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1995-08-09
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REXXLIB Read.Me
Version 1.32-DEMO
August 9, 1995
=== About this package...
REXXLIB is a collection of over 150 functions designed to extend the
capabilities of REXX in OS/2. It covers five principal areas: compound
variable handling, interprocess communication, mathematical functions,
OS/2 system services, and text-mode user interfacing.
Here is a sample of what you can do with REXXLIB functions:
* convert between different REXX date formats and do date
arithmetic
* copy, sort, or merge REXX "arrays" and compound variable
collections, and read or write them from/to disk
* make a list of all "tails" of a given compound variable
* do "regular expression" searches in strings, files, and
compound variable values
* compute CRC values for files
* change a file date/time stamp
* add commonly-used REXX routines to "macro spaces" for shared
use by other REXX programs and protection from end-user
tampering
* create and access local or remote OS/2 named pipes
* evaluate standard transcendental math functions
* obtain lists of active OS/2 applications
* create multiple threads in REXX programs
REXXLIB is commercial software, and continued use or inclusion with any
other product for redistribution requires registration with Quercus
Systems. The files in this package are distributed for demonstration
only. However, all code is fully functional.
---------- ********** ----------
THE CODE IN THIS DEMONSTRATION PACKAGE MAY BE USED FOR A TOTAL OF 30
DAYS. THE TIME NEED NOT BE CONSECUTIVE - YOU MAY CONTINUE USING IT UNTIL
IT HAS BEEN USED 30 DIFFERENT DAYS. AT THAT TIME THE CODE WILL CEASE TO
FUNCTION, AND YOU MUST GET A REGISTERED COPY IN ORDER TO CONTINUE USING
REXXLIB.
---------- ********** ----------
Registration of REXXLIB entitles you to a printed manual and support.
The basic level of support is available electronically through CompuServe
and the Quercus Systems BBS. Hotline telephone support is also available
for an extra charge.
See below for information on how to register REXXLIB.
=== Installing REXXLIB
To install REXXLIB you need only copy the .DLL files (REXXLIB.DLL and
RXWIN30.DLL) to a directory named in your system LIBPATH. Alternatively,
you can copy all files on the distribution disk to a new directory on
your hard disk, and add that directory to your LIBPATH.
There are also online documentation files (.INF) that you can read with
the VIEW command, and a number of sample programs. We recommend that you
keep all of these online for easy reference while you are learning to
use REXXLIB.
Before you can run any REXX programs that use REXXLIB, you must register
the functions with the operating system. The following statements placed
in a REXX program will do this:
call rxfuncadd 'rexxlibregister', 'rexxlib', 'rexxlibregister'
call rexxlibregister
call rxfuncadd 'w_register', 'rxwin30', 'rxwindow'
call w_register
NOTE!!! The third argument of RXFUNCADD is case sensitive. You must
enter it in lower case exactly as shown.
Instead of placing these statements in every program that uses REXXLIB,
we recommend that you execute these from a REXX program that is run only
once when the system is loaded. The easiest way to do this is with a
STARTUP.CMD file. If you do not already have one, simply place the above
lines in a file called STARTUP.CMD. Provide a REXX comment (/* ... */)
as the first line of the file. And place the file in the root directory
of your system boot drive. STARTUP.CMD will then run every time the
system is loaded, and all of the REXXLIB functions will be registered.
=== Online documentation
Online documentation for REXXLIB consists of two .INF files. These can
be read with the VIEW command, like most other online OS/2
documentation. RLDEMO.INF contains complete descriptions of all REXXLIB
functions except for RXWINDOW functions. RXWINDOW.INF contains the
documentation for RXWINDOW functions.
We have an 87-page printed manual that contains the same descriptive
information on REXXLIB functions as the online document. It also contains
an overview of each of the different function groups, as well as more
detailed information on certain topics, such as semaphores, named pipes,
common function calling conventions, and regular expressions. You need
to register REXXLIB, as described below, in order to get the printed
manual.
If you would like a hardcopy reference summary of all REXXLIB functions,
we highly recommend the REXX Reference Summary Handbook written by Dick
Goran of CFS Nevada. This is a summary only, and is not a substitute for
the REXXLIB manual, but it does cover all REXX language statements,
functions, and REXX-related WorkPlace Shell usage information. The
Handbook may be ordered directly from Quercus Systems.
=== Sample programs
The SAMPLES directory contains a number of sample programs that
illustrate REXXLIB usage. Read the file SAMPLES.DOC in the SAMPLES
directory for an overview of the purpose of each file.
