No comments about Writing Vx-Rexx Programs/Book and Cd-Rom.

No comments about Vm/Esa Gui Facility Developer's Guide Rexx and C++ Gui Programming.

No comments about REXX Grundlagen für die z/OS Praxis.

No comments about Command Language Cookbook for Mainframes, Minicomputers, and PC'S: Dos/Os/2 Batch Language, Clist, Dcl, Perl, and Rexx.

No comments about Rexx Language : Special Edition.

2 comments about Down to Earth Rexx (Down to Earth Software Guides).

1. Down To Earth REXX, authored by Bill Schindler and published by Perfect Niche Publishing is an update of the Teach Yourself REXX In 21 Days SAM's Publication, which was the text of choice for programmers learning to use REXX on an OS/2 Platform in the mid-1990s.

   Down To Earth REXX is a fitting title for the book, in that it uses a wide array of practical, real-world programming examples in teaching REXX to all levels of programmers, from introductory concepts regarding REXX syntax, File Processing and Functions to more advanced RexxUtil Functions for MS DOS under Windows and OS/2 Workplace Shell and EPM Programming techniques.

   Among some of the text-based programs presented in the book that I found useful as Windows-based MS DOS environment applications are an Interactive REXX Interpreter, a Calendar Month Display program, a File Deletion with Verification utility, a Binary File Hex Display utility, a Filespec Directory Search utility and a Multiple File Text String Search utility.

   There are topics which cover ANSI.SYS programming for text-based color display programming, conversion of .BAT files into REXX programs, Compound variables for use in array processing, algorithms such as Zeller's Congruence (useful in date field processing) and the use of recursion for sorting, and .INI file processing techniques.

   For the majority of the program examples (primarily Text Console-based) presented in the first 17 Chapters, the programs can be easily modified to run on different platforms (in my case I used IBM Object REXX for MS-DOS under Windows95 and Red Hat Linux 6.1 running a Gnome workstation terminal).

   Some of the programs are strictly OS/2 material, particularly those examples presented in Chapters 18 through 21, which cover OS/2 Applications, Workplace Shells and Interprocess Communications.

   Perfect Niche has done a good job to improve the presentation of the material from the earlier SAMs edition. I found the new format easier to read and quicker to reference versus the older book. The Appendices in the Perfect Niche publication are a significant improvement over the SAMs text. Appendix D is a concise, specific reference of REXX Keywords and Functions, which I found reflecting most of the functions available in the IBM Object REXX Interpreter.

   The program code is for the most part free from error. I did find an error in the Intermediate Skills Review 2 "Checker Game" program (CHEXX.CMD), in which the REXX Logical Not Operator was substituted with an erroneous "TM" superscript. For most dialogs of REXX and most PC keyboards, the "\" character can be used as a Logical Not Operator.

   I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a comprehensive book rich in useful programming examples as a means to learning REXX. The cost of the publication is very favorable compared to other publications readily available. The fact that the latter portions of the book focus on OS/2 should not deter any programmers who are looking for a text for learning the REXX language as a text-based scripting language for multiple platforms.




2. I recently discovered REXX and have been devouring books on the subject. This one is a good book, but it doesn't tell you that it is focused on OS/2. In almost every example I've seen, it works similarly on Windows and (with minor changes for calling external OS commands) Linux. However, I find myself checking even the most minor things to see if it is implementation specific (OS/2 has a version of REXX built in) or if it conforms to TRL2 or ANSI.
   
   All in all, this is a good book, and a useful addition to your library if you want to use REXX at home or at work.
   
   Buy this book, but--unless you have access to OS/2--make sure you have one or two others first.

No comments about REXX unter OS/2..

No comments about Rexx: Advanced Techniques for Programmers (J Ranade Ibm Series).

5 comments about Object Rexx for Windows Nt and Windows 95 (IBM ITSO Red Book).

1. The book is aimed at someone who knows REXX. It spends a couple of chapters reviewing how classical REXX works and then starts explaining object concepts. The author uses the vehicle of a fictional software development shop developing a car dealer application. The example works well as the author adds more and more function to the application using the functions in object REXX. I have converted a couple of my REXX programs to object REXX, but have not yet taken advantage of object programming as such but I will be. The book is not a primer on REXX. Cowlishaw's and Daney's books are excellent primers and references. Unfortunately these books were written before object REXX came on the scene.



2. As an experinced programmer I feel this book is far to wordy, to the point of discribing a what is going on in the class room. Frankly I can't believe this is an IBM manual do to the lack of information provided and the fluff included.



3. I can't believe they consider this a technical book on REXX. Nobody who buys this book wants a stupid story line behind what should be the technical details of programming REXX in Windows.

   If you drop all the fluff, you would only have a 50 page document. If your looking for a better reference on REXX, I suggest getting the IBM Mainframe Programmer's Desk Reference. The Reference covers many other IBM utilities, but it does a good job of covering the REXX commands and giving examples on how to use them. I bought this book to learn REXX when I first started. It was a very valuable resource. I still use it often in my day - to - day programming.




4. I use many different languages but I like REXX for its easy access to the OS. At first I thought that the story line was hokey, but after a while I enjoyed it. It provided a context for the technical detail. I applaud the authors for their efforts (next time I'd recommend that they pilfer a more established author's story line because the story was a bit weak.) Imagine "Salem's oREXX", instead of "Salem's Lot". I disagree with the critics who panned the book. I found it well worth the money.



5. This book is written as a case study, and written as if it were a screen play for a group of programmers working on a project. That approach may work for some people, but you might prefer to get a start with the ooRexx documentation available on line with the software. If you really want to decide about this book, I would suggest going to IBM's website and downloading the "Red Book" PDF. Since it's identical and free, it should give you more than enough information to decide whether a hard copy is a worthwhile purchase.

2 comments about REXX in the TSO environment (QED IBM Mainframe series).

1. This is the definitive source of information on the topic. It is a better teaching/learning tool than Mike Colishaw's own text, and he is the "guru" who headed up the team that created REXX. If you cannot take a class in REXX, do not hesitate to pay $... for a used copy of this text.



2. I have been muddying my way through REXX for many years. I only recently discovered this book and would give anything to have discovered it 20 years ago. Thanks Gabe.