REXX Training

SESSION 1
◗ Introduction to REXX
◗ REXX basics
◗ REXX Instructions
◗ REXX Built-in Functions
◗ REXX External functions
◗ REXX TSO/E External commands
 SESSION 2
◗ Executing REXX in BATCH mode
◗ Introduction to REXX Edit macros
◗ Examples on REXX Edit macros
◗ File Tailoring
◗ ISPF Tables
◗ REXX Quiz
What is REXX after all ?
◗ Restructured EXtended eXecutor language
◗ Programming Language
◗ Free format language
◗ Issues commands to different Host
environments
◗ Has extensive mathematical capabilities
◗ Suitable for beginners as well computer
professionals
USAGE of REXX
• Automating repetitive tasks
- Increases productivity
- Ex : Allocation of datasets for a release
- Ex : Deleting 7th char in all records of a file
• Interacting with TSO/ISPF dialog manager
- to create and display custom-made panels
- can store and retrieve variables
• Creating new commands
- Like TIME command, DATE can be created
• For personal programming tasks
- to send a mesg to other MVS users everytime you
logon
Writing a simple REXX exec
• An exec is nothing but a group of REXX statements in a
sequential dataset or a PDS member
• The first statement of an exec should be ‘ /* REXX */ ’,but
not in all cases
• A simple exec (In a PDS member,MYFIRST)
/*REXX*/
SAY ‘This is first REXX exec’
EXIT
• REXX is case insensitive
Executing a REXX exec
• Explicit execution from tso ready prompt
READY
EXEC ‘TATA.REXX.EXEC(MYFIRST)’ EXEC
READY
• Implicit execution requires the PDS library to be
concatenated to either SYSEXEC or the SYSPROC system
DDNAME’s.
READY
ALLOC DD(SYSEXEC) DSN(‘TATA.REXX.EXEC’) SHR REUSE
READY
%MYFIRST
From ISPF,one can execute it by issuing the following command at
command prompt
TSO MYFIRST
Executing a REXX exec
• A sequential dataset needs no allocation
• It can only be executed using the explicit method or the
long form
• From READY prompt,
READY
EXEC ‘TATA.SEQ.EXEC’ EXEC
READY
• CTP LOGON ALLOCATION
In CTP main panel,
Select 0 --> CTP parms
REXX - Arithmetic operators
+ Add
- Subtract
* Multiply
/ Divide
% Divide and return a whole number without a
remainder
// Divide and return the remainder only
** Raise a number to a whole number power
-number Negate the number
+number Add the number to 0
REXX - Logical operators
& AND
(4 > 2) & (a = a) /* true, so result is 1 */
(2 > 4) & (a = a) /* false, so result is 0 */

| Inclusive OR
(4 > 2) | (5 = 3) /* at least one is true, so result is 1 *
(2 > 4) | (5 = 3) /* neither one is true, so result is 0 */

&& Exclusive OR
(4 > 2) && (5 = 3) /* only one is true, so result is 1 */
(4 > 2) && (5 = 5) /* both are true, so result is 0 */

Prefix \ Logical NOT

\0 /* opposite of 0, so result is 1 */
\ (4 > 2) /* opposite of true, so result is 0 */
REXX - comparison operators
== Strictly Equal
= Equal
\ == Not strictly equal
\= Not equal
> Greater than
< Less than
>< Greater than or less than (same as not equal)
>= Greater than or equal to
\< Not less than
<= Less than or equal to
\> Not greater than
Note: The not character, "¬", is synonymous with the
backslash ("\").
REXX Symbols
A REXX symbol can consist of
A...Z uppercase alphabetic
a...z lowercase alphabetic
0...9 numbers
@#$¢?!._ special characters

Rules for valid REXX symbols are :

• The first character cannot be 0 through 9 or a period (.)

• The variable name cannot exceed 250 bytes

• The variable name should not be RC, SIGL, or RESULT,
which are REXX special variables
REXX Special Variables
RC: RC stands for return code and is set every time a
command is issued.When a command ends without error, RC
is usually set to 0. When a command ends in error, RC is set
to whatever return code is assigned to that error.

SIGL: The SIGL special variable is used in connection with a

transfer of control within an exec because of a function, or a
SIGNAL or CALL instruction. When the language processor
transfers control to another routine or another part of the
exec, it sets the SIGL special variable to the line number from
which the transfer occurred.

RESULT : When an exec calls a subroutine ,the calling exec

receives the value returned by the subroutine in the REXX
special variable RESULT
REXX Instructions

Cool Man!
Life Made Easy…
REXX Instructions
•A line contains usually one instruction
• Comma(‘,’) is the continuation character
• Semi-colon(‘;’) is the instruction delimiter
• Example :
say ‘The quick fox jumps over’,
‘the lazy brown dog’; say ‘over’
Output :
The quick fox jumps over the lazy brown dog
over
• Note that the comma operator adds a space
REXX Instructions - SAY
• To write a line of output to the TSO terminal
• Syntax
SAY {expression}
• Expression can be of any size and REXX will split it up
according to line-width of the terminal
• Expression can contain variables, literals and functions
• Example
/*REXX*/
name=‘Roosevelt’
say ‘Welcome to TSO ‘ name
exit
• Output
Welcome to TSO Roosevelt
REXX instruction - PULL
• to read the input from the TSO terminal(When REXX data
stack is empty)
• Syntax : PULL var1 var2 var3…
• Example :
/*REXX*/
say ‘Enter your name :’
pull name
say ‘Good morning ‘ name
exit
• The output will be
Enter your name :
Lincoln
Good morning LINCOLN
• Note that PULL automatically converts input into
uppercase
REXX Instruction - UPPER
• to translate the contents of a single or several variables to
uppercase
• Syntax : UPPER var1 var2 var3 …
• Example :
/*REXX*/
name=‘Kennedy’
say ‘Name is ‘ name
upper name
say ‘Now name is ‘ name
exit
• Output
Name is Kennedy
Now name is KENNEDY
REXX Instruction - EXIT
• Used to unconditionally leave a program
• Can optionally pass back a string to the caller
• Syntax : EXIT {expression}
• Example named PROG2
/*REXX*/
a=10
exit a*10 /* passes back string 100 to the caller */
• When prog2 is called in an exec as x=prog2(),then x will
have the value 100
REXX Instruction - IF
• Used to conditionally execute a single REXX stmt or a
group of REXX statements
• Syntax : If expression then stmt;
else stmt;
• If expression is evaluated TRUE(1) then the THEN part is
performed and if FALSE(0) then the ELSE part is
performed.
• A group of REXX statements can be grouped together by
using DO…END
• Nested IF’s are allowed in REXX.
REXX Instructions - NOP

• NOP stands for No-operation

• Causes REXX to create No-operation condition
• Only useful as a target of THEN or ELSE clause
• Syntax : NOP;
REXX Instructions - IF Example
/*REXX*/
say ’Enter AM/PM :'
pull ampm
if ampm = 'AM' then say 'Good morning!!!'
else if ampm = 'PM' then say 'Good evening!!!'
else NOP;
EXIT
• Output :
Enter AM/PM :
AM
Good morning!!!
• When the input is blank or other than AM/PM , the
instruction that gets executed is NOP
• Also note that the ELSE clause is not mandatory
• When the ELSE clause is removed ,the functionality of
the program will still be the same
REXX Instructions - DO
• Used to execute a group of REXX statements under the
control of an expression
• Has several formats
• The repetitive DO construct
DO 5 /* DO X=5 is the same */
say ‘hi there!!!’
END

