ABSTRACTS

REXX SYMPOSIUM 2001

Title:	Development of Rexx/ObjectRexx Within IBM
Speaker:	Manfred Schweizer
Abstract:	Manfred provides an overview of the Rexx/ObjectRexx development team within IBM and its interfaces/interactions with the "outside world". He discusses the future of Rexx and ObjectRexx and describes how IBM positions ObjectRexx on Windows, AIX, and Linux.
Papers:	n/a

Title:	Real-world Cross-platform GUI Applications in Rexx
Speaker:	Mark Hessling
Abstract:	Since the introduction of Rexx/Tk at the 1999 Rexx Symposium, it has been significantly enhanced by the presenter, and is now a viable cross-platform, GUI development tool. This presentation introduces the audience to Rexx/Tk, and its recent enhancements, and demonstrates their use in a Configuration Management Tool (QOCCA), used by QCOM Australia, in most of its fixed-price, fixed-term project development work.
Papers:	On-line HTML All slides in 1 ZIP file

Title:	Rexx Arithmetic -- More Than Just Numbers
Speaker:	Mike Cowlishaw
Abstract:	Computer systems must provide an arithmetic that gives the results that people expect. This is taken for granted in Rexx, but other languages and applications often suffer from inferior decimal arithmetic. In this talk, Mike reviews the advantages of Rexx arithmetic and then compares it with other support and standards for decimal arithmetic. He then describes his process in introducing ANSI X3.274 (Rexx) arithmetic into new environments, including Java, C, databases, and hardware.
Papers:	Adobe PDF

Title:	ObjectRexx Windows Scripting Host
Speaker:	Jim Hasslacher, Jr.
Abstract:	Jim gives a brief explanation of WSH and the differences between it and OLE access, followed by WSH samples for the Internet Explorer web browser, command line, and Windows Explorer. He offers some quick pointers on what pitfalls to avoid when coding WSH and shows how to invoke "legacy" Rexx scripts as WSH scripts without recoding them.
Papers:	n/a

Title:	Automating Microsoft Excel Via ObjectRexx OLE
Speaker:	Lee Peedin
Abstract:	Through the use of ObjectRexx / OLE, practically all functions of Microsoft Excel can be automated. This presentation demonstrates various methods such as creating a new workbook, opening an existing workbook, adding data to cells, reading data in cells, determining if a cell contains a formula or a value, changing fonts and backgrounds, creating charts, plus many more. Several practical applications of the use of OLE are discussed as well.
Papers:	n/a

Title:	Using ObjectRexx in Text-to-Speech Synthesis
Speaker:	John J. Urbaniak
Abstract:	Creating Multi-Channel MIDI Files With ObjectRexx John presents two topics involving sound synthesis using ObjectRexx. He gives demos and examples of both topics.
Papers:	n/a

Title:	Getting Started With OODialog: Adding a GUI To Your Windows Rexx Programs
Speaker:	Gil Barmwater
Abstract:	Ever wonder how those Windows programs do those little boxes with messages, buttons and input areas? Would you like to add that kind of capability to your Rexx programs? This talk takes you through, step by step, modifying a simple Rexx program that uses SAY and PULL to communicate with the user, into one that uses the Graphical User Interface available via Windows. The OODialog function package, which is available as part of ObjectRexx for Windows (Developers Edition) is used to do the implementation, first using only functions calls, and then using the more powerful "objects" that are available. Gil shows how it is possible to begin using dialog boxes without knowing anything at all about Object-Oriented programming. By introducing some simple OO concepts, more of the capabilities of the OODialog package can be utilized. Finally, time-permitting, some examples of the real power of the GUI will be demonstrated.
Papers:	n/a

Title:	XML and NetRexx, a Useful Combination
Speaker:	Tom Brawn
Abstract:	Over the past few years, XML has become a common standard for the exchange of data. This common "language" provides a vehicle for the exchange of data between two unrelated applications. In his presentation, Tom gives a brief introduction to XML, touches briefly on some related topics such as stylesheets, Xerces and Xalan, and then walks through several NetRexx XML examples. Finally, Tom discusses IBM's Websphere Transcoding Publisher and its use of NetRexx in the processing of XML documents.
Papers:	n/a

Title:	Java Bean Scripting with Rexx
Speaker:	Professor Rony Flatscher
Abstract:	Java Bean Scripting Framework (a.k.a. BSF) is an IBM developed technology which allows non-Java languages to use Java classes. There are at least two significant benefits to using BSF: getting at the incredible wealth of Java functionality available with the the standard set of Java classes, available for free right on anyone's computer, having an access which is platform independent, due to the employment of Java. This way it becomes possible to quickly develop reliable, easy to read and easy to maintain code in your preferred Rexx language. Best of all, by using the Java classes these Rexx programs remain portable! This talk attempts to give a bird eye's view of the BSF and what is available in standard Java installations. Then it proceeds to introduce the work of a student, Peter Kalender, who managed to create a package which allows Rexx to use the BSF technology. (This work was created in the context of the "Essener Rexx Ski Seminar" in the winter semester of 2000/2001 at the University of Essen, Germany. ) The power and a glimpse of the tremendeous opportunity made available by this is given with a set of simple examples, demonstrating the usage of Java's "abstract windows toolkit" ("awt"), allowing Rexx to create and use a graphical user interface (GUI), runnable without modification on all Java supported platforms (i.e. practically on all operating systems and on all hardware). All examples are given in classic Rexx and should run on all ANSI compliant Rexx interpreters. Finally, the talk will introduce an Object Rexx wrapper class for the BSF function package and highlight coding benefits to the Rexx programmer, if employing some basic features of Object Rexx.
Papers:	n/a

