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MySQL Enterprise Monitor 2.1 :: 1 Introduction :: 1.2 Conventions Used in This Document
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1.2. Conventions Used in This Document

This document uses certain typographical conventions:

  • Text in this style is used for SQL statements; database, table, and column names; program listings and source code; and environment variables. Example: “To reload the grant tables, use the FLUSH PRIVILEGES statement.”

  • Text in this style indicates input that you type in examples.

  • Text in this style indicates the names of executable programs and scripts, examples being mysql (the MySQL command line client program) and mysqld (the MySQL server executable).

  • Text in this style is used for variable input for which you should substitute a value of your own choosing.

  • File names and directory names are written like this: “The global my.cnf file is located in the /etc directory.”

  • Character sequences are written like this: “To specify a wildcard, use the ‘%’ character.”

  • Text in this style is used for emphasis.

  • Text in this style is used in table headings and to convey especially strong emphasis.

When commands are shown that are meant to be executed from within a particular program, the prompt shown preceding the command indicates which command to use. For example, shell> indicates a command that you execute from your login shell or from the command line in Windows: 

shell> type a shell command here

The “shell” is your command interpreter. On Unix, this is typically a program such as sh, csh, or bash. On Windows, the equivalent program is command.com or cmd.exe, typically run in a console window.

When you enter a command or statement shown in an example, do not type the prompt shown in the example.

Sometimes, what appears on one line in a console window cannot be represented in the documentation on a single line. In cases such as this the character ‘»’ is used. For example: 

Please specify the directory where the MySQL Enterprise Monitor »
 will be installed.

Where Unix commands are concerned, the continuation character ‘\’ is used. Doing this allows commands to be copied and pasted to the command line verbatim. For example: 

shell> /opt/mysql/enterprise/agent/bin/mysql-monitor-agent -f \
 /opt/mysql/enterprise/agent/etc/mysql-monitor-agent.ini

SQL keywords are not case sensitive and may be written in either case. This document uses uppercase.

In syntax descriptions, square brackets (‘[’ and ‘]’) indicate optional words or clauses. For example, in the following statement, IF EXISTS is optional: 

DROP TABLE [IF EXISTS] tbl_name

When a syntax element consists of a number of alternatives, the alternatives are separated by vertical bars (‘|’). When one member from a set of choices may be chosen, the alternatives are listed within square brackets (‘[’ and ‘]’): 

TRIM([[BOTH | LEADING | TRAILING] [remstr] FROM] str)

When one member from a set of choices must be chosen, the alternatives are listed within braces (‘{’ and ‘}’): 

{DESCRIBE | DESC} tbl_name [col_name | wild]

An ellipsis (...) indicates the omission of a section of a statement, typically to provide a shorter version of more complex syntax. For example, INSERT ... SELECT is shorthand for the form of INSERT statement that is followed by a SELECT statement.

An ellipsis can also indicate that the preceding syntax element of a statement may be repeated. In the following example, multiple reset_option values may be given, with each of those after the first preceded by commas: 

RESET reset_option [,reset_option] ...

Commands for setting shell variables are shown using Bourne shell syntax. For example, the sequence to set the CC environment variable and run the configure command looks like this in Bourne shell syntax: 

shell> CC=gcc ./configure

If you are using csh or tcsh, you must issue commands somewhat differently: 

shell> setenv CC gcc
shell> ./configure

Throughout this document the term ‘Unix’ is used to describe any Unix or Unix-like operating system. For an up-to-date list of operating systems supported by the MySQL Enterprise Monitor please see the http://www.mysql.com/products/enterprise/.