• The rexx statements within DO..END will be executed five

times
Contd...
REXX Instructions - DO
• Do with loop counter
/*REXX*/
Do I = 1 to 7 by 2 /* 2 is the step value */
say I
End I /* optional to specify the variable */

• The output will be

1
3
5
7
Contd...
REXX Instructions - DO
• Do..While construct
/*REXX*/
I=1
Do while I < 3
say I
I=I+1
End

• The output
1
2
Contd...
REXX Instructions - DO
• Do..Until construct
/*REXX*/
I=1
Do until I > 3
say I
I= I+ 1
End
• The output will be
1
2
3
Contd...
REXX Instructions - DO
• The Do..Forever special construct
/*REXX*/
Do forever
say ‘infinite loop’
end
• The above exec results into an infinite loop
• Enough care should be taken to check the exit criteria of
the loop, before executing the exec
• The LEAVE instruction can be used to exit from the loop
REXX Instructions - LEAVE
• Causes REXX to stop executing the current DO-END loop and
control passes to the next statement after the END of the DO-END pair
• Syntax : LEAVE {name}
• Example
/*REXX*/
Do forever
Say ‘Enter the code :’
Pull code
If code = ‘BYE’ then Leave;
end
Exit
• The above exec will prompt the user for a code until the user enters
the code ‘BYE’.
• The ‘name’ will be used to exit from a particular loop in case of
several nested do loops
REXX Instructions - ITERATE
• Used to restart execution in a DO loop
• Syntax : ITERATE {name}
• If name is not specified ,ITERATE will step the innermost
active loop
• If name is specified,that particular loop is stepped
• Example
/*REXX*/
Do I = 1 to 3 by 1
If I = 2 then iterate I; /* name is not required */
say ‘I = ‘ I
end
• Output
I=1
I=3
REXX Instructions - SELECT
• Causes REXX to execute one of several different
instructions
• Most used when one of the several paths must be followed
• Example :
/*REXX*/
Say ‘Enter 1 for salad,2 for pizza :’
pull choice
select
when choice = 1 then say ‘Here is the salad’
when choice = 2 then say ‘Here is the pizza’
otherwise say ‘You have opted nothing’
End
• When the input is anything other than 1 or 2 then the
control is transferred to OTHERWISE clause.
REXX Instructions - INTERPRET
• Used to execute instructions that are built dynamically
• Allows to build the REXX statements in an exec
• Syntax : INTERPRET expression
• Example :
/*REXX*/
out='say hi there!!!'
Interpret out
stmts='do 3; say 'loop'; end'
Interpret stmts
exit
• Output will be
HI THERE!!!
LOOP
LOOP
REXX Instructions - NUMERIC
• Sets controlling limits that govern how REXX evaluates
and reports the results of arithmetic operations
• Syntax : NUMERIC DIGITS {expression}
• This tells REXX how many significant digits to use when
calculating and printing results
• Syntax : NUMERIC FORM { SCIENTIFIC | ENGINEERING }
• Thistells REXX how arithmetic values that must be
expressed in exponential notation will be presented
• NUMERIC FUZZ {expression}
• This determines how much two numbers can be different
from each other and still be considered equal by REXX
REXX Instructions - NUMERIC
• Example
/*REXX*/
numeric digits 4
numeric fuzz 1
a=1000
b=1004
if a = b then say equal
else say unequal
exit
• Output
EQUAL
• Since the FUZZ value is 1,the rightmost is not considered
in the comparison.
• In the same example ,note that when B takes value 1005
and numeric digit is 5 ,the output is UNEQUAL ,as REXX
rounds off the value of B to 101,while eliminating its
rightmost digit
REXX Instructions - NUMERIC
• Numeric form scientific causes REXX to always place one
non-zero digit to the left of the decimal point
• Numeric form engineering makes REXX use powers of ten
in exponential notation that are always a multiple of three
• Example
/*REXX*/
numeric digits 5
numeric form scientific
a=123.45 * 1e11
say a form() /* 1.2345E+13 SCIENTIFIC */
numeric form engineering
a=123.45 * 1e11
say a form() /* 12.345E+12 ENGINEERING */
exit
REXX Instructions
• Tells REXX how to assign data to-one
PARSE
or more variables
• PARSE NUMERIC name returns the current settings of
numeric options DIGITS,FUZZ and FORM
• PARSE PULL makes REXX get the string from the REXX
data stack.If the stack is empty,REXX will get the string
from the terminal
• PARSE VALUE parses a string under the control of the
template
PARSE VALUE expression WITH template
• PARSE VAR indicates that the string to be parsed is not a
literal but a variable
• PARSE VERSION returns REXX interpreter level and the
date released
REXX Instructions - PARSE Ex.
• parse value ‘Napolean the great’ with w1 w2 w3
w1 = Napolean w2 = the w3 = great
• parse value ‘Napolean the great’ with w1 9 w2
w1 = ‘Napolean ‘ w2 = ‘the great’
• parse value 'salt+water=brine' with w1 '+' w2 '=' w3
w1 = salt w2 = water w3 = brine
• parse version vervar
say vervar
REXX370 3.48 01 May 1992
REXX Instructions - DROP
• Used to return one or more REXX variables to their initial
or uninitialised state
• Syntax : DROP name1 name2 name3….;
• Same variable can be dropped more than once
• Examples
drop a /* Unassigns the variable a*/
drop z.5 /* Unassigns the stem variable z.5 */
drop d. /* Unassigns all the vars starting with d. */
REXX Instructions - ADDRESS
• To indicate the destination of non-rexx commands
• Syntax ADDRESS destination
• The destination could be any one of these
TSO - Routes commands to TSO
ISPEXEC - Routes commands to ISPF/PDF
ISREDIT - Routes commands to the ISPF Edit macro
processor
Note : Other destinations exist,but beyond the scope of this
training
• Example :
Address tso ‘lista st’ /* the destination is set */
‘listds(‘tcs.rexx.exec’) members’ /* to TSO */
Address ispexec /* Dest. Changed and set */
REXX Instructions - Procedure
• used to protect the variables in existence when the function
or subroutine is called
• When a RETURN instruction is executed by the called
function or subroutine ,all variables saved by the
PROCEDURE instruction are restored to the state they were
in when saved
• Syntax : PROCEDURE { EXPOSE name1 {name2}…}
name1, name2 are not protected from the subroutine.That is
they are exposed to the subroutine
REXX Instructions - Procedure
Example

/*REXX */
lines=2
pages=3
call showlyns
say 'The line count is' lines ',the page count is' pages
/* 'say' above displays 10 for lines and 3 for pages */
exit

showlyns: procedure expose lines

lines=10;pages=1 /* sets caller's 'lines' variable */
/* but a local 'pages' variable */
return
REXX Instructions - ARG
• To parse out the arguments passed to a program or internal
subroutine and store the arguments in variables
• Ex :
/*REXX*/
arg a,b
c = a+ b
say ‘The sum is ‘ c
exit
• When invoked as TSO SUM 4 5,the output will be
The sum is 9
• REXX does not prompt for any missing arguments
• ARG converts the parameters passed to uppercase
REXX Instructions - RETURN
• used to pass control back to the caller of a subroutine or
function.An optional value can also be passed
• Syntax : RETURN {expression }
• If invoked as a function ,the value in the return instruction
is substituted for the function call
• If invoked as a subroutine , the value in the RETURN
instruction is stored in the REXX special variable RESULT
• If the RETURN instruction doesn’t have any expression ,
then a null string is passed to the caller
REXX Instructions - CALL
• used to invoke an internal or external subroutine and built-
in-functions
• The called routine usually uses the ARG function to
extract the parameters passed by the call
• Example
arg x /* parse 'x' */
call factorial x /* go get factorial of 'x' */
say x'! =' result /* write result out */
exit
factorial: procedure /* factorial subroutine */
arg n /* parse 'x' */
if n=0 then return 1 /* quit when done */
call factorial n-1 /* call myself with x minus 1 */
return result * n /* build up answer in 'result' */
REXX Instructions - SIGNAL
• It is an equivalent command for the infamous GOTO
command in other languages
• Syntax : SIGNAL label
• Example
/*REXX*/
say ‘Before signal’ /* displayed */
signal bye
say ‘After signal’ /* never gets executed */
exit
bye:
say ‘In signal’ /* displayed */
exit

