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Syntax Conventions (Windows Azure SQL Database)
The following table lists and describes conventions that are used in the syntax diagrams in the Microsoft Windows Azure SQL Database Transact-SQL Reference.
| Convention | Used for |
|---|---|
|
UPPERCASE |
The Transact-SQL keywords in Windows Azure SQL Database. |
|
italic |
User-supplied parameters of Transact-SQL syntax. |
|
bold |
Table names, column names, index names, stored procedures, utilities, data type names, and text that must be typed exactly as shown. |
|
underline |
Indicates the default value applied when the clause that contains the underlined value is omitted from the statement. |
|
| (vertical bar) |
Separates syntax items enclosed in brackets or braces. You can use only one of the items separated by the vertical bar. |
|
[ ] (brackets) |
Optional syntax items. You do not have to type the brackets. |
|
{ } (braces) |
Required syntax items. You do not have to type the braces. |
|
[,...n] |
Indicates that the preceding item can be repeated n number of times. The occurrences are separated by commas. |
|
[...n] |
Indicates that the preceding item can be repeated n number of times. The occurrences are separated by blanks. |
|
; |
The Transact-SQL statement terminator. |
|
<label> ::= |
The name for a block of syntax. This convention is used to group and label sections of lengthy syntax or a unit of syntax that can be used in more than one location within a statement. Each location in which the block of syntax can be used is indicated with the label enclosed in chevrons: <label>. |
Multipart Names
In Windows Azure SQL Database, all Transact-SQL references to the name of a database object can be a two-part name in the following form:
schema_name . object_name
| object_name
Windows Azure SQL Database supports the three-part name database_name.[schema_name].object_name when:
-
the database_name is the current database
-
the database_name is tempdb and the object_name starts with #.
Windows Azure SQL Database does not support four-part names.
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
|
database_name |
Specifies the name of a SQL Database database. |
|
schema_name |
Specifies the name of the schema that contains the object if the object is in a SQL Database database. |
|
object_name |
Refers to the name of the object. |
The following table shows the valid formats of object names.
| Object reference format | Description |
|---|---|
|
database . schema . object |
The server name is omitted. |
|
database .. object |
The server and schema name are omitted. |
|
schema . object |
The server and database name are omitted. |
|
object |
The server, database, and schema name are omitted. |
See Also