One of the sample programs, called FL.CMD, is a text mode file manager
program. It is fairly lengthy and provides a very good illustration of
the use of RXWINDOW functions.
Note that the sample programs assume that REXXLIB functions have already
been registered. The samples will not run unless you have called the
REXXLIBREGISTER function as discussed above.
If you would like to contribute any programs that illustrate useful
REXXLIB techniques, please feel welcome to upload them to our bulletin
board or CompuServe.
=== Other Quercus Systems products
Our primary emphasis is the development of REXX-related software and
tools. In addition to REXXLIB, we have Personal REXX, which is a full
implementation of the REXX language for DOS, OS/2, and Windows. Personal
REXX for OS/2 includes all of the functions in REXXLIB, and a number of
additional utilities and enhancements, such as global variables and
better support for external data queues. It comes with complete printed
documentation, and for many applications is significantly faster than
IBM's REXX.
We also have REXXTERM, which is a full-featured asynchronous
communication package for DOS and OS/2. REXXTERM scripts can be written
in REXX. REXXTERM provides a set of commands and functions that can be
used to develop communications applications in REXX.
Please contact us by any of the means listed below if you would like a
copy of our newsletter or information on any of these products.
You may also obtain further information by visiting our Web pages:
http://www.quercus-sys.com
=== Disclaimers
Quercus Systems excludes any and all implied warranties, including
warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose, and
limits your remedies to return of the software and manual to the
location of original retail sale for replacement or refund. Quercus
Systems specifically excludes any warranty coverage for incidental and
consequential damages.
We have provided this demonstration version of REXXLIB so that you can
test the product thoroughly before any personal or commercial use. It is
entirely your responsibility to ensure, when REXXLIB is used in
conjunction with software you supply, that the combined product
functions acceptably and does not cause undesirable side effects such as
loss of data. In no case will Quercus Systems be responsible for damages
alleged to be caused by your software in conjunction with REXXLIB.
=== Registering REXXLIB
Two types of single-user registration are available:
1. Basic registration: includes an 87-page printed manual and
electronic technical support through CompuServe and our bulletin
board. The price is $20.
2. Full registration: includes hotline telephone and fax support, and
priority service electronically, as well as the printed manual. This
also includes the rights to redistribute REXXLIB as part of an
application. The price is $50.
A $3 shipping and handling fee (for U. S. customers) and any applicable
sales taxes will be added to all orders. For special handling or
customers outside the U. S., please contact us for the exact fee.
A basic registration can be upgraded at any time to a full registration
by payment of the difference in price current at the time of upgrade.
Multiple copy discounts and site licensing terms are available by
arrangement with Quercus Systems.
You may place orders by credit card (Master Card, VISA, or Amex) using
any of the following:
1. Telephone: (408) 867-7399
2. Fax: (408) 867-7489
3. Quercus Systems Bulletin Board: (408) 867-7488
(Send a message to "SYSOP".)
4. CompuServe: send mail to 75300,2450
5. Internet: send mail to 75300.2450@compuserve.com
Please include your phone number, credit card number, and expiration
date with any credit card order.
For company POs please contact Quercus Systems for approval.
Orders with payment by credit card or check (U. S. funds only, drawn on
a U. S. bank) may also be sent to:
Quercus Systems
P. O. Box 2157
Saratoga, CA 95070
=== Redistribution policy
This REXXLIB demo package may be freely redistributed as long as all
files are included and nothing is modified in any way. You may not
include the demo package as a whole as part of another product, except
for products, such as CD-ROMs, which consist entirely of demonstration
software, shareware, or the like. If you distribute the demo package by
itself you may not charge more than a reasonable amount as a copying
fee. For a disk containing only REXXLIB, this would be at most $5.
Please contact Quercus Systems for permission in other cases, such as
inclusion with books.
The executable portions (only) of REXXLIB may be included with
commercial, "shareware", or "freeware" application software or
applications distributed "in-house" as long as you pay for one full
registration and agree to the following terms and conditions:
1. Only executable .EXE and .DLL files may be included. No other
copyrighted files of Quercus Systems (including all or any
portion of the online documentation) may be included with the
product.
2. Included files must not be modified in any way. In particular,
embedded copyright notices must be left intact.
3. Your documentation should explicitly state that REXXLIB is
copyrighted software belonging to Quercus Systems and is included
with your software by permission of Quercus Systems.
4. Users of your product are not permitted to use REXXLIB except
in conjunction with your product. Any further use by an end user
(except for evaluation) requires purchase of at least a basic
registration.
5. No part of REXXLIB may be included with other collections of
tools or libraries intended primarily for use by programmers.