• Note that the say instruction after signal will never get
executed
REXX Instruction - PUSH

• used to place a new element on a REXX data stack

• Syntax : PUSH {expression}
• Places the element on the top of the REXX data stack
• The length of an element can be up to 16,777,215
• A null string of length zero is stacked if the expression is
omitted
• stacks strings LIFO sequence
REXX Instruction - QUEUE

• used to place a new element on the bottom of a REXX data

stack
• Syntax : QUEUE { expression }
• stacks strings in FIFO sequence
• a null length string is stacked if expression is omitted
• The PULL instruction is used extract an element from the
top of the REXX data stack
REXX Functions
REXX Functions
A function is a sequence of instructions that can receive data,
process that data, and return a value. In REXX, there are
several kinds of functions:

• Built-in functions -- These functions are built into the

language processor. More about built-in functions appears
later in this topic.

• User-written functions -- These functions are written by an

individual user or supplied by an installation and can be
internal or external.An internal function is part of the current
exec that starts at a label. An external function is a self-
contained program or exec outside of the calling exec
REXX Functions - ABS
• Returns the absolute value of a number
• The absolute value of a number is the value of the number
without the sign being considered
• The number of digits returned is governed by current
NUMERIC DIGITS setting
• Examples:

ABS(’56.7') returns the number 56.7

numeric digits 2
ABS(' -0.125') returns the number 0.13
REXX Functions - ADDRESS
• returns the current setting of the destination to which the
non-REXX commands in an REXX exec is addressed to
• Note the the default destination is TSO
• Example
/*REXX*/
say address() /* returns TSO */
address ispexec
say address() /* returns ISPEXEC */
address isredit /* returns ISREDIT */
say address()
exit
REXX Functions - CENTER
• used to center one string within a certain length area and
pad on the left and right of the centered string with an
optional padding character
• Syntax : CENTER(string, length{,pad})
• The default padding character is spaces
• Examples :
say center(‘uswest’,10,’*’)
returns **USWEST**
REXX Functions - COMPARE
• used to compare two strings and return a zero if the strings
are the same ,or a non-zero number if they are not
• non-zero number is the position of the first mismatching
character found
• Syntax : COMPARE(string1,string2{,pad})
• If the optional padding character is specified,then the
shorter string is padded and compared
• Examples :
COMPARE('123','123') returns a 0 (exact match)
COMPARE('FO?? ','FO','?') returns a 5 (1st mismatch after padding)
COMPARE('abc','ak') returns a 2 (first mismatching char)
COMPARE('ZZ ','ZZ','x') returns a 3 (1st mismatch found 3 chars
in)
COMPARE('MA ','MA') returns a 0 (exact match with padding)
REXX Functions - COPIES
• used to concatenate or append a string to itself a certain
number of times

• Syntax : COPIES(string,n)

• Examples
COPIES('Hello',4) returns 'HelloHelloHelloHello'
COPIES('Say what?',0) returns '' (null string)
REXX Functions - DATATYPE
• used to determine the data type of the string passed
• Syntax : DATATYPE(string{,type})
• If type is omitted,NUM is returned if the string is a valid
number and CHAR is returned in all other cases
• If type is specified,either TRUE(1) or FALSE(0) is returned
• The valid types are as follows
A - Alphanumeric
N - Numeric
W - Whole number
L - Lowercase
U - Uppercase
M - Mixed case

• Examples
DATATYPE(' 44 ') returns NUM (numeric)
DATATYPE('*1**') returns CHAR (caharcter string)
DATATYPE('Wally','M') returns a 1 (mixed case)
DATATYPE('75.54','W') returns a 0 (not a whole number)
REXX Functions - DATE
• returns the current date
• An optional character can be passed to obtain date in
specific formats
• Syntax : DATE({option})
• Some of the chars that can be passed are
U returns date in USA format, 'mm/dd/yy’
J returns a Julian date in the form 'yyddd’
W returns the day of the week (e.g. 'Tuesday', 'Sunday', etc.)

• Examples
say date() /* returns 17 Dec 1999 */
say date('U') /* returns 12/17/99 */
say date('J') /* returns 99351 */
say date('W') /* returns Friday */
REXX Functions - DELSTR
• used to delete or remove one string from within another
string
• Syntax : DELSTR(string,n{,length})
• 'string' is the string from which a portion is to be deleted
starting with character number 'n', where 'n' is a positive
integer
• The length of the portion to be deleted is given by the
optional length parameter
• When ‘n’ is greater than the length of the string no action is
performed
• Examples
DELSTR('abcde',3,2) deletes 'cd', leaving 'abe'
DELSTR('zyxw',3) leaves 'zy', deleting 'xw'
DELSTR('12345',6) no change, since 6 is greater than string length
REXX Functions - DIGITS

• returns the current setting of the NUMERIC DIGITS

option

• Takes no parameters

• Example

DIGITS() /* returns a 9 if REXX default hasn't been changed */

REXX Functions - FORM
• used to extract the current setting of the NUMERIC
FORM option
• returns SCIENTIFIC or ENGINEERING
• Example
say from() /* returns default scientific */
numeric form engineering
say form() /* returns engineering */
REXX Functions - FORMAT
• used to round off and format a number using REXX rules
• optional values can be passed which decides the number of
digits before and after the decimal point
• Syntax : FORMAT(number{,{before}}{,{after}})
• If before and after are not specified ,the number of digits
that are needed to present the rounded number are used
• Examples
FORMAT('78',3) returns rounded number ' 78'
FORMAT(' - 8.7',,2) returns rounded number '-8.70'
FORMAT('5.46',3,0) returns rounded number ' 5'
 REXX Functions - FUZZ
• used to extract the current setting of the NUMERIC FUZZ
option
• The value of FUZZ cannot be greater than the DIGITS
setting
• Example
/*REXX*/
say fuzz() /* returns the default zero */
numeric fuzz 2
say fuzz() /* returns 2 */
REXX Functions - INDEX
• used to find the position of one character string within
another character string
• Syntax : INDEX(string,substring{,start})
• 'start' is an optional starting character position for the
search within ‘string’
• Examples
INDEX('hello','ll') returns a 3
INDEX('say what','w ') returns a 0
INDEX('zyxwvu','vu',6) returns a 0
INDEX('zyxwvu','vu',2) returns a 5
REXX Functions - LEFT
• used to extract the leftmost characters of the string
• Syntax : LENGTH(string,length{,pad})
• If string is shorter than length,the string returned is
padded with ‘pad’ char in the function call if available or
with the default pad character blank.
• Examples :

LEFT('Wallawalla',4) returns 'Wall'

LEFT('Republicans',20,'-') returns 'Republicans---------'
LEFT('Motley Crue ',8) returns 'Motley C'
REXX Functions - LENGTH

