1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 101 102 103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 112 113 114 115 116 117 118 119 120 121 122 123 124 125 126 127 128 129 130 131 132 133 134 135 136 137 138 139 140 141 142 143 144 145 146 147 148 149 150 151 152 153 154 155 156 157 158 159 160 161 162 163 164 165 166 167 168 169 170 171 172 173 174 175 176 177 178 179 180 181 182 183 184 185 186 187 188 189 190 191 192 193 194 195 196 197 198 199 200 201 202 203 204 205 206 207 208 209 210 211 212 213 214 215 216 217 218 219 220 221 222 223 224 225 226 227 228 229 230 231 232 233 234 235 236 237 238 239 240 241 242 243 244 245 246 247 248 249 250 251 252 253 254 255 256 257 258 259 260 261 262 263 264 265 266 267 268 269 270 271 272 273 274 275 276 277 278 279 280 281 282 283 284 285 286 287 288 289 290 291 292 293 294 295 296 297 298 299 300 301 302 303 304 305 306 307 308 309 310 311 312 313 314 315 316 317 318 319 320 321 322 323 324 325 326 327 328 329 330 331 332 333 334 335 336 337 338 339 340 341 342 343 344 345 346 347 348 349 350 351 352 353 354 355 356 357 358 359 360 361 362 363 364 365 366 367 368 369 370 371 372 373 374 375 376 377 378 379 380 381 382 383 384 385 386 387 388 389 390 391 392 393 394 395 396 397 398 399 400 401 402 403 404 405 406 407 408 409 410 411 412 413 414 415 416 417 418 419 420 421 422 423 424 425 426 427 428 429 430 431 432 433 434 435 436 437 438 439 440 441 442 443 444 445 446 447 448 449 450 451 452 453 454 455 456 457 458 459 460 461 462 463 464 465 466 467 468 469 470 471 472 473 474 475 476 477 478 479 480 481 482 483 484 485 486 487 488 489 490 491 492 493 494 495 496 497 498 499 500 501 502 503 504 505 506 507 508 509 510 511 512 513 514 515 516 517 518 519 520 521 522 523 524 525 526 527 528 529 530 531 532 533 534 535 536 537 538 539 540 541 542 543 544 545 546 547 548 549 550 551 552 553 554 555 556 557 558 559 560 561 562 563 564 565 566 567 568 569 570 571 572 573 574 575 576 577 578 579 580 581 582 583 584 585 586 587 588 589 590 591 592 593 594 595 596 597 598 599 600 601 602 603 604 605 606 607 608 609 610 611 612 613 614 615 616 617 618 619 620 621 622 623 624 625 626 627 628 629 630 631 632 633 634 635 636 637 638 639 640 641 642 643 644 645 646 647 648 649 650 651 652 653 654 655 656 657 658 659 660 661 662 663 664 665 666 667 668 669 670 671 672 673 674 675 676 677 678 679 680 681 682 683 684 685 686 687 688 689 690 691 692 693 694 695 696 697 698 699 700 701 702 703 704 705 706 707 708 709 710 711 712 713 714 715 716 717 718 719 720 721 722 723 724 725 726 727 728 729 730 731 732 733 734 735 736 737 738 739 740 741 742 743 744 745 746 747 748 749 750 751 752 753 754 755 756 757 758 759 760 761 762 763 764 765 766 767 768 769 770 771 772 773 774 775 776 777 778 779 780 781 782 783 784 785 786 787 788 789 790 791 792 793 794 795 796 797 798 799 800 801 802 803 804 805 806 807 808 809 810 811 812 813 814 815 816 817 818 819 820 821 822 823 824 825 826 827 828 829 830 831 832 833 834 835 836 837 838 839 840 841 842 843 844 845 846 847 848 849 850 851 852 853 854 855 856 857 858 859 860 861 862 863 864 865 866 867 868 869 870 871 872 873 874 875 876 877 878 879 880 881 882 883 884 885 886 887 888 889 890 891 892 893 894 895 896 897 898 899 900 901 902 903 904 905 906 907 908 909 910 911 912 913 914 915 916 917 918 919 920 921 922 923 924 925 926 927 928 929 930 931 932 933 934 935 936 937 938 939 940 941 942 943 944 945 946 947 948 949 950 951 952 953 954 955 956 957 958 959 960 961 962 963 964 965 966 967 968 969 970 971 972 973 974 975 976 977 978 979 980 981 982 983 984 985 986 987 988 989 990 991 992 993 994 995 996 997 998 999 1000 1001 1002 1003 1004 1005 1006 1007 1008 1009 1010 1011 1012 1013 1014 1015 1016 1017 1018 1019 1020 1021 1022 1023 1024 1025 1026 1027 1028 1029 1030 1031 1032 1033 1034 1035 1036 1037 1038 1039 1040 1041 1042 1043 1044 1045 1046 1047 1048 1049 1050 1051 1052 1053 1054 1055 1056 1057 1058 1059 1060 1061 1062 1063 1064 1065 1066 1067 1068 1069 1070 1071 1072 1073 1074 1075 1076 1077 1078 1079 1080 1081 1082 1083 1084 1085 1086 1087 1088 1089 1090 1091 1092 1093 1094 1095 1096 1097 1098 1099 1100 1101 1102 1103 1104 1105 1106 1107 1108 1109 1110 1111 1112 1113 1114 1115 1116 1117 1118 1119 1120 1121 1122 1123 1124 1125 1126 1127 1128 1129 1130 1131 1132 1133 1134 1135 1136 1137 1138 1139 1140 1141 1142 1143 1144 1145 1146 1147 1148 1149 1150 1151 1152 1153 1154 1155 1156 1157 1158 1159 1160 1161 1162 1163 1164 1165 1166 1167 1168 1169 1170 1171 1172 1173 1174 1175 1176 1177 1178 1179 1180 1181 1182 1183 1184 1185 1186 1187 1188 1189 1190 1191 1192 1193 1194 1195 1196 1197 1198 1199 1200 1201 1202 1203 1204 1205 1206 1207 1208 1209 1210 1211 1212 1213 1214 1215 1216 1217 1218 1219 1220 1221 1222 1223 1224 1225 1226 1227 1228 1229 1230 1231 1232 1233 1234 1235 1236 1237 1238 1239 1240 1241 1242 1243 1244 1245 1246 1247 1248 1249 1250 1251 1252 1253 1254 1255 1256 1257 1258 1259 1260 1261 1262 1263 1264 1265 1266 1267 1268 1269 1270 1271 1272 1273 1274 1275 1276 1277 1278 1279 1280 1281 1282 1283 1284 1285 1286 1287 1288 1289 1290 1291 1292 1293 1294 1295 1296 1297 1298 1299 1300 1301 1302 1303 1304 1305 1306 1307 1308 1309 1310 1311 1312 1313 1314 1315 1316 1317 1318 1319 1320 1321 1322 1323 1324 1325 1326 1327 1328 1329 1330 1331 1332 1333 1334 1335 1336 1337 1338 1339 1340 1341 1342 1343 1344 1345 1346 1347 1348 1349 1350 1351 1352 1353 1354 1355 1356 1357 1358 1359 1360 1361 1362 1363 1364 1365 1366 1367 1368 1369 1370 1371 1372 1373 1374 1375 1376 1377 1378 1379 1380 1381 1382 1383 1384 1385 1386 1387 1388 1389 1390 1391 1392 1393 1394 1395 1396 1397 1398 1399 1400 1401 1402 1403 1404 1405 1406 1407 1408 1409 1410 1411 1412 1413 1414 1415 1416 1417 1418 1419 1420 1421 1422 1423 1424 1425 1426 1427 1428 1429 1430 1431 1432 1433 1434 1435 1436 1437 1438 1439 1440 1441 1442 1443 1444 1445 1446 1447 1448 1449 1450 1451 1452 1453 1454 1455 1456 1457 1458 1459 1460 1461 1462 1463 1464 1465 1466 1467 1468 1469 1470 1471 1472 1473 1474 1475 1476 1477 1478 1479 1480 1481 1482 1483 1484 1485 1486 1487 1488 1489 1490 1491 1492 1493 1494 1495 1496 1497 1498 1499 1500 1501 1502 1503 1504 1505 1506 1507 1508 1509 1510 1511 1512 1513 1514 1515 1516 1517 1518 1519 1520 1521 1522 1523 1524 1525 1526 1527 1528 1529 1530 1531 1532 1533 1534 1535 1536 1537 1538 1539 1540 1541 1542 1543 1544 1545 1546 1547 1548 1549 1550 1551 1552 1553 1554 1555 1556 1557 1558 1559 1560 1561 1562 1563 1564 1565 1566 1567 1568 1569 1570 1571 1572 1573 1574 1575 1576 1577 1578 1579 1580 1581 1582 1583 1584 1585 1586 1587 1588 1589 1590 1591 1592 1593 1594 1595 1596 1597 1598 1599 1600 1601 1602 1603 1604 1605 1606 1607 1608 1609 1610 1611 1612 1613 1614 1615 1616 1617 1618 1619 1620 1621 1622 1623 1624 1625 1626 1627 1628 1629 1630 1631 1632 1633 1634 1635 1636 1637 1638 1639 1640 1641 1642 1643 1644 1645 1646 1647 1648 1649 1650 1651 1652 1653 1654 1655 1656 1657 1658 1659 1660 1661 1662 1663 1664 1665 1666 1667 1668 1669 1670 1671 1672 1673 1674 1675 1676 1677 1678 1679 1680 1681 1682 1683 1684 1685 1686 1687 1688 1689 1690 1691 1692 1693 1694 1695 1696 1697 1698 1699 1700 1701 1702 1703 1704 1705 1706 1707 1708 1709 1710 1711 1712 1713 1714 1715 1716 1717 1718 1719 1720 1721 1722 1723 1724 1725 1726 1727 1728 1729 1730 1731 1732 1733
|
<pre>Network Working Group R. Winter
Request for Comments: 515 Computer Corporation of America
NIC 16446 6 June 1973
<span class="h1">Specifications for Datalanguage, Version 0/9</span>
Preface
Datalanguage is the language processed by the Datacomputer, a data
utility system being developed for the Arpanet. The Datacomputer
performs data storage and data management functions for the benefit
of computers on the network.
