...

An operator can be used in PQL via its name and some optional settings, which can be compared with a function and the variables for the function:

OPERATORNAME(parameter, operator, operator, ...)

The first variable (parameter) describes operator dependent parameters and is used for configuring the operator. Note, that there is only one parameter variable! The other variables (operator) are input operators, which are the preceding operators that push their data into this operator. The inputs of an operator can be directly defined by the definition of another operator:

OPERATOR1(parameter1, OPERATOR2(Parameter2, OPERATOR3(...)))

Except for source operators (usually the first operator of a query) each operator should have at least one input operator. Thus, the operator can only have parameters:

OPERATOR1(parameter1)

Accordingly, the operator may only have input operators but no parameters:

OPERATOR1(OPERATOR2(OPERATOR3(...)))

Alternatively, if the operator has neither parameters nor input operators, the operator only exists of its name (without any brackets!), so just:

OPERATORNAME

It is also possible to combine all kinds of definitions, for example:

OPERATOR1(OPERATOR2(Parameter2, OPERATOR3))

Intermediate Names, Views and Sources

Since the nesting of operators may lead to an unreadable code, it is possible to name operators to reuse intermediate result. This is done via the "=" symbol. Thus, we can temporary save parts of the query, for example:

Result2 = OPERATOR2(Parameter2, OPERATOR3)

The defined names can be used like operators, so that we can insert them as the input for another operator, for example:

Result2 = OPERATOR2(Parameter2, OPERATOR3)OPERATOR1(Result2)

There could be also more than one intermediate result, if they have different names:

Result1 = OPERATOR1(Parameter1, …)Result2 = OPERATOR2(Parameter2, Result1)Result3 = OPERATOR3(Parameter3, Result2)

And you can use the intermediate name more than one time, e.g. if there are two or more operators that should get the same preceding operator:

Result1 = OPERATOR1(Parameter1, …)OPERATOR2(Parameter2, Result1)OPERATOR3(Parameter3, Result1)

All intermediate results that are defined via the "=" are only valid within the query. Thus, they are lost after the query is parsed and runs. This can be avoided with views.
A view is defined like the previous described intermediate results but uses ":=" instead of "=", e.g.:

Result2 := OPERATOR2(Parameter2, OPERATOR3)

Such a definition creates an entry into the data dictionary, so that the view is globally accessible and can be also used in other query languages like CQL.
Alternatively, the result of an operator can also be stored as a source into the data dictionary by using "::="

Result2 ::= OPERATOR2(Parameter2, OPERATOR3)

The difference between a view and a source is the kind of query plan that is saved into the data dictionary and is reused. If a view is defined, the result of the operator is saved as a logical query plan, which exists of logical operators. Thus, if another query uses the view, the logical operators are fetched from the data dictionary and build the lower part of the new operator plan or query. If an operator is saved as a source, the result of the operator is saved as a physical query plan, which exists of already transformed and maybe optimized physical operators. Thus, reusing a source is like a manually query sharing where parts of two or more different queries are used together. Additionally, the part of the source is not recognized if the new part of the query that uses the source is optimized. In contrast, the logical query plan that is used via the a view is recognized, but will not compulsorily lead to a query sharing.
Finally, all possibilities gives the following structure:

QUERY = (TEMPORARYSTREAM | VIEW | SHAREDSTREAM)+
TEMPORARYSTREAM = STROM "=" OPERATOR
VIEW = VIEWNAME ":=" OPERATOR
SHAREDSTREAM = SOURCENAME "::=" OPERATOR

Parameters – Configure an Operator

...

QUERY = (TEMPORARYSTREAM | VIEW | SHAREDSTREAM)+
TEMPORARYSTREAM = STREAM "=" OPERATOR
VIEW = VIEWNAME ":=" OPERATOR
SHAREDSTREAM = SOURCENAME "::=" OPERATOR
OPERATOR = QUERY | [OUTPUTPORT ":"] OPERATORTYPE "(" (PARAMETERLIST [ "," OPERATORLIST ] | OPERATORLIST) ")"
OPERATORLIST = [ OPERATOR ("," OPERATOR)* ]
PARAMETERLIST = "{" PARAMETER ("," PARAMETER)* "}"
PARAMETER = NAME "=" PARAMETERVALUE
PARAMETERVALUE = LONG | DOUBLE | STRING | PREDICATE | LIST | MAP
LIST = "[" [PARAMETERVALUE ("," PARAMETERVALUE)*] "]"
MAP = "[" [MAPENTRY ("," MAPENTRY*] "]"
MAPENTRY = PARAMETERVALUE "=" PARAMETERVALUE
STRING = "'" [~']* "'"
PREDICATE = PREDICATETYPE "(" STRING ")"

List of available PQL Operators

...