• used to return the length of the string passed to the

function
• Syntax : LENGTH(string)
• Examples :

LENGTH('LIFO') returns 4
LENGTH('Rubber baby buggy bumpers') returns 25
LENGTH('') returns 0 (null string)
REXX Functions - MAX
• returns the maximum numeric value from a list of
numeric values
• Syntax : MAX(number{,number}...)
• The size of the numeric value returned is limited to the
current setting of NUMERIC DIGITS.
• Up to 20 numbers may be specified as arguments to
MAX.
• Calls to MAX can be nested if more are needed
• Examples :
MAX(21,22,81,67) returns 81
MAX(27.32,0.45,102.3) returns 102.3
• The MIN function is similar to MAX except that it returns the
minimum value
REXX Functions - POS

• returns the position, relative to 1, of one string within

another.
• Syntax : POS(substring,string{,startloc})
• A zero is returned if substring is not found within ‘string’
• Examples

POS('M','ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ') returns 13

POS('Smith','Merrill, Lynch, Pierce, Fenner, and Smith') returns 37

POS('hart','MVS is breaking my heart...',4) returns 0 (not found)
REXX Functions - QUEUED
• returns the no of elements that remain on the REXX data
stack
• No arguments
• If queued() returns zero,that indicates the REXX data stack
is empty and the next PULL instruction will obtain input from
the TSO terminal
• Example
/*REXX*/
newstack
push a
queue b
say queued() /* returns 2 */
delstack
exit
REXX Functions - RANDOM
• generates a "pseudo-random" number that will lie
somewhere between a supplied (or defaulted) upper and
lower bound."pseudo-random" means that the number is not
truly random, but it behaves as if it was.
• Syntax : RANDOM({min}{,{max}{,seed}})
• Difference between min & max <= 100000
• the default value for min is 0 and max is 999
• If only one number is supplied,then a number will be
generated in the range of zero to that number
• ‘seed’ is an optional whole number and when specified
gives repeatable results each time the exec is invoked
• Examples :
RANDOM() returns a random number 'n', in range 0 =< n =< 999
RANDOM(32,35) returns a random number 'n', in range 32 =< n =< 35
RANDOM(,,251) returns a random number 'n', in range 0 =< n =< 999,
and returns the same one every time called this way
REXX Functions - REVERSE

• This function reverses the order of all characters in a string

• Syntax : REVERSE( string)
• Example
say reverse(‘TCSUSWEST’)
returns ‘TSEWSUSCT’
REXX Functions - SIGN
• used to determine the sign of a number
• Syntax : SIGN(number)
• returns -1 if the number is negative
• returns 0, if the nuber is zero
• returns +1,if the number is positive
• the number is rounded to meet the current setting for
NUMERIC DIGITS before the test.
• Examples :
SIGN('-22.811') returns -1
SIGN(0.0) returns 0
REXX Functions - STRIP
• used to remove the leading and/or trailing characters from
a character string
• Syntax : STRIP(string{,{option}{,char}})
• The default char for ‘char’ is blank
• The ‘option’ can take either L or T or B and the default
option is B
• Examples :

STRIP(' February 11, 1989 ') returns 'February 11, 1989'

STRIP('7642.7600',T,0) returns '7642.76'
STRIP('$$$$52.4',Leading,$) returns '52.4'
REXX Function - SUBSTR
• used to extract a portion of a string
• Syntax : SUBSTR(string,n{,{length}{,pad}})
• ‘length’ is the length of extracted substring
• if ‘length’ is omitted,the remainder of the string from char
number ‘n’ is extracted
• The extract string is padded on the right with ‘pad’ char, if
there are not enough characters in the extracted substring to
reach ‘length’
• Examples :
SUBSTR('Hi there',4) returns 'there'
SUBSTR('MVS',1,5) returns 'MVS '
SUBSTR('December 7, 1941',6,15,'-') + 'ber 7, 1941----'
REXX Function - SYMBOL
• used to determine whether a symbol is valid REXX symbol
• Syntax : SYMBOL(name)
• Returns “BAD” if the ‘name’ is not a valid REXX symbol
• If ‘name’ is name of the variable with a value assigned to
it,’VAR’ is returned
• In other cases, ‘LIT’ is returned
• Examples :
j='TSO/E Version 2.1' /* assign value to variable J */
Symbol('J') /* returns VAR since assigned */
Drop j
Symbol('J') /* returns LIT after Drop */
Symbol('.variable') /* returns BAD since 1st character is a '.' */
REXX Function - TIME
• returns the current time of day in a variety of different
formats and can also be used to perform elapsed time
calculations
• Syntax : TIME({option})
‘R’ - elapsed time clock to be set to zero
‘E’ - return elapsed time since previous TIME(‘R’)
‘H’ - No. of hours since midnight
‘L’ - hh:mm:ss:uuuuuu
‘S’ - No. of seconds since midnight

• Examples :
TIME() returns 09:18:04
TIME('L') returns 11:00:32.672567
TIME('M') returns 840 /* at 2 in the afternoon */
TIME('H') returns 12 /* at noon */
TIME('R') returns 0 /* The first call */
TIME('E') returns 18.278190 /* about 18 seconds later */
REXX Function - TRUNC
• used to truncate a number to an integer portion and a
decimal fraction portion
• Syntax : TRUNC(number{,n})
• 'n' is the number of decimal places to retain to the right of
the decimal point.If ‘n’ is omitted,no decimal places are
returned
• Examples:

TRUNC(4096.6904) /* returns 4096, dropping decimal fraction */

TRUNC(0.3,3) /* returns 0.300 */
REXX Function - USERID

• returns the current TSO user id

• Format : USERID()
• Example
say userid() /* returns the current user id */
REXX Function - WORD
• used to extract a specific word from within a string of
words
• Syntax : WORD(string,n)
• The words in the string must be separated by blanks
• ‘n’ indicates that the nth word in the string is to be
extracted
• Examples :
WORD(’Arise Awake and Stop not',4) /* returns ’Stop' */
test = '1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9'
WORD(test,1) /* returns '1' */
WORD('Carolina moon, what are you doing over Gismo Beach?',10)
/* returns null string */
REXX Function - WORDS

• used to determine the number of words contained within a

string of words
• Syntax : WORDS(string)
• Examples :
WORDS(‘Arise, Awake and Stop not till the goal is reached’)
/* returns 10 */
WORDS('1234567890abcdefghikjlmnopqrstuvwxyz $@#!')
/* returns 2 */
REXX TSO/E External Functions
REXX TSO/E external functions

In addition to the built-in functions,TSO/E

provides external functions that you can use to do some
specific tasks.
Functions we will be discussing and frequently used are :
• LISTDSI
• OUTTRAP
• SYSDSN
• SYSVAR
LISTDSI - External Function
• Returns in variables the dataset attributes of a specified
dataset
• The function call is replaced by a function code that
indicates whether or not the call was successful.A non-zero
code indicates that the call was not successful
• Example
/*REXX*/
X=LISTDSI(“’TCS.PDS.COBOL’”) /* x = function code */
IF X=0 THEN DO
SAY ‘SYSDSORG ‘ SYSDSORG
SAY ‘SYSLRECL ‘ SYSLRECL
END ELSE SAY ‘CALL UNSUCCESSFUL’
EXIT
LISTDSI - External function
The following points are note-worthy
• Note two sets of quotes in the call to LISTDSI
“ - to indicate the parm is literal to REXX
‘ - to indicate the dsname is fully qualified
• The function code should always be checked after the call
• The output of the above REXX could be
SYSDSORG PO - PO- Partitioned Dataset
SYSLRECL 80 - Record length

