Document Conventions

Note:

The term “DOS” refers to both the MS-DOS and IBM Personal Computer DOS operating systems. The name of a specific operating system is used when it is necessary to note features that are unique to the system.

This book uses the following typographic conventions:

Example Description

STDIO.H Uppercase letters indicate filenames, segment names, registers, and terms used at the operating-system command level.
char, _setcolor, __far Bold type indicates C and C++ keywords, operators, language-specific characters, and library routines. Within discussions of syntax, bold type indicates that the text must be entered exactly as shown.
  Many functions and constants begin with either a single or double underscore. These are part of the name and are mandatory. For example, to have the __cplusplus manifest constant be recognized by the compiler, you must enter the leading double underscore.
expression Words in italics indicate placeholders for information you must supply, such as a filename.
[[option]] Items inside double square brackets are optional.
#pragma pack {1|2} Braces and a vertical bar indicate a choice among two or more items. You must choose one of these items unless double square brackets ([[ ]]) surround the braces.
#include <io.h> This font is used for examples, user input, program output, and error messages in text.
CL [[option...]] file... Three dots (an ellipsis) following an item indicate that more items having the same form may appear.
while() { . . . } A column or row of three dots tells you that part of an example program has been intentionally omitted.
CTRL+ENTER Small capital letters are used to indicate the names of keys on the keyboard. When you see a plus sign (+) between two key names, you should hold down the first key while pressing the second.
  The carriage-return key, sometimes marked as a bent arrow on the keyboard, is called ENTER.
“argument” Quotation marks enclose a new term the first time it is defined in text.
“C string” Some C constructs, such as strings, require quotation marks. Quotation marks required by the language have the form “ ” and ' ' rather than “ ” and ' '.
Color Graphics Adapter (CGA) The first time an acronym is used, it is usually spelled out.