Next: Global options
Up: Configuration
Previous: Configuration
The following syntax rules apply:
- flag variables consist of a single word and are followed by
whitespace or the end of the file.
- string variables consist of the variable name, optional whitespace,
an equal sign, optional whitespace, the value and required whitespace,
or the end of the file.
- a non-empty sequence of blanks, tabs, newlines and comments counts
as whitespace.
- variable names are case-insensitive. Values are usually case-sensitive,
but there are a few exceptions. (See below.)
- tabs and newlines are special characters and may not be part of a
variable name or a value. The use of other control characters and
non-ASCII characters is discouraged.
- blanks and equal signs may only be part of a variable name or a
value if they are escaped by a backslash or if the value is embedded in
double quotes. An equal sign may not be the only character in a name or
value.
- an escaped tab is converted to an escaped blank. An escaped newline
is removed from the input stream. An escaped backslash (i.e. two
backslashes) is converted to a backslash. Inside quoted strings, only
double quotes and backslashes can be escaped.
- comments begin with a number sign and end with the next newline.
All characters (including backslashes) until the newline are ignored.
Ross Biro
Sat May 20 13:51:22 PDT 1995