Version 0/9 is currently running at CCA. This version is extremely
primitive; however, it does offer an opportunity for experience with
the Datacomputer and with fundamental Datalanguage concepts.
Subsequent versions will provide greater portions of the full
Datalanguage capability, which has been described earlier
(Datalanguage, Working Paper No. 3, Datacomputer Project, October,
1971, NIC 8028). For example, one of the primary restrictions in
0/9--elementary data items must be fixed-length ASCII strings--will
be eliminated in Version 0/10, which is currently being implemented.
Based on the experience gained in the implementation of these early
versions, and based on the feedback from their use, a revised
specification of the full language will be issued.
<span class="h2"><a class="selflink" id="section-1" href="#section-1">1</a>. Introduction</span>
This document presents a precise and complete specification of
Datalanguage, Version 0/9. It is organized into 11 sections, of
which this introduction is the first. <a href="#section-2">Section 2</a> discusses the
capabilities of Version 0/9 in general terms. Sections <a href="#section-3">3</a> and <a href="#section-4">4</a> are
concerned with data description and the directory. Sections <a href="#section-5">5</a>
through 8 cover the expression of data management operations.
<a href="#section-9">Section 9</a> discusses the recognition of names. <a href="#section-10">Section 10</a> covers
miscellaneous topics and <a href="#section-11">Section 11</a> specifies the syntax in BNF.
This specification is to be followed with a user manual, which will
present the language in tutorial form and treat components of the
Datacomputer-user interface other than the language.
<span class="grey">Winter [Page 1]</span></pre>
<hr class='noprint'/><!--NewPage--><pre class='newpage'><span id="page-2" ></span>
<span class="grey"><a href="./rfc515">RFC 515</a> Specifications for Datalanguage, Version 0/9 6 June 1973</span>
<span class="h2"><a class="selflink" id="section-2" href="#section-2">2</a>. Capabilities of Version 0/9</span>
Version 0/9 of Datalanguage has capabilities for the storage of
files; for addition of data to existing files, and for the deletion
of files. Retrievals can output whole files as well as subsets of
files. Data can be selected from files by content, using expressions
formed from boolean and inequality operators.
At the option of the file creator, an inversion is constructed and
maintained by the Datacomputer. The inversion increases the
efficiency of selective retrieval, at the cost of storage space and
file maintenance effort. Users other than the file creator need not
be aware of the existence of the inversion, or of which fields are
inverted file keys. The language is designed so that they state the
desired result of a retrieval, and the Datacomputer uses the
inversion as much as the request permits.
Elementary data items are fixed-length ASCII strings. Files are a
restricted class of hierarchical structures.
Many of the restrictions mentioned in this memo will be short-lived.
In particular, those statements followed with 3 asterisks (***) refer
to restrictions that will be considerably weakened or eliminated
entirely in the next version of the software.
<span class="h2"><a class="selflink" id="section-3" href="#section-3">3</a>. Data Description</span>
A container is a variable whose value is a data object of general
character and arbitrary size (In Version 0/9, size is restricted.
See <a href="#section-3.4">section 3.4</a>). Examples of containers which are implemented in
other systems are files, records, fields, groups, and entries.
The container is distinct from the data in the container. For
example, space allocation is an operation on a container, while
changing the unit price field from 25 to 50 is an operation on data
in a container.
A container may enclose other containers. When a container is not
enclosed by another container, it is said to be outermost. If
container A encloses container B, and no other container in A also
encloses B, then A immediately encloses B.
A Datalanguage description is a statement of the properties of a
container.
All containers have the attributes ident and type. Ident is a
character string by which users refer to the container. Type
determines the form of the container's value; the value can be
<span class="grey">Winter [Page 2]</span></pre>
<hr class='noprint'/><!--NewPage--><pre class='newpage'><span id="page-3" ></span>
<span class="grey"><a href="./rfc515">RFC 515</a> Specifications for Datalanguage, Version 0/9 6 June 1973</span>
elementary, or it can consist of other containers. There are 3
types: LIST, STRUCT, and STRING(***). A LIST contains a group of
containers having the same description. A STRUCT contains a group of
containers, each of which has its own description. A STRING is a
sequence of ASCII characters. While a STRING is not really an
elementary item, it is handled as one in Version 0/9.
Certain containers can have other attributes. An outermost container
has a function. The function attribute specifies whether the
container is to be used for storage or for transmission.
Size is some meaningful dimension of the container, which is type-
dependent. It is used for space allocation and data stream parsing.
An aggregate container (i.e., one that contains other containers) has
as an attribute the description or descriptions of its components.
Thus if S is a STRUCT containing A, B, and C, then the descriptions
of A, B, and C are attributes of S.
A STRING defined in certain contexts can have an inversion attribute.
This is an access property that is not really local to the STRING,
but is associated with it for convenience.
<span class="h3"><a class="selflink" id="section-3.1" href="#section-3.1">3.1</a> Ident</span>
The ident of a container is composed of alphanumeric characters,
the first of which is alphabetic. It may not consist of more than
100 characters.
The elements of a STRUCT must have idents unique in the STRUCT.
<span class="h3"><a class="selflink" id="section-3.2" href="#section-3.2">3.2</a> Function</span>
The function of a container is either FILE, PORT, or TEMPORARY
PORT. When the function is FILE, then the container is used for
storage of data at the Datacomputer. When the function is PORT,
then the container is used for transmission of data into or out of
the Datacomputer. When the function is TEMPORARY PORT (which may
be abbreviated TEMP PORT), the container behaves like a PORT;
however, its description is not retained in the Datacomputer
beyond the session in which it is created.
<span class="grey">Winter [Page 3]</span></pre>
<hr class='noprint'/><!--NewPage--><pre class='newpage'><span id="page-4" ></span>
<span class="grey"><a href="./rfc515">RFC 515</a> Specifications for Datalanguage, Version 0/9 6 June 1973</span>
<span class="h3"><a class="selflink" id="section-3.3" href="#section-3.3">3.3</a> Type</span>
Type is one of: LIST, STRUCT, or STRING. These are defined on the
preceding page.
In an occurrence of a STRUCT, the elements appear in the order in
which their descriptions appear in the STRUCT description. All
elements are present in each occurrence of the STRUCT.
An element of a STRUCT or LIST can be a container of any datatype.
However, the outermost container must be a LIST(***).
