--  //  -/  /-  on command lines

A set of 2 minus signs followed by a name defines a control variable as discussed in the conditional compile chapter.  The symbol strings // , -/ , and /- all do the same.

The syntax is any of the following four

--name=string

//name=string

/-name=string

-/name=string

where name is the name of a control variable chosen by the user and string a text string.

For example (minusminus.gms) one could use

--keycity=Boston //myflag=modes /-myvalue=7.6 -/dothis="display x;"

specifying the control variables keycity, myflag, myvalue and dothis with the strings Boston, modes, 7.6 and display x;  respectively.  In tune when one had a statement

x("%keycity%","%myflag%")=%myvalue%;

%dothis%

it would become

x("boston","mode")=7.6;

display x;

The status of the variable in terms of whether it is scoped, local, or global can be changed using the ST command line parameter.