This document uses several formatting styles to indicate actions you should take or types of information you need.
| Syntax | Purpose | Example |
|---|---|---|
| UPPERCASE | Command or function names in syntax. | BEGINARCHIVE |
| italic | Terms, such as parameters, that you replace with a value | ESSGETSTRING (hCtx, pString); \directorypath\filename The dimList argument... |
| " " | Double quotation marks enclose text parameters or single parameters that include a space | "appName" SETDEFAULTCALC "CALC ALL"; |
| ! | Report Writer: The report output character (bang) signals the start of report processing; this character must be on its own line | ... // commands <DESC MARKET ! |
| ( ) | Parentheses are used in a couple of ways:
| ESSGETSTRING (hCtx, pString); (a + b) * c |
| // | Comment markers in report scripts. Double slashes (//) indicate text from // to end of line should be ignored in processing. | // Get results |
| /* ... */ | Comment markers in calculation scripts. The /* ... */ comment markers indicate the enclosed text should be ignored in processing. | /*Get results*/ |
| ; | Statement terminator | EXIT; |
| [] | Brackets enclose optional parameters in syntax . Used with OR symbol | if there is more than one optional parameter. Do not type brackets or the OR symbol |. | INDENT [ offset ] |
| [, numeric] [, "text"] | Indicates an optional numeric (no quotes) or character (quoted) parameter and the comma which must precede the optional parameter. Do not type the brackets. | [, year] [, "columnName"] |
| {} | Braces group statements for processing, enclose alternatives, one of which you must choose Report Writer: Enclose report formatting commands | HELP { ? | commandName }{ SUPFORMATS } |
| | | Syntax: OR. Separates alternatives from which you choose only one. Do not type the OR symbol. | SET AGGMISSG ON | OFF |
| < | Report Writer: Angle bracket precedes layout and member selection commands. | <PAGE |
| @ | Essbase calculation functions: Precedes many function names | @ABS |
| -> | Essbase calculation functions: Cross-dimensional operator (a hyphen followed by a greater-than sign) points to data values of specific member combinations -> (cross-dimensional operator) | Price -> West = AVGRANGE |