<span class="h3"><a class="selflink" id="section-3.4" href="#section-3.4">3.4</a> Size</span>
The size of a STRING is the number of characters in it. The size
of a STRUCT is not defined (***). The meaning of the size of a
LIST depends upon other properties of the LIST (***).
Ordinarily, the size of a LIST is the number of LIST-members. An
exception is the case of the outermost-LIST. In an outermost-LIST
with a function of FILE, the size is the number of LIST-members
for which space should be allocated. When no size is present in
this case, the system computes a default. In an outermost-LIST
with a function of PORT, the size is ignored (***).
Only outermost containers may be larger than a TENEX page (2560
ASCII characters)(***).
<span class="h3"><a class="selflink" id="section-3.5" href="#section-3.5">3.5</a> Inversion</span>
An inversion is an auxiliary data structure used to facilitate
retrieval by content.
Its basic application is the fast retrieval of sets of outermost-
LIST-members (this can be extended to other container sets, and
will be after release 1). Consider a list of weather
observations, stored as a file on the Datacomputer. If quick
retrieval of observations by COUNTRY is desired, then this is
indicated in the description of the COUNTRY container. According
to common usage in information retrieval, this makes COUNTRY a key
in the retrieval of observations.
Note that the inversion option only affects the efficiency of
retrieval by COUNTRY, not the ability to retrieve by COUNTRY.
<span class="grey">Winter [Page 4]</span></pre>
<hr class='noprint'/><!--NewPage--><pre class='newpage'><span id="page-5" ></span>
<span class="grey"><a href="./rfc515">RFC 515</a> Specifications for Datalanguage, Version 0/9 6 June 1973</span>
There are restrictions on use of the inversion option. First, it
can be applied only to STRINGs. Second a STRING having the
inversion option must occur only once in each
outermost-LIST-member. Third, it is ignored when applied to
STRINGs in PORT descriptions.
Eventually there will be several types of inversion option; in
Version 0/9 there is only the 'D' option (for distinct).
<span class="h3"><a class="selflink" id="section-3.6" href="#section-3.6">3.6</a> Syntax</span>
The description is simply an enumeration of properties; these
properties are specified in the order:
<ident> <function> <type> <size> <other>
Properties which do not apply are omitted. An example:
F FILE LIST (25) A STR (10)
Here 'F' is the <ident>, 'FILE' is the <function>, 'LIST' is the
<type>, '(25)' is the size, and 'A STR (10)' is the <other> of one
description. Of course, 'A STR (10)' is itself another
description: the description for members of the LIST named F.
An example of a complete description for a file of weather
observations keyed on location:
WEATHER FILE LIST
OBSERVATION STRUCT
LOCATION STRUCT
CITY STR (10), I=D
COUNTRY STR (10), I=D
END
TIME STRUCT
YEAR STR (2)
DAY STR (3)
HOUR STR (2)
END
DATE STRUCT
TEMPERATURE STR (3)
RAINFALL STR (3)
HUMIDITY STR (2)
END
END
The ENDs are needed to delimit the list of elements of a STRUCT.
`, I=D' indicates that the string is to be an inversion key for
the retrieval of outermost-LIST-members.
<span class="grey">Winter [Page 5]</span></pre>
<hr class='noprint'/><!--NewPage--><pre class='newpage'><span id="page-6" ></span>
<span class="grey"><a href="./rfc515">RFC 515</a> Specifications for Datalanguage, Version 0/9 6 June 1973</span>
<span class="h2"><a class="selflink" id="section-4" href="#section-4">4</a>. Directory</span>
The directory is a system file in which the names and descriptions of
all user-defined containers are kept.
The directory is structured as a tree. Each node has an ident, which
need not be unique. There is a single path from the root of the tree
to any node. The idents of the nodes along this path are
concatenated, separated by periods, to form a pathname, which
unambiguously identifies the node (e.g., A.B.C could be a pathname
for node with an ident of C).
In a later version of the software, the directory will be generalized
to provide for links between nodes, so that it will not properly be a
tree. For now, however, the tree model is convenient and adequate.
A node may represent a container, or it may simply hold a place in
the space of pathnames. When it represents a container, it cannot
(currently) have subordinate nodes.
Eventually, it is planned to model the directory as a structure of
containers, with its description distributed throughout the
structure. Most operations defined on the directory will be defined
on user data, and vice versa. Access privileges and privacy locks
will be part of the data description and will likewise be applicable
both to directory nodes and data structures below the node level.
<span class="h3"><a class="selflink" id="section-4.1" href="#section-4.1">4.1</a> CREATE</span>
A CREATE-request either; (a) adds a node to the directory,
optionally associating the description of either a PORT or a FILE
with the node, or (b) creates a temporary container which is not
entered in the directory, but has a description and can be
referenced in requests. If the description defines a file, CREATE
causes space to be allocated for the file.
To create a node with a description:
CREATE <pathname> <description> ;
To create a node with no description:
CREATE <pathname> ;
Note that the description determines whether or not the container
is temporary (see <a href="#section-3.2">section 3.2</a> for details).
<span class="grey">Winter [Page 6]</span></pre>
<hr class='noprint'/><!--NewPage--><pre class='newpage'><span id="page-7" ></span>
<span class="grey"><a href="./rfc515">RFC 515</a> Specifications for Datalanguage, Version 0/9 6 June 1973</span>
A CREATE-request adds a single node to the directory. Thus to add
CCA.RAW.F to an empty directory, three requests are needed:
CREATE CCA ;
CREATE CCA.RAW ;
CREATE CCA.RAW.F ;
Notice that the last ident of the pathname doubles as the first
ident of the description:
CREATE CCA.RAW.G FILE LIST A STR (5) ;
That is, G is both the ident of a node and the ident of an
outermost container of type LIST.
<span class="h3"><a class="selflink" id="section-4.2" href="#section-4.2">4.2</a> DELETE</span>
A DELETE-request deletes a tree of nodes and any associated
descriptions or data. The syntax is:
DELETE <pathname> ;
The named node and any subordinates are deleted.
Note that to delete data while retaining the directory entry and
description, DELETE should not be used (see <a href="#section-6.3">section 6.3</a> for the
proper method).
<span class="h3"><a class="selflink" id="section-4.3" href="#section-4.3">4.3</a> LIST</span>
The LIST-request is used to display system data of interest to a
user. It causes the data specified to be transmitted through the
Datalanguage output port.
Several arguments of LIST apply to the directory. LIST %ALL
transmits all pathnames in the directory. LIST %ALL.%SOURCE
transmits all descriptions in the directory. Instead of %ALL, a
pathname can be used:
LIST <pn>.%ALL
Lists pathnames subordinate to <pn>.
LIST <pn>.%SOURCE
lists descriptions subordinate to the node represented by <pn>.
For details about the LIST-request, see <a href="#section-10.1">section 10.1</a>.
<span class="h2"><a class="selflink" id="section-5" href="#section-5">5</a>. Opening and closing containers</span>
Containers must be open before they can be operated on.
A container is open when it is first created. It remains open until
closed explicitly by a CLOSE-request or implicitly by a DELETE-
request or by session end.
<span class="grey">Winter [Page 7]</span></pre>
<hr class='noprint'/><!--NewPage--><pre class='newpage'><span id="page-8" ></span>
<span class="grey"><a href="./rfc515">RFC 515</a> Specifications for Datalanguage, Version 0/9 6 June 1973</span>
A closed container is opened by an OPEN-request. A temporary
container is always open; a CLOSE-request deletes it.
<span class="h3"><a class="selflink" id="section-5.1" href="#section-5.1">5.1</a> Modes</span>
An open container has a mode, which is one of: READ, WRITE, or
APPEND. The mode determines the meaning and/or legitimacy of
certain operations on the container.
The mode is established by the operation which opens the
container. It can be changed at any time by a MODE-request. A
CREATE leaves the container in WRITE mode. An OPEN either
specifies the mode explicitly or implicitly sets the mode to READ.
<span class="h3"><a class="selflink" id="section-5.2" href="#section-5.2">5.2</a> Syntax</span>
To open a container:
OPEN <pathname> <mode> ;
or:
OPEN <pathname> ;
where <mode> is defaulted to READ.
To close a container:
CLOSE <ident> ;
where <ident> is the name of an outermost container.
Two containers with the same outermost <ident> can not be
opened at the same time (***).
