please explain use of set_output_delay

Thanks Brad, but having thought about it I think my question boils down to this simple one and I know I won't be happy unless I understand the answer:

for set_output_delay:

does -max specify the most positive/least negative i.e. earliest time at which data can arrive wrt the clock ?

does -min specify the least positive/most negative i.e. latest time at which data can arrive wrt the clock ?

AND, does this convention also apply in exactly the same way to set_input_delay?

Regards,

D.