Formalized structures

Hello! I am new with php (or C, or Perl, or Java, or CGI, or any other PC-) programming. I did some in early 80-ies: PL-1, Fortran, VM OS; that may be the reason of my problem - I can't understand some rules of formalizing different php language syntax structures. I met some nice formulas at the very beginning of the manual - Integers and Floating point numbers - and tried to find eny explanation for [], {}, *, ?, \, etc, but in vain. I browsed FAQs, news groups and the knowledge page, but couldn't get answers (to be honest: I din't expect to get one). Could you please add to your manual at least some links to appropriate information? The best solution for greenhorns like myself would be a short paragraph right in the manual, explaning the formalization rules... Right now I'd appreciate to get by mail some links to the knowledge I need. Thanks erx ---------------------------------------- Erkki Targo cel: (+372) 56 255525 home: (+372) 6547864 mailto: erkki@oddfellow.ee --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.648 / Virus Database: 415 - Release Date: 31.03.04