To change the mode of an open container:
MODE <ident> <newmode> ;
<span class="h3"><a class="selflink" id="section-5.3" href="#section-5.3">5.3</a> LIST</span>
LIST %OPEN transmits name, mode and connection status of each open
outermost container through the Datalanguage output port. (The
Datalanguage output port is the destination to which all
Datacomputer diagnostics and replies are sent. It is established
when the user initially connects to the Datacomputer.) For
details of the LIST-request, see <a href="#section-10.1">section 10.1</a>.
<span class="h2"><a class="selflink" id="section-6" href="#section-6">6</a>. Assignment</span>
Assignment transfers data from one container to another.
The equal sign ('=') is the symbol for assignment. The value of the
operand on the right of the equal sign is transferred to the operand
on the left. (Eventually, both operands will be weakly-restricted
<span class="grey">Winter [Page 8]</span></pre>
<hr class='noprint'/><!--NewPage--><pre class='newpage'><span id="page-9" ></span>
<span class="grey"><a href="./rfc515">RFC 515</a> Specifications for Datalanguage, Version 0/9 6 June 1973</span>
Datalanguage expressions, which may evaluate to sets as well as to
single containers. Now, the left must be a container name, the right
may be a container name or a constant.)
Assignment is defined for all types of containers. When the
containers are aggregates, their elements are paired and data is
transferred between paired elements. Elements of the target
container that do not pair with some source element are handled with
a default operation (currently they are filled with blanks).
The operands of an assignment must have descriptions that match. The
idea of matching is that the descriptions must be similar enough so
that it is obvious how to map one into the other.
<span class="h3"><a class="selflink" id="section-6.1" href="#section-6.1">6.1</a> Conditions for legitimate assignment</span>
Assignment must reference objects, not sets. An object is:
(a) an outermost container, or
(b) a constant, or
(c) in the body of a FOR-loop, either
(c1) a member of a set defined by a FOR-OPERAND, or
(c2) a container which occurs once in such a member
In the case of a reference of type (c1), the object referenced is
taken to be the current member. In the case of (c2), the object
referenced is that which occurs in the current member. This is
explained further in <a href="#section-7">section 7</a>.
The left operand of an assignment is subject to further
restriction. If it is an outermost container, it must be open in
either WRITE- or APPEND-mode. If it is not an outermost
container, then the reference is of type (c), which means that
some FOR-operand has established a context in which the assign-
operand is an object. The FOR-operand which establishes this
context must be the output-operand of the FOR.
When the assign-operand is an outermost container, it must be
open. Such an operand must be referenced by its simple container
ident(***), not its directory pathname.
In the body of a loop nested in one or more other loops,
assignments are further restricted, due to a 0/9 implementation
problem. See <a href="#section-7.2">section 7.2</a> for details.
<span class="grey">Winter [Page 9]</span></pre>
<hr class='noprint'/><!--NewPage--><pre class='newpage'><span id="page-10" ></span>
<span class="grey"><a href="./rfc515">RFC 515</a> Specifications for Datalanguage, Version 0/9 6 June 1973</span>
Finally, the descriptions of the operands must match. If one is a
constant, then the other must be a STRING(***). If both are
containers, then in the expression:
A = B;
the descriptions of containers A and B match if:
1. A and B have the same type
2. If A and B are LISTs, then they have equal numbers of
LIST-members, or else A is an outermost-LIST.
3. If A and B are aggregates, then at least one container
immediately enclosed in A matches, and has the same ident as, one
container immediately enclosed in B.
<span class="h3"><a class="selflink" id="section-6.2" href="#section-6.2">6.2</a> Result of assignment</span>
If the operands are STRINGs, then the value of B, left-justified,
replaces the value of A. If B is longer than A, the value is
truncated. If B is shorter than A, then A is filled on the right
with blanks as necessary.
If the operands are STRUCTs, then assignment is defined in terms
of the STRUCT members. If a member of A, mA, matches and has the
same name as a member of B, mB, then mB is assigned to mA. If no
such mB exists, then mA is filled with blanks.
If the operands are LISTs, the result depends on several factors.
First, notice that the descriptions of the LIST-members must
match; otherwise the assignment would not be legitimate by the
matching rules of 6.1.
If A is an outermost-LIST, then it can be in either of two modes:
WRITE or APPEND. If A is in WRITE-mode, its previous contents are
first discarded; it is then handled as though it were in APPEND-
mode.
If A is not an outermost-LIST, then it is always effectively in
WRITE-mode.
After taking the mode of A into account, as described above, the
procedure is:
for each member of LIST B
(a) add a new member to the end of A
(b) assign the current number of B to the new member of A
<span class="grey">Winter [Page 10]</span></pre>
<hr class='noprint'/><!--NewPage--><pre class='newpage'><span id="page-11" ></span>
<span class="grey"><a href="./rfc515">RFC 515</a> Specifications for Datalanguage, Version 0/9 6 June 1973</span>
<span class="h3"><a class="selflink" id="section-6.3" href="#section-6.3">6.3</a> Deletion of Data Through Assignment</span>
If A is an outermost container in WRITE-mode, and B is a container
with description that matches A, and if B contains no data, then
A=B has the effect of deleting all data from A. Note that if A is
in APPEND-mode in these circumstances, then A=B is a no-operation
(i.e., has no effect).
<span class="h2"><a class="selflink" id="section-7" href="#section-7">7</a>. FOR</span>
FOR <output set spec>, <input set spec> <body> END ;
The output set is optional: that is, FOR need not produce output.
When the output set is omitted, the syntax is:
FOR <input set spec> <body> END ;
The operations specified in the body are performed once for each
member of the input set. References in the body to the input set
member are treated as references to the current input set member.
When an output set is present, a new member is created and added to
the output set for each iteration (i.e., for each input set member).
References to the output set member, similarly, are treated as
references to the current output set member.
The output set spec must be the name of a LIST member. Each
iteration of the FOR will create one such member, and add it to its
LIST (hereafter called the output LIST). The body terminates the
value that the new member receives. Any STRING in the new member
which is not given a value by the body receives he default value of
all blanks.
The input set spec must be an expression evaluating to a set of
LIST-members (see <a href="#section-7.1">section 7.1</a> for details of input set
specification). Each iteration for the FOR will input one such
member; the FOR will terminate when each member of the set has been
processed. The LIST from which the input set members are drawn is
called the input LIST.
FOR is effectively a means of accomplishing variants of assignment
between a pair of LISTS. FOR is less concise than assignment, but
offers more flexibility. Its advantages are:
(a) not all the input LIST-members need be transferred to the
output LIST. A subset can be selected by content.
(b) the user has explicit control over the assignment of values to
output LIST-members.
<span class="grey">Winter [Page 11]</span></pre>
<hr class='noprint'/><!--NewPage--><pre class='newpage'><span id="page-12" ></span>
<span class="grey"><a href="./rfc515">RFC 515</a> Specifications for Datalanguage, Version 0/9 6 June 1973</span>
This is most easily understood by an example:
P PORT LIST F FILE LIST
R STRUCT R STRUCT
B STR A STRUCT
C STR A1 STR
END A2 STR
B STR
C STR
END
(1) P = F ;
(2) FOR P.R, F.R
P.R = F.R ;
END ;
(3) FOR P.R, F.R WITH A1 EQ 'XY' OR A2 GE 'AB'
B = C ;
C = A2 ;
END
Here, (1) and (2) are entirely equivalent requests. However, (3) is
quite different and is not expressible as assignment. It selects a
subset of F.Rs. The values it gives to the P.Rs could not result
from application of the matching rules to F and P.
Because FOR is effectively assignment between a pair of LISTs, the
LISTs referenced by a legitimate FOR-operation are largely subject to
the same restrictions as LISTs referenced in an assignment. One
exception is that the descriptions of the LIST-members need not
match.
These restrictions are:
(a) both LISTs must be objects in the context in which the FOR
appears.
(b) both LISTs must be open or contained in open outermost
containers.
(c) if the output LIST is an outermost container, it must be in
WRITE- or APPEND-mode.
(d) If the output LIST is not outermost, the LIST which most
immediately encloses it must be the output LIST of an enclosing
FOR.
The mode of the output LIST of the FOR affects the result much as it
would in an assignment: that is, a FOR outputting to a LIST in
WRITE-mode overwrites previous contents, while a FOR outputting to a
LIST in APPEND-mode adds to previous contents.
