---
title: "Typographic conventions"
canonical: "https://docs.cuesystem.com/space/CVCHELP/510787672/Typographic%20conventions"
format: markdown
---
> Macro (toc)

---

The syntax typographic convention is used only in syntax frames. 

```visualbasic
Long
```

A bold word is a keyword. It is a specific part of the XPL language. It indicates a syntax form of a program. Keywords are reserved. See a list of keywords in a Keywords chapter. 

```visualbasic
[:= DefaultValue]
```

An item inside square brackets is optional. 

```visualbasic
[ByVal | ByRef]
```

A vertical bar indicates a choice between two or more items. You must choose one of the items unless all of the items also are enclosed in square brackets. 

```visualbasic
// Example of a program code 

Var i As Long
```

Examples of a program code are placed in example frames. 

#### Example of a choice construction 

```visualbasic
[[[Optional] [ByVal]] | ByRef] Name As DataType [:= DefaultValue]
```

<u>[A parameter construction](https://cue.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/CVCHELP/pages/509313025)</u> (above) can be written in different ways 

```visualbasic
Optional ByVal Temperature As Long := 23 
Optional Temperature As Long := 23 // the same effect as the previous declaration 
ByVal Temperature As Long 
Temperature As Long // the same effect as the previous declaration 
ByRef Temperature As Long
```