
H.2 Delimiters 353
H.2 Delimiters
Delimiters are "symbols" in the syntax of programming languages and have
different meanings depending on where they are used. For example, round
brackets can be used to indicate the beginning and end of a list of actual
parameters in a function call, or they can be used together with the asterisk to
frame comments.
All the delimiters and their combinations are listed in Table H.2 together with
their possible meanings.
Characters for the graphical representation of lines are not included here.
Delimiter Meaning, explanations
Space Can be inserted anywhere - except within keywords,
literals, identifiers, directly represented variables or
combinations of delimiters (such as "(*" or "*)").
IEC 61131-3 does not specify any rules about tabulators
(TABs). They are usually treated as spaces.
End of line (EOL) Permissible at the end of a line in IL. In ST also
permissible within statements. Not permitted in IL
comments. EOL (end of line) is normally
implemented by CR&LF (Carriage Return & Line
Feed).
Begin comment (*
Beginning of a comment (nesting not allowed)
End comment *)
End of a comment
Plus +
1. Leading sign of a decimal literal, also in the exponent
of a real (floating-point) literal
2. Addition operator in expressions
Minus -
1. Leading sign of a decimal literal, also in the exponent
of a real (floating-point) literal
2. Subtraction operator in expressions
3. Negation operator in expressions
4. Year-month-day separator in time literals
Number sign #
("hash")
1. Based number separator in literals
2. Time literal separator
Table H.2. Delimiters of IEC 61131-3 (continued on next page)