# configfile(5)

    NAME
         configfile - generic configuration file format

    SYNOPSIS
         */etc/*.conf

    DESCRIPTION
         The syntax of the generic configuration file format is as follows:

              configfile:     empty
                      |       configline configfile
                      ;

              configline:     wordlist ';'
                      |       include string ';'
                      ;

              wordlist:       empty
                      |       word wordlist
                      |       string wordlist
                      |       '{' configfile '}' wordlist
                      ;

              empty:  ;

         A word is a sequence of letters, numbers, and  characters  from  the  set
         !#$%&*+-./<=>?[\]^_|~.  A backslash (\) may be followed by a character in
         the set abefnrstv to form a BEL, BS, ESC, FF, NL,  CR,  SP,  TAB,  or  VT
         character.   Followed  by  up  to  three octal digits a character of that
         value is formed, and likewise for an x followed by up to two  hexadecimal
         digits.   Any  other  character  is  left as-is.  A backslash followed by
         whitespace  is  completely  removed  from  the  input.   (This   includes
         comments.)

         A string is started by a single or double quote, a series of  characters,
         and  ended  by  the same type of quote it started with.  Any character or
         escape with \ may be found in a string.  Strings may not span lines.

         Tokens are separated by whitespace, being the usual whitespace characters
         and  comments.   A  comment  starts  with  the # character, and ends at a
         newline.

         The special word include tells that the file mentioned in  the  following
         string  must  be  read  and  included  at  that point.  The file is found
         relative to the directory the current configuration  file  is  found  in,
         unless  its  name  starts with a /.  A file that doesn't exist is seen as
         empty.

         A generic configuration file can be read with the functions described  in
         configfile(3).

    EXAMPLES
         Have a look at /etc/dhcp.conf.

    SEE ALSO
         configfile(3).

    NOTES
         Inspired by the configuration file of Paul Vixie's bind.

    AUTHOR
         Kees J. Bot (kjb@cs.vu.nl)