<span class="grey">Winter [Page 12]</span></pre>
<hr class='noprint'/><!--NewPage--><pre class='newpage'><span id="page-13" ></span>
<span class="grey"><a href="./rfc515">RFC 515</a> Specifications for Datalanguage, Version 0/9 6 June 1973</span>
CAUTION TO THE READER: For convenience, these specifications use
phrases such as 'LISTs referenced by a FOR'. Recall that such a
phrase is not literally correct, in the sense that the operands of a
FOR are always LIST members, not LISTs.
<span class="h3"><a class="selflink" id="section-7.1" href="#section-7.1">7.1</a> Details of input set specification</span>
The input set is specified by a Datalanguage expression that
evaluates to a set of LIST-members. Such an expression can be
simply the set of all members of a LIST, or it can be a subset of
the members of a LIST, specified by content. For example, with
the description:
F FILE LIST
R STRUCT
A STR (1)
B STR (2)
END
the expression:
F.R
references all R's on the LIST F. However:
F.R WITH A EQ '5'
references only those R's containing an A having the value '5'.
The expressions permitted as input set specifications are of the
form:
<list-member-name> WITH <boolexp>
The <boolexp> is constructed of comparison expressions joined by
the Boolean operators AND and OR. Any expression can be negated
with NOT.
Comparison operators have the highest precedence. Next highest is
AND, then OR, then NOT.
The comparison expressions are restricted to the form:
<container name> <comop> <constant>
where:
(a) <constant> is a string constant enclosed in single quotes
(see <a href="#section-10.2">section 10.2</a> for a discussion of constants)
(b) <comop> is one of six operators:
EQ equal
NE not equal
LT less than
GT greater than
LE less than or equal to
GE greater than or equal to
(c) <container name> is the name of a STRING that appears once
in each LIST-member.
<span class="grey">Winter [Page 13]</span></pre>
<hr class='noprint'/><!--NewPage--><pre class='newpage'><span id="page-14" ></span>
<span class="grey"><a href="./rfc515">RFC 515</a> Specifications for Datalanguage, Version 0/9 6 June 1973</span>
The constant is truncated or padded with blanks on the right to
make it equal in size to the container to which it is being
compared. Notice that padding on the right is not always
desirable (users will have control over the padding in a future
release). In particular, care must be exercised when using
numbers in Version 0/9. (A number represented as a STRING should
actually be described as a number; eventually it will be possible
to do this).
<span class="h3"><a class="selflink" id="section-7.2" href="#section-7.2">7.2</a> FOR-body</span>
Two operations are legitimate in a FOR-body: FOR and assignment.
These are subject to the restrictions discussed in <a href="#section-6.1">Section 6.1</a> and
in the introduction to <a href="#section-7">Section 7</a>. The restrictions are related to
three requirements: (1) that the names be recognizable (see
<a href="#section-9">Section 9</a> for details), (2) that a request be consistent regarding
direction of data transfer between containers, both within itself
and with the MODE of outermost containers, and (3) that transfers
occur between objects, not sets of objects. The first two
requirements are permanent, but will become weaker in later
versions of the language. The last requirement is temporary and
will be present only in early versions.
Due to an implementation problem associated with Version 0/9,
there is a somewhat bizarre restriction applied to references made
in the body of a loop nested in another loop. This restriction is
not expected to pose any practical problems for users, and is not
part of the language design, but is discussed here for
completeness.
The restriction is most easily understood by example:
given the description
F LIST
R STRUCT
A STR (3)
BL LIST (3)
B STR (3)
C STR (3)
END
and the request fragment:
FOR ...,R
FOR ...,B
... = A ;
... = C ;
END
END
<span class="grey">Winter [Page 14]</span></pre>
<hr class='noprint'/><!--NewPage--><pre class='newpage'><span id="page-15" ></span>
<span class="grey"><a href="./rfc515">RFC 515</a> Specifications for Datalanguage, Version 0/9 6 June 1973</span>
observe:
(a) The outer loop processes the set of R's in F.
(b) For each R in F, the inner loop processes the set of B's in
the BL contained in that R.
(c) In the body of the inner loop, there are references to A and
C, which do not occur in B, but do occur in R. That is, the
objects referenced in the inner loop body are defined by the
outer loop, not the inner loop. In general, this is fine;
in the case of C, however, we have a problem.
(d) C occurs beyond the end of BL.
The 0/9 compiler is capable of neither (1) looking ahead enough to
locate C before it compiles code for the loop, nor (2) while
generating code to loop on the B's in BL, generating a separate
body of code that skips to the end of BL to locate C. Thus it can
handle A, which has been located before it begins loop generation,
but it cannot handle C, which requires a little foresight.
The request fragment shown would not cause problems if the
description were changed to:
F LIST
R STRUCT
A STR (3)
C STR (3)
BL LIST (3)
B STR (3)
END
Then both A and C would have been found before code for the inner
loop was generated.
<span class="h2"><a class="selflink" id="section-8" href="#section-8">8</a>. Data Transmission</span>
Data is transferred from container to container by execution of
assignment and FOR operations. The outermost containers involved in
transfers can be files or ports. If both are files, then the
transfer is internal to the Datacomputer. If either is a port, then
an address in the external world is needed to accomplish the data
transmission.
<span class="grey">Winter [Page 15]</span></pre>
<hr class='noprint'/><!--NewPage--><pre class='newpage'><span id="page-16" ></span>
<span class="grey"><a href="./rfc515">RFC 515</a> Specifications for Datalanguage, Version 0/9 6 June 1973</span>
Such an address is supplied through a CONNECT-request, which
associates a container (having a function of PORT) with an external
address:
CONNECT <ident> TO <address> ;
Here <address> is either a specifications of host and socket number,
or a TENEX file designator (for CCA's TENEX) enclosed in single
quotes. The host and socket form is:
<socket> AT <host>
where <socket> is a decimal number, and <host> is either a decimal
number or a standard host name (since standard host names don't exist
right now, it has to be the TENEX 'standard' name for the host.
Contact the author for the latest list.) If <host> is omitted, it is
taken to be the host from which the Datalanguage is being
transmitted.
The address associated with a port can be changed by issuing another
CONNECT-request.
A DISCONNECT-request simply breaks an existing port/address
association without establishing a new one. (A CLOSE-request that
references an open port executes a DISCONNECT.) The syntax of
DISCONNECT is:
DISCONNECT <ident> ;
A port is disconnected when: (a) no successful CONNECT-request has
ever been issued for it, or (b) a DISCONNECT for the port has been
executed since the last successful CONNECT.
When a disconnected port is referenced in an assignment, it is
connected by default either to:
(a) the connection used for the transmission of Datalanguage to the
Datacomputer, or
(b) the connection used for the transmission of Datacomputer
diagnostics to the user
The choice between (a) and (b), of course, depends on whether the
reference is for input or output. These connections are established
by the network user's ICP to the Datacomputer at the beginning of the
session.
Note that CONNECT and DISCONNECT do not open files or network
connections. They simply make address associations within the
Datacomputer. The files and connections are opened before each
request and closed after each request.
<span class="grey">Winter [Page 16]</span></pre>
<hr class='noprint'/><!--NewPage--><pre class='newpage'><span id="page-17" ></span>
<span class="grey"><a href="./rfc515">RFC 515</a> Specifications for Datalanguage, Version 0/9 6 June 1973</span>
<span class="h2"><a class="selflink" id="section-9" href="#section-9">9</a>. Names in Datalanguage</span>
A name is recognized when it has been associated with a particular
data container or set of containers.
Datalanguage has mechanisms for the recognition of names in contexts.
That is, the meaning of the name is related to where it appears.
This makes it possible to attach natural meanings to partially
qualified names.
For example:
WEATHER FILE LIST
STATION STRUCT
CITY STR (15)
STATE STR (15)
DATA LIST (24)
OBSERVATION STRUCT
HOUR STR (2)
TEMPERATURE STR (3)
HUMIDITY STR (2)
PRESSURE STR (4)
END
END
RESULTS PORT LIST
RESULT STRUCT
CITY STR (15)
HOUR STR (2)
TEMPERATURE STR (3)
END
FOR STATION WITH STATE EQ 'CALIFORNIA'
FOR RESULT, OBSERVATION WITH HOUR GT '12'
AND HUMIDITY LT '75'
CITY = CITY ;
HOUR = HOUR ;
TEMPERATURE = TEMPERATURE ;
END ;
END ;
in the assignment 'CITY = CITY', the first CITY is understood to be
RESULT.CITY and the second is understood to be STATION.CITY.
