Sethworks Mooseum Annex Exhibit: EGS Standard - Referencing Statements
REFERENCING STATEMENTS
There are two ways to refer to other statements or groups of
statements in EGS. These are the relative methods and the fixed
methods. These two types of reference are combined in one format
when pointing to EGS statements.
A reference to a statement in EGS always has the following form;
- - a single "$" dollar sign character.
- This signifies that a
reference is being made to another statement. It is required
in all statement references.
- - a unique specifier of an ITEM or TEXT group.
- - this specifier is omitted where the reference is to a
statement within the current group.
- - a single "\" slash character.
- This separates the visual separation of Global unique
group locator from a statement path. Exactly one occurrence
of Its use is requires in all references. At least one
path character must follow the "\" or the "*" multiple path
character used.
- - optional; A fixed reference specifier.
- A Fixed reference
appears in the same format as the original fixed reference.
See the "fixed identifier character set" under "Statement Specifications" above.
- - a statement path.
- This selects the specific statement to be referenced. Where
referencing a group of statements the branch of the group is
specified and a "*" wildcard character is used. This character
is used to represent all possible statements within that
branch.
A statement path is constructed by following the statement hiarchy
in the ITEM group from the top, noting the "relative partial
identifier characters" as you go, until the desired statement is
reached. The collection of single characters together form a path
that uniquely identifies a single statement. This construction is
similar to that used in computer filing systems where the directory
and file names are single characters. Where referring to a
collection of statements in a branch an asterisk is used following
the character for the parent statement of that branch. Where
referring to all of the statements in an ITEM group a single
asterisk appears by itself. Where Fixed references are used, the
path is constructed as if it was starting at the statement with the
fixed identifier.
Example of a reference to the entire group of which the statement
is a part is $\* as the minimum possible reference.
From here, you can:
Return to the EGS Introduction.
Return to the EGS Definition Beginning.
Return to the part on Grouping and Modularization
Return to the part on Statement Type Codes
Return to the part on Statement Specifications
Return to the part on Context Specifications
Return to the Top of this part (Referencing Statements)
Move to the next part on Bracketing Terms
Jump ahead to the Control of Special Characters
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Return to The Sethworks Mooseum.
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