• Totally there are 33 variables that are set as a result of the

call to LISTDSI external function
OUTTRAP - External Function
• Traps TSO/E command output into a stem variable
• The function call returns the name of the variable
specified
• Trapping is capturing the lines of data which otherwise
would have been displayed at the terminal
• Example

/*REXX*/
x=outtrap("a.") /* turns trap on. x=a. */
"listds 'rhkrish.rexx.exec' members"
x=outtrap("off") /* turns trap off. x=off */
say 'No of lines trapped ' a.0
OUTTRAP - External function
Contd..
• The output of the exec could be this
No of lines trapped 57
• Note that the no of lines trapped is stored in A.0
• All the trapped lines from A.1 to A.n can be used
• The outtrap function can be used to trap only a certain no
of lines.
OUTTRAP(“A.”,10)
Only 10 lines trapped.
SYSDSN - External Function
• Returns OK if the specified dataset exists; Otherwise
returns appropriate error messages
• Example call
available = SYSDSN(“’tcs.rexx.exec’”)
/* available could be set to "OK" */

• The other possible error messages are as follows

MEMBER SPECIFIED, BUT DATASET IS NOT PARTITIONED
MEMBER NOT FOUND
DATASET NOT FOUND
ERROR PROCESSING REQUESTED DATASET
PROTECTED DATASET
VOLUME NOT ON SYSTEM
UNAVAILABLE DATASET
INVALID DATASET NAME, data-set-name
MISSING DATASET NAME
SYSVAR - External Function
• Uses specific argument values to return information about
the user ,terminal ,language ,system ,exec and console
session
• Example
say sysvar(sysuid)
displays the user id.
• The arguments corresponding to user information are
SYSPREF - Prefix as defined in user profile
SYSPROC - Logon procedure of current session
SYSUID - User id of current session
SYSVAR - External Function
• Terminal information
SYSLTERM - No of lines available on screen
SYSWTERM - Width of screen
• Exec information
SYSENV - Whether exec is running in fore or background
SYSISPF - whether ISPF is active or not
• System information
SYSRACF - Whether RACF is available
SYSNODE - Network node name
SYSTSOE - Level to TSO/E installed
Note : Only some of the variables are covered
REXX TSO/E Commands
REXX TSO/E Commands
• Commands provided with the TSO/E implementation
of the language. These commands do REXX-related tasks
in an exec, such as:

- Control I/O processing of information to and from data

sets(EXECIO)
- Perform data stack services (MAKEBUF, DROPBUF,
QBUF, QELEM,NEWSTACK, DELSTACK, QSTACK)

- Change characteristics that control the execution of an

exec
- Check for the existence of a host command environment
(SUBCOM).
REXX Command - NEWSTACK
• used to create a new data stack in the REXX environment
• When this command is executed, the current data stack is
saved and a new stack is created and made the current stack
• When the stack is empty,the subsequent pull instruction
obtains input from the TSO terminal
• When the stack has data elements,the pull instruction gets
the input from the top of the stack
• Example
"NEWSTACK" /* creates new stack */
Push tcs /* puts ‘tcs’ in top of stack */
Push uswest /* puts ‘uswest’ over ‘tcs’ */
pull data /* pulls data from the top of stack */
say ‘from the stack ‘ data /* displays ‘uswest’ */
pull data /* pulls data from top of stack */
say ‘from the stack ‘ data /* displays ‘tcs’ */
pull data /* obtains input from tso terminal */
REXX Command - DELSTACK
• used to delete the data stack that was created last in the
REXX environment
• When this command is executed the most recently created
stack is deleted and all elements on it are purged
• If there is any previous data stack,that is made available
• Example :
“NEWSTACK” /* new stack is created */
push a /* ‘a’ is stored on top */
queue b /* ‘b’ is stored at the bottom */
“NEWSTACK” /* new stack is created */
push c /* ‘c’ is stored on top */
say queued() /* displays 1 */
“DELSTACK” /* deletes the current stack */
say queued() /* displays 2 */
“DELSTACK” /* deletes the stack */
REXX Command - MAKEBUF
• used to add a buffer to the data stack in REXX environment
• returns the relative number of the buffer on the stack in the
special variable RC
• It’s a temporary extension to the data stack and used when
need arises to pass some of the elements to a subroutine
• Example :
“NEWSTACK” /* creates new stack */
Push elem1 /* add an element */
"MAKEBUF" /* add a buffer to stack */
saverc = RC /* save number of buffer */
Push elem1 /* add contents of variable elem1 to data stack */
Push saverc /* pass buffer number too */
Call subrtn1 /* call subroutine to handle elements */
"DROPBUF" /* delete buffer,but not stack before makebuf */
REXX Command - DROPBUF
• used to delete data stack buffer from the data stack in the
REXX environment
• Syntax : DROPBUF {n}
• 'n' is optional and is the number of the data stack buffer
that you wish to remove. That data stack buffer and all those
higher on the stack are removed from the stack when
DROPBUF is executed
• If n is omitted ,the recently created buffer is dropped
• Example :
“DROPBUF ” /* deletes the recently created buffer */
“DROPBUF 0” /* deletes buffer and all elements of stack */
REXX Command - QBUF
• used to determine the number of data stack buffers that have
been explicitly created by the MAKEBUF REXX command
• number of buffers will be returned through special variable
RC
• If no buffers have been created via makebuf , a 0(zero) is
returned is RC
• Example :

"MAKEBUF" /* creates buffer 1 */

"MAKEBUF" /* creates buffer 2 */
"DROPBUF" /* deletes buffer 2 */
"MAKEBUF" /* creates buffer 2 again */
"QBUF" /* returns a 2 */
REXX Command - QELEM
• The QELEM REXX command is used to determine the
number of data stack elements that are contained in the
buffer that was most recently created by the MAKEBUF
REXX command
• If no buffers have been created via makebuf , a 0 is
returned in RC
• Example :
"MAKEBUF" /* creates a buffer */
Push ‘TCS’
Push ‘TATA’
Push ‘CONSULTANCY’
Push ‘SERVICES’
"QELEM" /* returns a 4 in RC */
"DROPBUF" /* deletes buffer and elements in it */
"QELEM" /* returns a 0 in RC */
REXX Command - QSTACK
• used to determine the total number of data stacks currently
is existence
• The no of data stacks includes the original REXX data
stack, as well as those created via the NEWSTACK
command
• If no additional stacks have been created via
NEWSTACK , a 1 is returned is RC
• Example

"QSTACK" /* returns a 1 in RC */
"NEWSTACK" /* creates a new data stack*/
"NEWSTACK" /* creates another new data stack*/
"QSTACK" /* returns a 3 in RC */
REXX Command - EXECIO
• used to perform read and write operations against a
sequential dataset or a pds member
• The data is either read from the data set and placed on the
data stack or into a list of variables, or written from the data
stack or a list of variables into the data set
• Syntax for read operations :

EXECIO {lines ¦ *} DISKR ddname {linenum}

{ ( {{FINIS}} ¦ { STEM var {FINIS} } {)} }

• Syntax for write operations :

EXECIO {lines ¦ *} DISKW ddname { ( {STEM var} {FINIS} {)} }

REXX Command - EXECIO
• Example

/* read all lines in data set and display them */

Address TSO /* pass unknowns to TSO */
Parse Arg dsn /* get data set name */
"ALLOC DD(TEMP) DA("dsn") SHR" /* allocate file */
end_of_data = 0 /* negate end of file */
Do While end_of_data = 0
'EXECIO 1 DISKR TEMP ( FINIS' /* read a record onto stack */
If RC = 2 then end_of_data = 1 Else Nop /* set end-of-file? */
Pull line /* get line off stack */
Say line /* display line */
End

Note : This example uses the original REXX data stack.

