Easytrieve Word Delimiters

How Words Are Formed

Each Easytrieve statement consists of one or more words. A word begins with a non-blank character and ends at a delimiter or at the end of the statement area columns 1-72. Keywords like IF and FILE are words. EMPNO is a word. 'ACC' in quotes is a literal word. The compiler scans left to right applying delimiter rules to build tokens before checking grammar.

Delimiter Reference

Space Rules

Spaces separate most tokens. Arithmetic operators also require spaces on both sides in documented examples: A + B not A+B unless grammar explicitly allows tighter forms. Multiple consecutive spaces are typically treated as one delimiter boundary. Missing space between a keyword and operand can concatenate tokens into invalid words.

Colon Qualification

When the same field name exists in multiple files or in both a file and working storage, qualify with file-name:field or WORK:field. Spaces around colon are flexible—FILEA:FLD1, FILEA : FLD1, and FILEA: FLD1 are documented valid forms. Qualification removes ambiguity for the compiler and for human readers tracing data lineage in multi-file jobs.

1
2
3
IF FILEA:STATUS EQ 'A'
   ADD FILEA:AMOUNT TO WORK:TOTAL
END-IF

Parentheses for Grouping

When a statement accepts multiple parameters, parentheses group them so the compiler parses one parameter list. Without parentheses, only one parameter is assumed per grammar rules. MASK and DEBUG on PARM are classic examples where nested parentheses appear. Match opening and closing parentheses across continuation lines when statements span records.

Quotes and Embedded Apostrophes

Alphanumeric literals use single quotes. An embedded apostrophe doubles the quote: O'KELLY becomes 'O''KELLY'. The quotes are delimiters, not part of the stored value length calculation beyond the defined literal rules. Mismatched quotes extend literals to end of line incorrectly and produce confusing errors on the next statement.

RECORD-COUNT Delimiter Examples

Broadcom illustrates the same identifier with different delimiters: bare RECORD-COUNT, qualified FILEONE:RECORD-COUNT, parenthesized (RECORD-COUNT), quoted 'RECORD-COUNT', comma-terminated RECORD-COUNT, and period-terminated RECORD-COUNT. Each form plays a different grammatical role even though the human-readable name looks similar.

Spacing After Delimiters

At least one space must follow all delimiters except left parenthesis and colon in documented cases. Left parenthesis acts as basic delimiter starting a grouped list. Colon may abut the qualifying name or field without mandatory spaces on both sides. These exceptions prevent awkward spacing in FILEA:FLD1 while keeping most tokens clearly separated.

Delimiters vs Identifiers

Identifiers—field names and labels—cannot contain comma, quote, parentheses, or colon. If you need similar visual names, use hyphens: TAX-RATE not TAX:RATE as a single field name. Period is also a delimiter and cannot appear inside identifiers. This restriction drives shop naming standards for readable qualified references instead of punctuation in names.

Common Delimiter Mistakes

• Missing space after comma in long parameter lists.
• Unbalanced parentheses in nested MASK or PARM lists.
• Using colon inside a field name instead of qualification syntax.
• Single quote not doubled for embedded apostrophe in names.
• Assuming comma separates statements on one line—period-space does that.

Explain It Like I'm Five

Delimiters are spaces and punctuation that show where words start and stop in a sentence. Spaces between words are like gaps between blocks. Quotes wrap a exact phrase. Parentheses hold a group that belongs together. Colon means which box a label comes from. Period is a stop sign between sentences. The computer reads the sentence by finding those gaps—it does not swallow the punctuation as part of the word.

Exercises

1. Write qualified references for FLD1 in FILEA and WORK storage.
2. Code a MASK with parentheses grouping pattern and field parameters.
3. Write a literal for the name O'BRIEN with correct quote doubling.
4. List five delimiters and whether they may appear inside identifiers.
5. Fix an statement with missing space after an arithmetic operator.