Language Summary (DPL Code)

DPL offers alternative ways to specify the sequence section. You may choose the words that make your program clear to you and to those to whom you will be showing the program (or text view of the Policy Tree, because it will use the same word choices). These equivalent specifications are summarized below.

Verbs

Verbs provide the structure of the sequence section. They specify the introduction of the next node and the performance of some action. The complete list of verbs includes the following:

Verbs for decisions:

decide, make a decision, make a max decision, make a min decision

Verbs for chance events:

gamble, take a gamble, chance, take a chance

Verbs for endpoints:

stop, quit

Verbs for actions:

pay, lose, get, receive, use, set

Verb Connectors

To move from one verb to another in a DPL program, you use the verb connectors:

and, then

This manual uses "then" to link nodes with nodes and "and" to link nodes with actions, to give a sense that the node, the branches, and the actions are occurring at the same time, while the next node occurs in a new time period. You may use whichever keyword you prefer.

Branch Connectors

Branch connectors link the node specification with the state specifications that indicate branches.

Branch Connectors for decisions:

on, about, to

Branch Connectors for chance events:

on, of

Versions: DPL Professional, DPL Enterprise, DPL Portfolio

See Also

The Sequence Section

Writing DPL Programs