REXX Command - EXECIO
/* Example 2 - copy a file into another */

Address TSO
"ALLOC F(IN) DA('SYS1.PROCBLIB(ASMHCL)') SHR"
"ALLOC F(OUT) DA(‘TATA001.DELETE.ME’) SHR"

'EXECIO * DISKR IN (STEM DATA. FINIS' /* copy file into stem*/

Queue /* add null line to stack */
'EXECIO * DISKW OUT (STEM DATA. FINIS' /* copy using stem*/

"FREE F(IN,OUT)"
SAY ‘No of lines in input : ‘ data.0
EXIT

Note : This example uses stem variable data to read the contents of input
file.The Number of lines read will be stored in data.0.
Executing REXX in Batch
Executing REXX in batch
 Need arises when the REXX exec takes longer time
to complete the execution.So time-consuming and low
priority execs can be run in background
 Main advantage - Batch mode does not interfere with
persons use of the terminal
 Only those execs which do not require any sort of
terminal interaction can be run in batch mode.
 A JCL as shown in the next slide can be used to
invoke a REXX exec.
Executing REXX in Batch - JCL
//TSOBATCH EXEC PGM=IKJEFT01,DYNAMBR=30,REGION=4096K
//SYSEXEC DD DSN=TCS.REXX.EXEC,DISP=SHR
//SYSTSPRT DD SYSOUT=A
//SYSTSIN DD *
% SETUP
/*
//
The following points are to be noted :
• IKJEFT01 - TSO command processor program
• SYSEXEC - System DD card to which REXX libraries
are concatenated
• SYSTSPRT - Destination of the REXX output,as well
the TSO command processor
Contd.….
Executing REXX in Batch - JCL
Contd.….
• SYSTSIN - Instream card wherein TSO commands or
invocation of REXX execs can be issued
• The dataset TCS.REXX.EXEC is a PDS and has a
member of the name SETUP.
• The Instream data can be used to invoke an REXX exec
either implicitly or explicitly as indicated below
%SETUP >>>> Implicit
EXEC ‘TCS.REXX.EXEC(SETUP)’ EXEC >>>> Explicit

• Any parameters to the exec can be passed as below

%SETUP ‘parm1’ ‘parm2’
REXX Exec - Example
• After the execution of the exec,If there are any elements in
the REXX data stack,those elements will be treated as TSO
commands and will get executed
• Example - To purge a user Id
/*REXX*/
arg uname
queue “c u =“uname
queue “end”
“OPER”
exit

• Invoke the above exec as ===> TSO CUSER TATA001

• A similar exec can be written to display all the users
REXX EDIT MACRO
Edit Macros - Introduction
• Primary commands that users write.An example is the oft-
used CUT R or the PASTE K command
• Using Edit macros save time and keystrokes
- Deleting all the lines with first character as ‘*’
• Edit macro is a series of edit commands placed in a dataset
or a member of partitioned dataset
- To find lines with char ‘a’ in Col. 31 and char ‘b’ in
Col. 35
• Used to perform often-repeated tasks
- Block commenting lines in a COBOL program
• To run an Edit macro,Type its name and any operands on
Edit Macros - Basics
Assignment statement
• Consists of two parts ,values and key-phrases,which are
separated by an equal sign
• Value segment is the data in the macro and key-phrase
segment represents the data in the editor
• Can be used to pass data from the edit macro to the editor or
to transfer data from the editor to the edit macro
• Data is always transferred from the right hand side of the
equal sign in an assignment statement to the left hand side
• Example : “ISREDIT (data) = LINE .ZCSR”
The data in the current line is stored in the variable
data.so the value segment is data,key-phrase segment is LINE
and hence the transfer of data is from the editor to the edit
macro.
EDIT Macros - Parameters
• Parameters can be passed to the EDIT macro using the
statement ‘ISREDIT MACRO(parm)’
• Suppose the macro name copymem and If it is invoked as
Command ====> COPYMEM MYFIRST
then MYFIRST is assigned to the variable ‘parm’.
• More than one variable can be passed
• If there are more variable names than parameters, the
unused variables are set to nulls.
• The macro statement should be the first executable
statement in a macro
EDIT Macros - Labels
• A Label is an alphabetic string character used to name lines
• A label must begin with a period (.) and be followed by no
more than 8 alphabetic characters, the first of which cannot
be Z. No special characters or numeric characters are
allowed.

• The editor-assigned labels are:

.ZCSR The data line on which the cursor is currently

positioned
.ZFIRST The first data line Can be abbreviated .ZF
.ZLAST The last data line. Can be abbreviated .ZL

.ZFRANGE The first line in a range specified by you.

EDIT Macro - Assignment stmts.
• MEMBER
Retrieves the name of the library member being edited
If a sequential dataset is being edited ,the variable is set to
blanks
‘ISREDIT (memname) = MEMBER’
• DATASET
Used to get the current dataset name
‘ISREDIT (dsnname) = DATASET’
• LOCATE
Used to position the cursor in a particular line using label or
the line number
‘ISREDIT LOCATE .ZCSR’
EDIT MACRO - Ex : Showonly
/*REXX*/
"ISREDIT MACRO (STRING)" /* STRING IS THE PARAMETER */
"ISREDIT X ALL" /* EXCLUDE ALL LINES */
"ISREDIT F ALL " STRING /* FIND ONLY PARM PASSED */
EXIT

• This macro is very simple one and uses EXCLUDE and

FIND macro commands
• It displays only the lines with the string passed to the macro
EDIT Macro - Assignment stmts.
• CURSOR
used to position the cursor in a particular row and column
‘ISREDIT (row,col) = CURSOR’
‘ISREDIT CURSOR = (row,col)’
• LABEL
sets or retrieves the values for the label on the specified line
and places the values in variables
‘ISREDIT (var1) = LABEL .ZCSR’
‘ISREDIT LABEL .ZCSR = (.here)’
• LINENUM
retrieves the current relative line number of a specified label
‘ISREDIT (lnum) = LINENUM .ZL’
EDIT Macro - Assignment stmts.
• LINE
Sets or retrieves the data from the data line specified by the
line pointer
‘ISREDIT (lndata) = LINE .ZCSR’
‘ISREDIT LINE .ZCSR = (datavar)’
• LINE_AFTER
Adds a line after a specified line in the current dataset
ISREDIT LINE_AFTER lptr = <DATALINE> data
<INFOLINE>
<MSGLINE >
<NOTELINE>
‘ISREDIT LINE_AFTER .ZCSR = DATALINE (datavar)’
• LINE_BEFORE
Similar to the LINE_AFTER stmt except that it adds a line
before the specified the line
EDIT Macro - Assignment stmts.
• RANGE_CMD
Identifies the name of a line command entered from the
keyboard
‘ISREDIT (varname) = RANGE_CMD’
• NUMBER
Sets number mode, which controls the numbering of lines in
the current data.
‘ISREDIT NUMBER ON STD COBOL’
‘ISREDIT NUMBER ON STD DISPLAY’
EDIT Macro - Ex : VSAVE
/*REXX*/
/* This macro is used to save a member of a PDS when in view mode */
'isredit macro' /* No arguments */
address isredit /* Changing the host environment */
"(mem) = MEMBER" /* storing member name in mem */
"(dsn) = DATASET" /* storing dsname is dsn */
If mem = '' then do /* if mem is spaces,its PS */
say 'designed for PDS member'
exit /* exit from program */
end
"isredit save" /* trying to save the source */
if rc = 0 then do /* Not in view mode */
say 'Not in view mode.use SAVE'
exit /* Exit from the program */
end
Contd.
EDIT Macro - Ex : VSAVE
"isredit repl .zf .zl " mem /* Issuing replace command */
if rc = 0 then /* check for success */
say 'member saved.Exit from view mode'
else
say 'member not saved.Return code ' RC
exit

