Document Conventions

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, CObject, GetTime, TRACE, MF_STRING, CREATESTRUCT, __far Bold type indicates C and C++ keywords, operators, language-specific characters, and library routines. This includes the classes and member functions of the Microsoft class libraries, macros, flags, data structures and their members, and enumerators.
  Within descriptions of syntax, bold type indicates that the text must be entered exactly as shown.
  Many functions and constants begin with either a single or a double underscore. These are part of the name and are mandatory.
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>, MyObject Monospace font is used for examples, user input, program output, and error messages in text. It is also used for names of user-derived classes and members.
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.