What Typographic Changes Mean

AaBbCc123

The names of commands, files, and directories; on-screen computer output. 

Edit your .login file.

Use ls -a to list all files.

machine_name% You have mail.

AaBbCc123

What you type, contrasted with on-screen computer output. 

machine_name% su

Password:

AaBbCc123

Command-line placeholder: 

replace with a real name or value. 

To delete a file, type rm filename.

AaBbCc123

Book titles, new words or terms, or words to be emphasized. 

Read Chapter 6 in User's Guide. These are called class options.

You must be root to do this.

Compiler options and code samples may use the following conventions: 

[ ]

Square brackets contain arguments that are optional. 

-xO[n]

( ) 

Parentheses contain a set of choices for a required option. 

-d(y|n)

|

The "pipe" or "bar" symbol separates arguments, only one of which may be used at one time. 

-d(y|n)

...

The ellipsis indicates omission in a series. 

-xinline=f1[,...fn]

%

The percent sign indicates the word has a special meaning.  

-ftrap=%all, no%division

<>

In ASCII files, such as the README file, angle brackets contain a variable that must be replaced by an appropriate value.

-xtemp=<dir>