• The macro can be used to save a member of a PDS,when it is

opened in view mode.
• It checks whether the dataset being edited is a PDS
• It also checks whether the EDIT is in VIEW mode by trying
to save the dataset
• After these checks,the REPL command is issued.
• Note : CREATE command can be used to create a new
member with the same data
EDIT Macro Command
• PROCESS
allows the macro to control when line commands or data
changes typed at the keyboard are processed

ISREDIT PROCESS <DEST> <RANGE cmd1 <cmd2>>

• ‘DEST’ specifies that the macro can capture an A or B line
command .The .ZDEST label is set to the line preceding the
insertion point.If A or B is not not entered ZDEST is set to
last line
• RANGE specified the line commands ‘cmd1’ and ‘cmd2’
which the user can enter
• The .ZFRANGE label is set to the first line identified by
the line command that you have entered, and .ZLRANGE is
set to the last line.
EDIT Macro - Ex : COMMENT
/*REXX*/
/*used to comment eztrieve source code in edit/view mode */

address isredit /* Changes environment */

'MACRO NOPROCESS' /* all line cmds -process later */
'PROCESS RANGE N' /* process line cmd N now */
if rc ¬= 0 then do /* error if no ln cmd N entered */
say 'enter the n line command'
exit
end
'(lcmd) = RANGE_CMD' /* stores the lncmd entered */
'(first) = LINENUM .zfrange' /* stores the first range of N */
'(last) = LINENUM .zlrange' /* stores the last range of N */
if first ¬= last then do /* adds note to mark begin& end */
temp = '*** comment changes ends ***'
'LINE_AFTER 'last' = NOTELINE (temp)'
temp = '*** comment changes begins ***'
'LINE_BEFORE 'first' = NOTELINE (temp)'
end
EDIT Macro - Ex : COMMENT
Do I = first to last /* first range to last range */
'SHIFT ) ' I /* shifts chrs to right 2 cols */
'LINE ’I' = LINE + *' /* overlays first char with '*' */
End
Exit

• the line command ‘N’ must be entered prior to invoking the

macro
• Line command - N , NN-NN , Nn
• Note the use of NOTELINE
• SHIFT command shifts chars to right
• To remove the comments,use the built-in ‘((‘ left shift line
command
EDIT Macros - Ex : CPBK
/*REXX*/
/* used to zoom a copybook in a cobol program */
/* TEST COPY USWNOTE1. */
ADDRESS ISREDIT
'MACRO'
'(lnum) = LINENUM' .ZCSR
'(lndata) = LINE' lnum
lndata = strip(lndata)
dspos = pos('COPY',lndata)
if dspos = 0 then SIGNAL error_msg
lastpos = pos('.',substr(lndata,dspos+5))
member = substr(lndata,dspos+5,lastpos-1)
member = strip(member)
dsname = 'app1.common.prod.copylib('||member||')'
address ispexec
"browse dataset('"dsname"')" ;
exit
EDIT Macros - Ex : CPBK
error_msg:
say 'Place the cursor over the COPY verb'
exit

• used to browse a copybook mentioned in a COPY verb of a

COBOL program
• Note the use of SIGNAL instruction
• The macro command can be typed at the command prompt
and cursor can be moved to the COPY verb
• This macro can also be assigned to a function key using
KEYS command and may be invoked by pressing the
particular key when the cursor is over the COPY verb
FILE TAILORING
FT - Skeletons
• Skeletons are members of a PDS that have variables and
fixed text.They may be part of a JCL.(Ex JOB stmt)
• The skeleton files can contain variable-length records,
with a maximum record length of 255.
• Skeletons can be included in a dataset to build a
complete JCL during the run time
• Skeleton libraries are to be allocated to the application
library ddname ISPSLIB
• The allocation should be done before invoking ISPF
• Allocation can be done temporarily using ISPF service
LIBDEF

LIBDEF ISPSLIB DATASET ID(‘TATA.PDS.SKELS’)

File Tailoring - FTOPEN
• Allows skeleton files to be accessed from the skeleton library
specified by ddname ISPSLIB
• Output from the file tailoring process will be placed in a
temporary file.The name of the temporary file will be stored in
the profile variable ZTEMPF
• If the output is to be saved in a PS or PDS , the particular
library has to allocated to the ddname ISPFILE
• Call invocation format
ISPEXEC FTOPEN [TEMP]
TEMP specifies whether the output is to be placed in
temporary file or not
If TEMP is not specified,then the ddname ISPFILE should
File Tailoring - FTINCL
• Specifies the skeleton that is to be used to produce the file
tailoring output
• Command invocation format
ISPEXEC FTINCL skel-name [NOFT]
• NOFT specifies that no file tailoring is to be performed on
the skeleton.So the entire skeleton will be copied to the
output file exactly as is with no variable substitution or
interpretation of control records
• NOFT can be used when there are no variables in the
skeleton to be included
File Tailoring - FTCLOSE
• used to terminate the file tailoring process and to indicate the
final disposition of file tailoring output
• Command invocation format
ISPEXEC FTCLOSE [NAME(member-name)]
[LIBRARY(library)]
[NOREPL]
• NOREPL specifies that FTCLOSE is not to overlay an
existing member in the output library
• NAME specifies the name of the member in the output
library that is to contain the file tailoring output
• LIBRARY specifies the name of a DD statement or lib-type
on the LIBDEF service request that defines the output library
in which the member-name exists. If specified, a generic
(non-ISPF) DD name must be used. If this parameter is
omitted, the default is ISPFILE.
File Tailoring - Example
• Assume skeleton library as TATA.UTIL.SKELS
• Skeleton member JOBSTMT
//&JOBNAME JOB (BILL01E0),’TATA',NOTIFY=&&SYSUID,
// MSGCLASS=T,MSGLEVEL=(1,1)
• Skeleton member SYNCSORT
//STEP01 EXEC PGM=SYNCSORT,REGION=400K
//SORTIN DD DISP=SHR,DSN=&OLDSRC
//SORTOUT DD DISP=SHR,DSN=&NEWSRC
//SYSPRINT DD SYSOUT=*
//SYSIN DD *
SORT FIELDS=(1,10,CH,A)
/*
• These are the two skeletons we will be using in the REXX
File Tailoring - Example
/*REXX*/
"ispexec libdef ispslib dataset id(’tata.util.skels')"
say 'enter the jobname :'
pull jobname
say 'enter old source dsn :'
pull oldsrc
say 'enter new source dsn :'
pull newsrc
"ispexec ftopen temp"
"ispexec ftincl jobstmt "
"ispexec ftincl syncsort "
"ispexec ftclose "
"ispexec vget (ztempf)"
"ispexec edit dataset('"ztempf"')"
exit
File Tailoring - Example
• If you respond to the prompts for jobname,old dsname and
new dsname with jobsort,tata.old.file and tata.new.file
respectively,the tailored output will look like

