlined keyword or value is the default.
column
The name of a column in a table.
column_list
The name of one or more columns in a table, separated by commas.
filename
The valid operating system name for a file, normally enclosed in single quotes.
integer
A whole number, such as 0, 1, 2, etc.
schema
The name of a collection of objects in the database, also called the user, ...
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