Title:	The Rexx Shoot-out!
Speakers:	Various
Abstract:	This session will feature various exponents of Rexx GUI development on various platforms using various tools. The following Rexx GUI tools will be used: NetRexx OO-Dialog Vispro-Rexx VXREXX Java Bean Scripting Framework Rexx/Tk All participants will be given a specification for a simple GUI application (emulating the children's toy; Magic 8-ball), to be written in their tool of choice. The audience will observe their progress, (and pitfalls) during the development exercise. At the end of the session, each participant will give a short explanation of the benefits of their cosen development tools. This is sure to be an entertaining session!

Title:	Using Rexx as a CGI Under IIS
Speaker:	David Ruggles
Abstract:	David shows what is necessary to configure Microsoft's Internet Information Server and to create simple Common Gateway Interface scripts using Rexx. Several World Wide Web sites running Rexx CGI scripts under IIS are demonstrated.
Papers:	n/a

Title:	What Your Mother Never Told You About WSH (And Why You Are Afraid To Ask)
Speaker:	Jim Hasslacher, Jr.
Abstract:	Delving into the darker aspects of Windows and WSH, this is a step-by-step guide on how to build a COM object that is a Rexx script, shaving hours off of development time. Any program capable of invoking COM objects can call this COM object and not realize Rexx is the driving force. Time permitting, Jim will discuss the various types of events that WSH supports and how to invoke/use them.
Papers:	n/a

Title:	An Overview of BRexx
Speaker:	Vasilis Vlachoudis
Abstract:	BRexx is a freeware implementation of the Rexx language. The interpreter is quite compliant to the language specs. It is written entirely in ANSI-C allowing porting with ease to various operating systems. BRexx currently works on most of the Unix flavors, DOS, Ms Windows, BeOS, Amiga, Mac OS and on various pocket OS. This talk will briefly review the features of BRexx, the implementation of the interpreter, the various fields of application and the future plans.
Papers:	n/a

Title:	Creating a Web-Browsable Document Repository On VM
Speaker:	Les Koehler
Abstract:	This presentation shows how Les used Rexx to solve a business problem for his department when it was faced with the imminent loss of an official document repository for Development (in-process) documents. It covers some of the history and capabilities of the official ADVIEW project that was being terminated, the requirements for the new repository, how developers maintain their documents from a remote VM system, and how it all works with VM/Webserver. Emphasis is placed on how Les used the "building-block" approach and the KISS principle to quickly develop, test, and deliver the final repository.
Papers:	n/a

Title:	ObjectRexx Between Apache and Databases
Speaker:	Lavrentios Servissoglou
Abstract:	The presentation will show how ObjectRexx may be used for CGI programming. A small object-oriented framework provides an (easy) access to the CGI enviroment. The next step will be a connection to a database. This talk demonstrates that ObjectRexx may be used as the glue between the web and existing databases. The goal is to provide an object-oriented interface between ObjectRexx and ODBC. Such an interface enables ObjectRexx access to the majority of databases.
Papers:	n/a

Title:	Breaking the External Call Barrier
Speaker:	Jim Hasslacher, Jr.
Abstract:	One of the biggest penalties in calling an external routine is losing access to the variable pool. Now through Rexx Utilities it is possible to extend the variable pool to external routines and other platforms. Using ONC RPC as the transport mechanism, external routines no longer need to reside on the local machine.
Papers:	n/a

Title:	The PARSE Template: a Swiss Army Knife for Strings
Speaker:	Chip Davis
Abstract:	PARSE is arguably the most powerful keyword instruction in Rexx (aside from INTERPRET, of course). The PARSE template can process strings by words, columns, search strings, or any combination of them. Such power usually comes at a price and many Rexx programmers are intimidated or confused by the more complex templates. This presentation steps through increasingly complex templates, demonstrating the simple yet elegant structure beneath. By the end of the hour, there won't be a PARSE template that will stump you.
Papers:	n/a

Title:	Using ObjectRexx For Electronic Software Distribution Using ObjectCur To Quickly Write Reliable Programs
Speaker:	Michael Lueck
Abstract:	This session is a whirlwind tour of what Michael considers some of his more interesting and useful applications of Rexx and ObjectRexx. It demonstrates his proof-of-concept Managed Windows 2000 "MichaelDist" which uses PC DOS 2000 Rexx with CUR and ObjectRexx for Win32 with ObjectCur. He tours through some of his projects of the past including Massively Parallel Processing & Filepump, then quickly writes a program using ObjectCur and runs it on both Win32 and OS/2 ObjectRexx.
Papers:	n/a