//JOBSORT JOB (BILL01E0),’TATA',NOTIFY=&SYSUID,

// MSGCLASS=T,MSGLEVEL=(1,1)
//STEP01 EXEC PGM=SYNCSORT,REGION=400K
//SORTIN DD DISP=SHR,DSN=TATA.OLD.FILE
//SORTOUT DD DISP=SHR,DSN=TATA.NEW.FILE
//SYSPRINT DD SYSOUT=*
//SYSIN DD *
SORT FIELDS=(1,10,CH,A)
/*
• Note that all three variables have been substituted with
appropriate values
• Note the single ampersand in the NOTIFY parameter
ISPF Panels
A Simple panel definition
)ATTR DEFAULT(%+_)
% TYPE(TEXT) INTENS(HIGH)
+ TYPE(TEXT) INTENS(LOW)
_ TYPE(INPUT) INTENS(HIGH) CAPS(ON) JUST(LEFT)
)BODY
+ A Sample panel - REXX Training
+ -------------------------------------
+
+ %Enter your name please ==>_urname +
+
+ %Name cannot exceed more than 15 chars +
+
+ +Press ENTER to continue,PF3 to exit +
+
+
+
)INIT
)PROC
VER (&URNAME,NB,ALPHAB)
)END
REXX Exec - Panel Ex.
/*REXX*/
"ispexec libdef ispplib dataset id('rhkrish.test.panels')"
"ispexec display panel(expan)"
if RC ¬= 0 then do
say 'command cancelled'
exit
end
else
say 'Your name is ' urname
exit
• A simple REXX Exec that displays a panel that prompts for
the user name
• After the panel is submitted, the name entered is displayed
• After the panel is displayed and inputs are entered,if enter is
pressed RC is zero and if PF3 pressed, RC will be 8
REXX - Panel Ex. Output
A Sample panel - REXX Training
-------------------------------------

Enter your name please ==> abcdefghijklmno

Name cannot exceed more than 15 chars

Press ENTER to continue,PF3 to exit

• Advanced panels
Point and Shoot Fields
Action Bar Choice
ISPF TABLES
ISPF Tables

• ISPF tables are analogous to arrays

• A table can exist with or without a key
• An ISPF table is stored in a PDS dataset
• Application library - ISPTLIB
• The table output library must be allocated to a ddname of
ISPTABL
• There are over 20 ISPF services that are relevant to tables
ISPF Tables - TBCREATE
• creates a new table in virtual storage and opens it for
processing
• allows specification of the variable names that correspond to
columns in the table
• one or more variables can be defined as keys to a table
• Command invocation format
ISPEXEC TBCREATE table-name [KEYS(key-name-list)]
[NAMES(name-list)]
[WRITE|NOWRITE]
• table-name can be 1 to 8 alphanumeric characters in length
and must begin with an alphabet
• name-list are the list of variables that forms the columns of
the table
ISPF Tables - TBCREATE

• WRITE is the default option and indicates that the table is

permanent and is to be saved either by TBSAVE or TBCLOSE
• NOWRITE specifies that the table is for temporary use only
and it is to be deleted by either TBEND or TBCLOSE
• Example
“TBCREATE FSTATUS KEYS(FCODE) NAMES(MESSAGE) WRITE “
“TBCREATE TELBOOK KEYS(TELNO) NAMES(ADR1 ADR2)”
“TBCREATE ADDRESS NAMES(NAME ADDR1 ADDR2 PIN) “
ISPF Tables - TBOPEN
• reads a permanent table from the table input file into
virtual storage, and opens it for processing
• Command invocation format
ISPEXEC TBOPEN table-name [WRITE|NOWRITE]
• Example

“ISPEXEC TBOPEN FSTATUS WRITE” and

“ISPEXEC TBOPEN FSTATUS ” are the same as WRITE is

the default option
ISPF Tables - TBADD
• Adds a new row of variables to the table
• For tables without keys,the row is added after the current
row
• For tables with keys ,the table is searched to ensure that the
new row has a unique key
• Command invocation format
ISPEXEC TBADD table-name
[SAVE(name-list)]
[ORDER]
•ORDER ensures no duplicate key condition
•Example
“ISPEXEC TBADD TELBOOK ORDER”
ISPF Tables - TBSCAN
• Searches a table for a row with values that match an
argument list
• Command invocation format
“ISPEXEC TBSCAN table-name [ARGLIST(name-list)]”

• Example
“ISPEXEC TBSCAN FSTATUS ARGLIST(FCODE)”

•Searches the table FSTATUS using the argument FCODE

and fetches the error message associated with it.If the row
exists in the table, the error message will be stored in the
variable MESSAGE as in the TBCREATE service
ISPF Tables - TBSKIP

• Moves the current row pointer of a table forward by +1

• All variables in the row,including keys and extension
variables ,If any ,are stored into the corresponding variables as
defined in the TBCREATE statement
• Command invocation format
“ISPEXEC TBSKIP table-name”

•TBSKIP has many other parameters which are beyond the

scope of this training
ISPF Tables - TBSAVE
• writes the specified table from virtual storage to the table
output library
• The table output library must be allocated to the ddname
ISPTABL
• The table must be open in WRITE mode
• TBSAVE does not delete the virtual storage of the table
• Command invocation format
ISPEXEC TBSAVE table-name NAME(alt-name)
•‘alt-name’ - the table will stored in the output library with the alternate
name
ISPF Tables - TBEND

• deletes the virtual storage copy of the specified

table,making it unavailable for further processing

• The permanent copy is not changed

• Command invocation format

“ISPEXEC TBEND table-name”

ISPF Tables - TBCLOSE
• Terminates processing of a specified table and deletes the
virtual storage copy
• If the table was opened in write mode ,TBCLOSE copies
the table from virtual storage to the table output library
• If the table was opened in NOWRITE mode ,TBCLOSE
simply deletes the virtual storage copy
• Command invocation format
ISPEXEC TBCLOSE table-name

• Example

“ISPEXEC TBCLOSE FSTATUS”

ISPF Tables - Example - 1
• Creating and storing data in a table

/*REXX*/
address ispexec
"libdef isptabl dataset id('rhkrish.test.tables')"
"tbcreate rexxerr keys(ecode) names(etext) write"
do i = 1 to 49
ecode=i
etext= errortext(i)
"tbadd rexxerr order"
end
"tbclose rexxerr"
exit
ISPF Tables - Example - 2
• Searching the table for a particular value
/*REXX*/
address ispexec
"libdef isptabl dataset id('rhkrish.test.tables')"
"tbopen rexxerr nowrite"
say 'enter the error code (1-49) :'
pull ecode
"tbscan rexxerr arglist(ecode)"
if rc = 0 then say 'The error mesg is ' etext
else say 'row does not exist'
"tbclose rexxerr"
say 'Error mesg using function-' errortext(ecode)
exit
ISPF Tables - Example 3
• Displaying all the rows of a table
/*REXX*/
address ispexec
"libdef isptabl dataset id('rhkrish.test.tables')"
"tbopen rexxerr nowrite"
"tbskip rexxerr"
if RC ¬= 0 then do
say 'tbskip error RC - ' RC
exit
end
say "ECODE ETEXT"
do while RC = 0
say ecode etext
"tbskip rexxerr"
end
"tbclose rexxerr"
exit
List of References
• REXX in the TSO Environment - Gabriel F.Gargiulo
• Book manager in MVS
• Shelf Name Description
TSO_V2R5 TSO/E V2R5 Bookshelf
ISPF_V42 ISPF 4.2 for MVS Library
• Book Name Book Title
IKJ2C307 TSO/E V2R5 REXX/MVS User's Guide
ISPEEM01 Edit and Edit Macros
ISPSRV01 Services Guide