Objectives

During this course:

• participants learn the practical of the basic principles of the REXX procedural language in the TSO/E environment;
• they learn to use REXX as programming language and as supporting procedural language with the interaction with TSO and the manipulation of datasets;
• the REXX test and debugging facilities are explained;
• the built-in functions of REXX are treated practically.

This course is a good preparation for the course ISPF dialog manager.

Main topics

• REXX execution concepts in TSO/E:

Language processor environment • interfaces • stacking mechanism

• REXX statements:

Syntax, instructions • built-in functions • variables • expressions • arithmetic calculations • string treatment

• REXX execs:

Calling • writing • and debugging of REXX execs.

Logical flow (DO-groups, SELECT, ...) • subroutines • terminal communication • file treatment

• Data parsing
• Advanced topics:

Parameter transmission • interactive tracing • TSO/E external functions