just how much of the rexx package do i need to run vanilla rexx?

i am one of those 'old vm guys', and just want to start with the
internals and maybe later get into all those fancy add-on functions.

i have tried to find this out in the release notes on the ooRexx page,
but even had some problems finding that

*banging my head against the wall*

thanks!

In
Message-ID:<116c6d72-e48e-4892-9a9e-c15253ac5e6e@d1g2000hsg.googlegroups.com>,
everonlynice@yahoo.com wrote:

>i am one of those 'old vm guys', and just want to start with the
>internals and maybe later get into all those fancy add-on functions.
>
>i have tried to find this out in the release notes on the ooRexx page,
>but even had some problems finding that

I think you'll find that Regina is closer to what you used on
VM than is ooRexx. If you don't mind navigating to the Regina
directory and typing "regina pgmname" instead of just "pgname",
you don't even have to do any installation. I run it from a thumb
drive on public computers.

Once you start noticing lacks, I would suggest one particular
add-on: REXXUTIL (aka REGUTIL) from McPhee.

I understand that ooREXX is a superset, and includes
everything that class REXX does. One of these days, I'll have to
install it and see.

--
Arthur T. - ar23hur "at" intergate "dot" com
Looking for a z/OS (IBM mainframe) systems programmer position

On Jul 21, 5:37*pm, Arthur T. <art...@munged.invalid> wrote:
> In
> Message-ID:<116c6d72-e48e-4892-9a9e-c15253ac5...@d1g2000hsg.googlegroups.com>,
>
> everonlyn...@yahoo.com wrote:
> >i am one of those 'old vm guys', and just want to start with the
> >internals and maybe later get into all those fancy add-on functions.
>
> >i have tried to find this out in the release notes on the ooRexx page,
> >but even had some problems finding that
>
> * * *I think you'll find that Regina is closer to what you used on
> VM than is ooRexx. *If you don't mind navigating to the Regina
> directory and typing "regina pgmname" instead of just "pgname",
> you don't even have to do any installation. *I run it from a thumb
> drive on public computers.
>
> * * *Once you start noticing lacks, I would suggest one particular
> add-on: REXXUTIL (aka REGUTIL) from McPhee.
>
> * * *I understand that ooREXX is a superset, and includes
> everything that class REXX does. *One of these days, I'll have to
> install it and see.
>
> --
> Arthur T. - ar23hur "at" intergate "dot" com
> Looking for a z/OS (IBM mainframe) systems programmer position

well, i also did some stuff with os/2 rexx too... but i'll try regina
as well.. thanks for the pointer....

everonlynice@yahoo.com wrote:
> i am one of those 'old vm guys', and just want to start with the
> internals and maybe later get into all those fancy add-on functions.
>
> i have tried to find this out in the release notes on the ooRexx page,
> but even had some problems finding that
>
> *banging my head against the wall*

Why not just install it? Then you can just edit yourself some .rex files
and run them. Many native commands are different from VM, but if you've
kept up with developements like the stream funcstion in VM's REXX, you
should have few problems getting started. Anything you don't need you
can ignore.

Graham.

everonlynice@yahoo.com wrote:
> well, i also did some stuff with os/2 rexx too... but i'll try regina
> as well.. thanks for the pointer....

I would strongly recommend installing Open Object REXX.

It will run your OS/2 Rexx scripts almost unaltered, and providing you
don't call hosts functions ("LISTFILE", anyone?) your VM REXX scripts
will also survive unchanged. I started under VM/370 and migrated to OS/2
Rexx then Windows with IBM Object Rexx and finally Linux with Open
Object Rexx. I was forced into very few changes.

However, as a dyed in the wool Classic REXX coder, I have to say that I
wouldn't consider using Classic Rexx any longer; some of the new
features are just SO useful.

One example

Name.USER = 'Some Person'
Say 'Name.USER=' name.user /* Says "Some Person" */
....
User = 'Fred' /* You accidentally change user */

Say Name.USER /* Says NAME.USER */
Say Name.['USER'] /* Says "Some Person" */

--
Steve Swift
http://www.swiftys.org.uk/swifty.html
http://www.ringers.org.uk