The following document conventions are used throughout this manual:
| Example of | ||
| Convention | Description | |
| SAMPLE2.ASM | Uppercase letters indicate file names, segment names, registers, and terms used at the command level. | |
| .MODEL | Boldface type indicates assembly-language directives, instructions, type specifiers, and predefined macros, as well as keywords in other programming languages. | |
| placeholders | Italic letters indicate placeholders for information you must supply, such as a file name. Italics are also occasionally used for emphasis in the text. | |
| target | This font is used to indicate example programs, user input, and screen output. | |
| ; | A semicolon in the first column of an example signals illegal code. A semicolon also marks a comment. | |
| SHIFT | Small capital letters signify names of keys on the keyboard. Notice that a plus (+) indicates a combination of keys. For example, CTRL+E means to hold down the CTRL key while pressing the E key. | |
| [[argument]] | Items inside double square brackets are optional. | |
| {register|memory} | Braces and a vertical bar indicate a choice between two or more items. You must choose one of the items unless double square brackets surround the braces. | |
| Repeating elements... | A horizontal ellipsis (...) following an item indicates that more items having the same form may appear. | |
| Program . . . Fragment | A vertical ellipsis tells you that part of a program has been intentionally omitted. |