synopsis

synopsis — A general-purpose element for representing the syntax of commands or functions

Synopsis

synopsis ::= [-]

Attributes

Common attributes and common linking attributes.

Additional attributes:

  • continuation (enumeration)
    • “continues”
    • “restarts”
  • linenumbering (enumeration)
    • “numbered”
    • “unnumbered”
  • startinglinenumber (integer)
  • language
  • xml:space (enumeration)
    • “preserve”
  • label

Description

A synopsis is a verbatim environment for displaying command, function, and other syntax summaries.

Unlike cmdsynopsis and funcsynopsis which have a complex interior structure, synopsis is simply a verbatim environment.

Processing expectations

This element is displayed “verbatim”; whitespace and linebreaks within this element are significant. A synopsis element is usually displayed in a fixed width font.

Attributes

Common attributes and common linking attributes.

continuation

Determines whether line numbering continues from the previous element or restarts.

Enumerated values:
“continues”

Line numbering continues from the immediately preceding element with the same name.

“restarts”

Line numbering restarts (begins at 1, usually).

label

Specifies an identifying string for presentation purposes

language

Identifies the language (i.e. programming language) of the verbatim content.

linenumbering

Determines whether lines are numbered.

Enumerated values:
“numbered”

Lines are numbered.

“unnumbered”

Lines are not numbered.

startinglinenumber

Specifies the initial line number.

xml:space

Can be used to indicate explicitly that whitespace in the verbatim environment is preserved. Whitespace must always be preserved in verbatim environments whether this attribute is specified or not.

Enumerated values:
“preserve”

Whitespace must be preserved.

See Also

cmdsynopsis, computeroutput, funcsynopsis, lineannotation, literallayout, programlisting, screen, screenshot, userinput

Examples

<article xmlns='http://docbook.org/ns/docbook'>
<title>Example synopsis</title>

<synopsis>chgrp [-R [-H | -L | -P]] [-f] group file...</synopsis>

</article>
chgrp [-R [-H | -L | -P]] [-f] group file...
<article xmlns='http://docbook.org/ns/docbook'>
<title>Example synopsis</title>

<synopsis>int max(int int1, int int2);</synopsis>

</article>
int max(int int1, int int2);

ChangeLog

This alpha reference page is $Revision: 7120 $ published Sun, 22 Jul 2007.