Preface
Endless PL/I V3.9 for OpenVMS VAX, Endless PL/I V5.0 for OpenVMS Alpha, Endless PL/I V5.0 for OpenVMS I64 and Endless PL/I V5.0 for OpenVMS x86-64 are Endless Software Solutions implementations of the PL/I programming language, General-Purpose Subset, ANSI X3.74-1981.
1. Intended Audience
This manual is intended for programmers using PL/I to design or implement applications on OpenVMS systems. A prerequisite for attaining optimal benefit from the manual is that its users understand the concepts of programming in PL/I and are familiar with the keywords and topics that will be searched for information. This manual is not suitable for use as a tutorial document.
2. Associated Documents
The Endless PL/I for OpenVMS User Manual provides information on program development with the system-specific command language, the extensive I/O capabilities provided in PL/I, and programming techniques available to PL/I programs executing under the exclusive control of the operating system.
For information on installing PL/I, see the Endless PL/I for OpenVMS Installation Guide.
3. Conventions
Table 1, “Conventions Used in this Manual” lists the conventions used in this manual.
| Conventions | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Return | In examples, the symbol Return represents a single stroke of the key on the terminal. |
| Ctrl/X | In examples, Ctrl/X indicates that you hold down the Ctrl key while you press another key (represented here by X). |
monospace
| This bold monospace typeface is used in interactive examples to indicate input entered by the user. |
| italic | This italic typeface is used to identify variable names. |
| ⋮ | Vertical ellipses indicate that not all of the text of a program or program output is illustrated. Only relevant material is shown in the example. |
| ... | Horizontal ellipses indicate that additional parameters, options, or values can optionally be entered. When a comma precedes an ellipsis, it indicates that successive items must be separated by commas. |
|
quotation mark apostrophe | The term quotation mark is used only to refer to the double quotation mark character ("). The term apostrophe is used to refer to the single quotation mark character ('). |
| [OPTIONS (option,...)] | Except in OpenVMS file specifications, brackets indicate that a syntactic element is optional and you need not specify it. |
[ LIST ] [ EDIT ] | Brackets surrounding two or more stacked items indicate conflicting options, one of which can optionally be chosen. |
{ EXTERNAL }
{ INTERNAL }
| Braces surrounding two or more stacked items indicate conflicting options, one of which must be chosen. |
FILE (file-reference) | An uppercase word or phrase indicates a keyword that must be entered as shown; a lowercase word or phrase indicates an item for which a variable value must be supplied. This convention applies to format (syntax) lines, not to code examples. |
#
| A # symbol is used in some contexts to indicate a single ASCII space character. |
4. Technical Assumptions
All descriptions of the effects of executing statements and evaluating expressions assume that the initial procedure activation of the program is through an entry point with OPTIONS(MAIN).
It is further assumed that any non-PL/I procedures called by the program follow all conventions of the PL/I run-time environment. Except as explicitly noted, descriptions of I/O statements do not cover the effects of system-specific options. For details on mixed-language programming and system-specific options, see the Endless PL/I for OpenVMS User Manual.
5. Terminological Conventions
Information in this manual applies to the use of Endless PL/I on the OpenVMS VAX, OpenVMS Alpha, OpenVMS I64 and OpenVMS x86-64 Operating Systems unless otherwise indicated.
The term Endless PL/I refers to all Endless PL/I products on all OpenVMS platforms.
The terms "full PL/I" and "standard PL/I" refer to the ANSI standard PL/I, X3.53-1976.