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Re: How you say... ?

Subject: Re: How you say... ?
From: "Dana Worley (MVP/JB)" <dana -at- campbellsci -dot- com>
To: techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
Date: Thu, 16 Feb 2012 09:31:30 -0700


I would agree with using the BNF convention as Guy suggests. It's well-known among command line programmers and is very effective at removing ambiguity.

Dana W.


On 2/15/2012 9:24 AM, McLauchlan, Kevin wrote:

We still have a command-line interface for some products.

I want to tweak the syntax a smidgen, to clarify a distinction... but opinions vary as to an existing standard.

Here are three takes on a command:

partition resize -partition<name> [-size<size>] [-allfreestorage] [-force]

partition resize -partition<name> [-size<size>] | [-allfreestorage] [-force]

partition resize -partition<name> [-size<size> | -allfreestorage] [-force]

QUESTIONS:

Does one of those renditions convey to you that you can specify -size or -allfreestorage or neither?

Does one convey that you can specify -size or you can specify -allfreestorage, but you must choose one?

Does one imply that you can specify both, if you wish? (maybe the system determines which one is possible or advisable...)

... and here's the kicker.... Why do you get that meaning from one-or-the-other use (or omission) of square brackets, pipe symbol, etc.?




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