<span class="grey">Winter [Page 17]</span></pre>
<hr class='noprint'/><!--NewPage--><pre class='newpage'><span id="page-18" ></span>
<span class="grey"><a href="./rfc515">RFC 515</a> Specifications for Datalanguage, Version 0/9 6 June 1973</span>
<span class="h3"><a class="selflink" id="section-9.1" href="#section-9.1">9.1</a> Informal Presentation of Recognition Rules</span>
'Ident' is used in the sense of <a href="#section-3">section 3</a>. For example, in the
description:
F FILE LIST R STRUCT A STR (1) B STR (1) END
F, R, A and B are idents.
A context is a tree whose nodes are idents. In such a tree, the
terminal nodes are idents of STRINGs. The ident of a LIST is
superior to the ident of the LIST-member. The ident of a STRUCT
is superior to the idents of the STRUCT elements. The context
whose top node is F is said to be the context of F.
+-----+
! F !
+-----+
!
!
+-----+
! R !
+-----+
!
!
+----------+----------+
! !
! !
+-----+ +-----+
! A ! ! B !
+-----+ +-----+
Figure 9.1-1 The context of F
A pathname is a sequence of idents, naming nodes along a path from
one node to another. A full pathname in the context starts at the
topmost node. Thus F.R.B is a full pathname in the context of F.
A partial pathname starts at a node other than the topmost node
(e.g. R.B, B).
In Datalanguage, pathnames omitting intermediate nodes, such as
F.B (which omits 'R'), are not permitted. Thus partial pathnames
are partial only in that additional names are implied on the left.
<span class="grey">Winter [Page 18]</span></pre>
<hr class='noprint'/><!--NewPage--><pre class='newpage'><span id="page-19" ></span>
<span class="grey"><a href="./rfc515">RFC 515</a> Specifications for Datalanguage, Version 0/9 6 June 1973</span>
Three attempts at recognition of a pathname, PN, in a context, CX,
are made:
(a) recognition of PN as a full pathname in CX
(b) recognition of PN as a partial pathname in which only the
topmost node of CX is omitted
(c) recognition of PN as an arbitrary partial pathname occurring
only once in CX.
The attempts are made in the above order, and the recognition
process halts with the first successful attempt.
As an example, consider the description:
F FILE LIST
R STRUCT
A STR
B STR
S STRUCT
R STR
which defines the context in Figure 9.1-2.
+-----+
! F !
+-----+
!
!
+-----+
! R !
+-----+
!
!
+----------------+----------------+
! ! !
! ! !
+-----+ +-----+ +-----+
! A ! ! B ! ! S !
+-----+ +-----+ +-----+
!
!
+-----+
! R !
+-----+
Figure 9.1-2 Example Context
<span class="grey">Winter [Page 19]</span></pre>
<hr class='noprint'/><!--NewPage--><pre class='newpage'><span id="page-20" ></span>
<span class="grey"><a href="./rfc515">RFC 515</a> Specifications for Datalanguage, Version 0/9 6 June 1973</span>
In this context, F.R.A is a full pathname. Thus, F.R.A is
recognized in attempt (a). R is a partial pathname in which only
the topmost node is omitted. Thus R is recognized in attempt (b).
Note carefully that R is recognized as a reference to F.R, not to
F.R.S.R. Finally, B is an arbitrary partial pathname occurring
only once in the context. Thus B is recognized in attempt (c).
Two stacks of contexts are maintained: one for names used in an
input sense, and one for names used in an output sense. When a
name is to be recognized, it is first decided whether the
reference is an input reference or an output reference. An input
reference is (a) the right hand operand of an assign, or (b) a
name in the input set spec of a FOR. An output reference is (a)
the left operand of an assign, or (b) the output operand of a FOR.
The first context on the appropriate context stack is then
searched, according to the procedure outlined on the previous
page. If the name is neither recognized nor ambiguous in that
context, search continues in the next context on the stack. If
the name can be recognized in none of the contexts on the
appropriate stack, it is unrecognizable.
When a stack is empty, the recognition procedure is different.
The search is carried on in a special context: The context of
%OPEN. Its top node, %OPEN, is a built in system ident.
Subordinate to %OPEN is a context for each open directory node.
Each such context represents all the idents defined in the
directory nodes having data descriptions:
F FILE LIST R STRUCT A STR (1) B STR (1)
and:
P PORT LIST R STRUCT A STR (1) B STR (1)
then the context of %OPEN would be as in Figure 9.1-3.
<span class="grey">Winter [Page 20]</span></pre>
<hr class='noprint'/><!--NewPage--><pre class='newpage'><span id="page-21" ></span>
<span class="grey"><a href="./rfc515">RFC 515</a> Specifications for Datalanguage, Version 0/9 6 June 1973</span>
+-------+
! %OPEN !
+-------+
!
!
+-----------+-----------+
! !
! !
+-----+ +-----+
! A ! ! S !
+-----+ +-----+
! !
! !
+-----+ +-----+
! R ! ! R !
+-----+ +-----+
! !
! !
+-----+-----+ +-----+-----+
! ! ! !
! ! ! !
+-----+ +-----+ +-----+ +-----+
! A ! ! B ! ! A ! ! B !
+-----+ +-----+ +-----+ +-----+
Figure 9.1-3 The Context of %OPEN
When a directory node is closed, the corresponding context is
removed from the context of %OPEN. When a node is opened, the
associated context is added as the rightmost context subordinate
to %OPEN.
<span class="h3"><a class="selflink" id="section-9.2" href="#section-9.2">9.2</a> Context Stack Maintenance</span>
The context stacks are always empty between requests. The FOR-
operator adds entries to the stacks. FOR A adds the context of A
to the input context stack. FOR A, B ... adds the context of A to
the output stack and the context of B to the input stack.
When adding to an empty stack, FOR adds two contexts instead of
one. The second addition to the stack is the context of the
looparg; the first addition is the context of the outermost
container which encloses the looparg.
<span class="grey">Winter [Page 21]</span></pre>
<hr class='noprint'/><!--NewPage--><pre class='newpage'><span id="page-22" ></span>
<span class="grey"><a href="./rfc515">RFC 515</a> Specifications for Datalanguage, Version 0/9 6 June 1973</span>
For example, given a context of %OPEN as in Figure 9.1-3, and
empty context stacks, the fragment 'FOR F.R ...' adds two
contexts: (1) the context of F, and (2) the context of F.R.
Contexts are removed from the stacks by the END matching the FOR
which added them.
<span class="h2"><a class="selflink" id="section-10" href="#section-10">10</a>. Miscellaneous Topics</span>
<span class="h3"><a class="selflink" id="section-10.1" href="#section-10.1">10.1</a> The LIST-request</span>
The LIST-request provides a means for the user to inspect system
data of interest to him. The user can determine the contents of
the directory, the source or parsed form of any data description
in the system, and the mode and connection status of any open file
or port.
The LIST operator has a single operand, which can have any of
several forms. The action of the operator is to output a list of
values on the Datalanguage output port.
To output a list of pathnames, the operand used is '%ALL'. When
'%ALL' appears alone, all pathnames in the directory are listed.
When '%ALL' appears after the last ident in a directory pathname,
the full pathnames of all nodes subordinate to the named node are
listed.
To output one or more source descriptions, the operand '.%SOURCE'
is used. '.%SOURCE' is preceded with one of (a) '%ALL', (b)
'%OPEN', or (c) the ident of an open outermost container. The
output is either (a) all descriptions, (b) all open descriptions,
or (c) a particular open description.
To output a parsed description, the operand '.%DESC' is used
('%DESCRIPTION' is also accepted). This operand is preceded
either with (a) '%OPEN', or (b) the ident of an open outermost
container.
<span class="grey">Winter [Page 22]</span></pre>
<hr class='noprint'/><!--NewPage--><pre class='newpage'><span id="page-23" ></span>
<span class="grey"><a href="./rfc515">RFC 515</a> Specifications for Datalanguage, Version 0/9 6 June 1973</span>
Examples:
Let P be the ident of an open PORT. Let A.B.C be a
directory pathname.
