added short description of tapset format

1 files changed, 39 insertions, 0 deletions

diff --git a/doc/SystemTap_Tapset_Reference/en-US/Introduction.xml b/doc/SystemTap_Tapset_Reference/en-US/Introduction.xml
index 84e960d4..31e8a784 100644
--- a/doc/SystemTap_Tapset_Reference/en-US/Introduction.xml
+++ b/doc/SystemTap_Tapset_Reference/en-US/Introduction.xml
@@ -20,4 +20,43 @@
     <firstterm>tapset</firstterm> library. This document describes the various
     probe points and functions.
   </para>
+  
+<section id="format">
+	<title>Tapset Name Format</title>
+	
+<para>In this guide, tapset definitions appear in the following format:</para>
+
+<screen>
+name:return (parameters)
+	definition
+</screen>
+	
+<para>
+	The <replaceable>return</replaceable> field specifies what data type the tapset extracts 
+	and returns from the kernel during a probe (and thus, returns).
+	Tapsets use 2 data types for <replaceable>return</replaceable>: 
+	<literal>long</literal> (tapset extracts and returns an integer) and 
+	<literal>string</literal> (tapset extracts and returns a string). 
+</para>
+
+<para>
+	In some cases, tapsets do not have a <replaceable>return</replaceable> value. This
+	simply means that the tapset does not extract anything from the kernel. This is common among 
+	asynchronous events such as timers, exit functions, and print functions.
+</para>
+	
+
+
+<!--
+<varlistentry>
+<term></term>
+<listitem>
+	<para></para>
+</listitem>
+</varlistentry>
+-->
+
+</section>
+  
+  
 </chapter>