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Understanding Syntax explanations

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3 replies

by techsupport

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Please excuse me as I'm kind of new to this programming stuff.

I'm working with SQL and using the online Server Books help.

For instance, I was researching how to add rows to a table and found this...

Syntax
INSERT [ INTO]
{ table_name WITH ( < table_hint_limited > [ ...n ] )
| view_name
| rowset_function_limited
}

{ [ ( column_list ) ]
{ VALUES
( { DEFAULT | NULL | expression } [ ,...n] )
| derived_table
| execute_statement
}
}
| DEFAULT VALUES

< table_hint_limited > ::=
{ FASTFIRSTROW
| HOLDLOCK
| PAGLOCK
| READCOMMITTED
| REPEATABLEREAD
| ROWLOCK
| SERIALIZABLE
| TABLOCK
| TABLOCKX
| UPDLOCK
}

Can anyone tell me how to find reference-type material to explain what all the pipes, brackets, etc. are and how they relate to how the syntax is being explained?

Many thanks in advance!

N. Brewer

3 replies

by haris

Here is how to read it:

pipes mean OR
square brackets "[..]" surround optional items
The angle brackets distinguish syntax rules names (also called non-terminal symbols) from terminal symbols which are written exactly as they are to be represented.
repetitive items (zero or more times) are enclosed in meta symbols {}.

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