LIST %ALL
LIST A.B.C.%ALL
LIST %OPEN
LIST %ALL.%SOURCE
LIST %OPEN.%SOURCE
LIST P.%SOURCE
LIST %OPEN.%DESC
LIST P.%DESC
Note that 'LIST A.B.C.%SOURCE' is not legal - '.%SOURCE'
must be preceded with the ident of an open container, not a
pathname. A similar restriction applies to '.%DESC'.
<span class="h3"><a class="selflink" id="section-10.2" href="#section-10.2">10.2</a> Constants in Datalanguage</span>
A constant of type STRING can be included in a Datalanguage
request by enclosing it in single quotes:
'ABC'
A single quote is included in a constant by preceding it with a
double quote:
'FATHER"'S'
Likewise, a double quote is included by preceding it with a double
quote:
'JOHN SAID ""HELLO""'
Such constants can be used on the right of comparison operators
and of assignment operators which reference strings.
Eventually, Datalanguage will contain facilities for the inclusion
of constants of all datatypes; such constants are simply a special
case of the Datalanguage expression and will be permitted wherever
such expressions are permitted.
<span class="h3"><a class="selflink" id="section-10.3" href="#section-10.3">10.3</a> Character Set</span>
Internally, Version 0/9 of the Datacomputer software operates in
7-bit ASCII characters. Its output to the ARPANET is converted to
8-bit ASCII. On input from the ARPANET, it expects 8-bit
characters, which it converts to 7-bit characters.
<span class="grey">Winter [Page 23]</span></pre>
<hr class='noprint'/><!--NewPage--><pre class='newpage'><span id="page-24" ></span>
<span class="grey"><a href="./rfc515">RFC 515</a> Specifications for Datalanguage, Version 0/9 6 June 1973</span>
To convert from 7- to 8-bit characters, a '0' bit is prefixed. To
convert from 8- to 7-bit characters, the high-order bit is
checked. If the high-order bit is a '0', the bit is discarded and
the character is accepted as a 7-bit character. If the high-order
bit is a '1', then the character is discarded.
(In the following discussion, as elsewhere in this memo, all
references to numerical character codes are in decimal).
The remainder of this section discusses treatment of codes 0
through 127, when they appear in Datalanguage requests.
In general, printing characters are acceptable in requests, while
control characters are not. There are some exceptions, which are
detailed below. The printing characters are codes 32-126. The
control characters are codes 0-31 and 127.
Certain control characters are accepted:
Tab(9) is accepted freely in requests. It functions as a
separator (explained below).
EOL(31), meaning end-of-line, is accepted in requests,
functioning both as a separator and an activator (a). EOL has
a special meaning in data, and should not be introduced into
STRING constants(***).
Control-L(12) is an activator and a high-level request
delimiter. It terminates the test of any request being
processed when it is encounter in the input stream. It is
useful in Datacomputer-user program synchronization.
Control-Z(26) means end-of-session when encountered in
Datalanguage. It has the properties of control-L, and in
addition, causes the Datacomputer to execute an end-of-session
procedure, which results in closing the Datalanguage
connections, closing any open files or ports, etc. The effect
is equivalent to a [LOGOUT(which] does not exist yet).
The two-character sequence <carriage return(13), line feed(10)>
is equivalent to EOL (and is translated to EOL on input from
the network). The reverse sequence, as well as either
character alone, is treated simply as other control characters
(ignored).
All other control characters are ignored.
<span class="grey">Winter [Page 24]</span></pre>
<hr class='noprint'/><!--NewPage--><pre class='newpage'><span id="page-25" ></span>
<span class="grey"><a href="./rfc515">RFC 515</a> Specifications for Datalanguage, Version 0/9 6 June 1973</span>
The printing characters are further divided into four groups:
special characters, uppercase letters, lower case letters, and
digits (the membership of these groups is defined in <a href="#section-11">section 11</a>).
Corresponding upper and lower case letters are equivalent in
requests, except with quoted strings.
Certain special characters have a lexical function, which is
either break or separator. A break character terminates the
current lexical item and returned itself as the next item. A
separator character terminates the current item but does not begin
a new item (i.e., its only function is to separate items).
Multiple separators are equivalent to a single separator. A
separator can always be inserted before or after a break
character, without altering the meaning of the request.
The separators are tab(9), space(32), and end-of-line(31).
The break characters are left parenthesis(40), right
parenthesis(41), equals(61), semicolon(59), period(46), comma(44),
quote(39), and slash(47).
(a) An activator character causes the Datacomputer to process
whatever has been received since the previous activator or
the beginning of the request. The meaning of a request is
independent of the presence/absence of activators. However,
a request will not be executed until an activator beyond the
end of the request is received.
While Version 0/9 defines (carriage return, linefeed) in terms of
EOL, network users should not think in terms of sending EOL's to
the Datacomputer over the network. EOL is not part of the network
ASCII character set, and has no definite permanent place in
Datacomputer implementation plans.
<span class="h3"><a class="selflink" id="section-10.4" href="#section-10.4">10.4</a> Comments</span>
Comments can be included in Datalanguage requests. A comment is
begun with the two-character sequence '/*', and ended with the
two-character sequence '*/'. Since slash is a break character, a
comment does cause a lexical break; its overall effect is that of
a separator.
<span class="grey">Winter [Page 25]</span></pre>
<hr class='noprint'/><!--NewPage--><pre class='newpage'><span id="page-26" ></span>
<span class="grey"><a href="./rfc515">RFC 515</a> Specifications for Datalanguage, Version 0/9 6 June 1973</span>
<span class="h3"><a class="selflink" id="section-10.5" href="#section-10.5">10.5</a> Reserved Identifiers</span>
Certain identifiers are reserved in Datalanguage, and should not
be used to name containers or directory nodes. These are:
AND
APPEND
AT
CLOSE
CONNECT
CREATE
DELETE
DISCONNECT
END
EQ
FILE
FOR
GE
GT
LE
LIST
LT
NODE
NE
NOT
OPEN
OR
PORT
READ
STR
STRUCT
TO
WITH
WRITE
More reserved identifiers will be added in Version 0/10.
