BTEQ commands consist of several elements, some of which are required and some of which are optional. The following table describes the elements of BTEQ command syntax, using the FORMAT command example discussed in General Rules.
.SET FORMAT ON;
| Command Element | Syntax Example | Required or Optional | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| BTEQ command identifier | . (dot character) | Optional, but recommended | Identifies the beginning of a BTEQ command and distinguishes it from SQL |
| Keyword | SET | Optional for many commands | Identifies that the command sets a processing condition |
| Command keyword | FORMAT | Required | Specifies the function |
| Options | ON | Required for some commands; otherwise, optional | Specifies processing condition |
| Variable | text | Required for some commands; otherwise, optional | Specifies a value or entity for processing |
| BTEQ command terminator | ; (semicolon character) | Required for some commands; otherwise, optional | Identifies the end of the BTEQ command |