<span class="grey">Winter [Page 26]</span></pre>
<hr class='noprint'/><!--NewPage--><pre class='newpage'><span id="page-27" ></span>
<span class="grey"><a href="./rfc515">RFC 515</a> Specifications for Datalanguage, Version 0/9 6 June 1973</span>
<span class="h2"><a class="selflink" id="section-11" href="#section-11">11</a>. Datalanguage Syntax Expressed in BNF</span>
<span class="h3"><a class="selflink" id="section-11.1" href="#section-11.1">11.1</a> Requests</span>
11.1.01 <request> ::= ;
11.1.02 <request> ::= <create>
11.1.03 <request> ::= OPEN <pn> ;
11.1.04 <request> ::= OPEN <pn> <mode> ;
11.1.05 <request> ::= CLOSE <ident> ;
11.1.06 <request> ::= CONNECT <ident> TO <address> ;
11.1.07 <request> ::= DISCONNECT <ident> ;
11.1.08 <request> ::= MODE <ident> <mode> ;
11.1.09 <request> ::= DELETE <pn> ;
11.1.10 <request> ::= LIST <listarg> ;
11.1.11 <request> ::= <sr-request> ;
<span class="h3"><a class="selflink" id="section-11.2" href="#section-11.2">11.2</a> Data Description and Creation</span>
11.2.01 <create> ::= CREATE <pn>
11.2.02 <create> ::= CREATE <pn> <ftn> LIST <desc>
11.2.03 <create> ::= CREATE <pn> <ftn> LIST <size> <desc>
11.2.04 <desc> ::= <ident> <attributes>
11.2.05 <attributes> ::= LIST <size> <desc>
11.2.06 <attributes> ::= STRUCT <descs> END
11.2.07 <attributes> ::= STR <size>
11.2.08 <attributes> ::= STR <size> ,I=D
11.2.09 <descs> ::= <desc>
11.2.10 <descs> ::= <descs> <desc>
11.2.11 <ftn> ::= PORT
11.2.12 <ftn> ::= FILE
11.2.13 <ftn> ::= TEMP PORT
11.2.14 <ftn> ::= TEMPORARY PORT
11.2.15 <size> ::= ( <integer constant> )
<span class="grey">Winter [Page 27]</span></pre>
<hr class='noprint'/><!--NewPage--><pre class='newpage'><span id="page-28" ></span>
<span class="grey"><a href="./rfc515">RFC 515</a> Specifications for Datalanguage, Version 0/9 6 June 1973</span>
<span class="h3"><a class="selflink" id="section-11.3" href="#section-11.3">11.3</a> Data Storage and Retrieval</span>
11.3.01 <sr-request> ::= <assign>
11.3.01 <sr-request> ::= <loop>
11.3.03 <assign> ::= <pn> = <object>
11.3.04 <loop> ::= FOR <looparg> <loopbody> END
11.3.05 <looparg> ::= <exp>
11.3.06 <looparg> ::= <pn> , <exp>
11.3.07 <loopbody> ::= <sr-request>
11.3.08 <loopbody> ::= <loopbody1> <sr-request>
11.3.09 <loopbody> ::= <loopbody1>
11.3.10 <loopbody1> ::= <sr-request> ;
11.3.11 <loopbody1> ::= <loopbody1> <sr-request> ;
<span class="h3"><a class="selflink" id="section-11.4" href="#section-11.4">11.4</a> Expressions</span>
11.4.01 <exp> ::= <pn>
11.4.02 <exp> ::= <pn> WITH <boolexp>
11.4.03 <boolexp> ::= <pn> <comop> <string constant>
11.4.04 <boolexp> ::= ( <boolexp> )
11.4.05 <boolexp> ::= NOT <boolexp>
11.4.06 <boolexp> ::= <boolexp> AND <boolexp>
11.4.07 <boolexp> ::= <boolexp> OR <boolexp>
11.4.08 <comop> ::= EQ
11.4.09 <comop> ::= NE
11.4.10 <comop> ::= GT
11.4.11 <comop> ::= LT
11.4.12 <comop> ::= GE
11.4.13 <comop> ::= LE
<span class="grey">Winter [Page 28]</span></pre>
<hr class='noprint'/><!--NewPage--><pre class='newpage'><span id="page-29" ></span>
<span class="grey"><a href="./rfc515">RFC 515</a> Specifications for Datalanguage, Version 0/9 6 June 1973</span>
<span class="h3"><a class="selflink" id="section-11.5" href="#section-11.5">11.5</a> Miscellaneous</span>
11.5.01 <address> ::= <quote> <TENEX file designator>
<quote>
11.5.02 <address> ::= <socket> AT <host>
11.5.03 <address> ::= <socket>
11.5.04 <socket> ::= <integer constant> //INTERPRETED AS
DECIMAL
11.5.05 <host> ::= <integer constant> //INTERPRETED AS
DECIMAL
11.5.06 <host> ::= ***** TENEX host names *****
11.5.07 <object> ::= <pn>
11.5.08 <object> ::= <string constant>
11.5.09 <mode> ::= READ
11.5.10 <mode> ::= APPEND
11.5.11 <mode> ::= WRITE
11.5.12 <listarg> ::= %ALL
11.5.13 <listarg> ::= <pn>.%ALL
11.5.14 <listarg> ::= %OPEN
11.5.15 <listarg> ::= %ALL.%SOURCE
11.5.16 [<LISTARG>] ::= <IDENT>.%SOURCE
11.5.17 <listarg> ::= %OPEN.%SOURCE
11.5.18 <listarg> ::= %OPEN.%DESC
11.5.19 <listarg> ::= <ident>.%DESC
11.5.20 <pn> ::= <ident>
11.5.21 <pn> ::= <pn>.<ident>
11.5.22 <ident> ::= <letter>
11.5.23 <ident> ::= <ident> <letter>
11.5.24 <ident> ::= <ident> <digit>
11.5.25 <integer constant> ::= <digit>
11.5.26 <integer constant> ::= <integer constant> <digit>
11.5.27 <string constant> ::= <quote> <string conbody>
<quote>
11.5.28 <string conbody> ::= <nonquote>
11.5.28 <string conbody> ::= <string conbody> <nonquote>
<span class="grey">Winter [Page 29]</span></pre>
<hr class='noprint'/><!--NewPage--><pre class='newpage'><span id="page-30" ></span>
<span class="grey"><a href="./rfc515">RFC 515</a> Specifications for Datalanguage, Version 0/9 6 June 1973</span>
<span class="h3"><a class="selflink" id="section-11.6" href="#section-11.6">11.6</a> Character Set</span>
11.6.01 <separator> ::= //SPACE(32)
11.6.02 <separator> ::= //TAB(9)
11.6.03 <separator> ::= <eol>
11.6.04 <special> ::= <quote>
11.6.05 <special> ::= <superquote>
11.6.06 <special> ::= <special1>
11.6.07 <letter> ::= A
11.6.08 <letter> ::= B
...............
11.6.09 <letter> ::= Z
11.6.10 <letter> ::= a
11.6.11 <letter> ::= b
...............
11.6.12 <letter> ::= z
11.6.13 <digit> ::= 0
11.6.14 <digit> ::= 1
...............
11.6.15 <digit> ::= 9
11.6.16 <nonquote> ::= <letter>
11.6.17 <nonquote> ::= <digit>
11.6.18 <nonquote> ::= <superquote> <quote>
11.6.19 <nonquote> ::= <superquote> <superquote>
11.6.20 <nonquote> ::= <special1>
11.6.21 <nonquote> ::= <separator>
11.6.22 <eol> ::= //EOL (31)
11.6.23 <eol> ::= <carriage return> <line feed>
11.6.24 <carriage return> ::= //CARRIAGE RETURN (13)
11.6.25 <line feed> ::= //LINE FEED (10)
11.6.26 <quote> ::= ' //SINGLE QUOTE(44)
11.6.27 <superquote> ::= " //DOUBLE QUOTE(34)
11.6.28 <special1> ::= ! //EXCLAMATION POINT(33)
11.6.29 <special1> ::= # //NUMBER SIGN(35)
11.6.30 <special1> ::= $ //DOLLAR SIGN(36)
11.6.31 <special1> ::= % //PERCENT SIGN(37)
11.6.32 <special1> ::= & //AMPERSAND(38)
11.6.33 <special1> ::= ( //LEFT PARENTHESIS(40)
<span class="grey">Winter [Page 30]</span></pre>
<hr class='noprint'/><!--NewPage--><pre class='newpage'><span id="page-31" ></span>
<span class="grey"><a href="./rfc515">RFC 515</a> Specifications for Datalanguage, Version 0/9 6 June 1973</span>
11.6.34 <special1> ::= ) //RIGHT PARENTHESIS(41)
11.6.35 <special1> ::= * //ASTERISK(42)
11.6.36 <special1> ::= + //PLUS SIGN(43)
11.6.37 <special1> ::= , //COMMA(44)
11.6.38 <special1> ::= - //MINUS SIGN(45)
11.6.39 <special1> ::= . //PERIOD(46)
11.6.40 <special1> ::= / //SLASH(47)
11.6.41 <special1> ::= : //COLON(58)
11.6.42 <special1> ::= ; //SEMICOLON(59)
11.6.43 <special1> ::= < //LEFT ANGLE BRACKET(60)
11.6.44 <special1> ::= = //EQUAL SIGN(61)
11.6.45 <special1> ::= > //RIGHT ANGLE BRACKET(62)
11.6.46 <special1> ::= ? //QUESTION MARK(63)
11.6.47 <special1> ::= @ //AT-SIGN(64)
11.6.48 <special1> ::= [ //LEFT SQUARE BRACKET(91)
11.6.49 <special1> ::= //BACK SLASH(92)
11.6.50 <special1> ::= ] //RIGHT SQUARE BRACKET(93)
11.6.51 <special1> ::= ^ //CIRCUMFLEX(94)
11.6.52 <special1> ::= _ //UNDERBAR(95)
11.6.53 <special1> ::= ` //ACCENT GRAVE(96)
11.6.54 <special1> ::= { //LEFT BRACE(123)
11.6.55 <special1> ::= | //VERTICAL BAR(124)
11.6.56 <special1> ::= } //RIGHT BRACE(125)
11.6.57 <special1> ::= ~ //TILDE(126)
<EOF>
[ This RFC was put into machine readable form for entry ]
[ into the online RFC archives by Walter Benton 12/98 ]
Winter [Page 31]
</pre>
|