#Rexx
14 messages in this thread
Charlie, I told some friends about Rexx for the Amiga and they're really
excited. Can you tell me _again_ when the approximate release date is, whether
it's interpreted or compiled and how much it will cost?
Sorry to bug you…
Thanks, Marlene
Rexx? Is this the Rexx thats runs under CMS on VM systems? God, I hope so. I
wish I had Xedit on the Amiga. I hear theres a version running on IBM PC's.
Good place for it.
Paul, yup it's the same Rexx – everyone I know who uses Xedit feels it's the
best text editor there is. The version that runs on an IBM PC is Kedit – I
don't like it as much as Xedit.
Marlene
That's the same REXX, AREXX is an implementation of the IBM
command language. It's being done by Bill Hawes (who did ConMan)
; no XEDIT is in immediate plans though TxEd will have a command
line with keywords similar to XEDIT commands whenever possible.
Not sure how close this will be to an XEDIT feel, since XEDIT
is a stream editor whereas TxEd is character oriented. But
we're working with some REXX/XEDIT users to come as close as
possible without changing the basic nature of TxEd.
Charlie,
I sincerely hope that it is not too close to XEDIT. I have the unfortunate
need to use XEDIT almost every day at work, and usually end up wanting to
scream after using it for anything longer than a few minutes.
Regards, Larry.
Larry, what are your reasons for disliking Xedit? I used it everyday for 2
years and found it to be a powerful and easy editor to use.
Marlene
Mostly the command line environment will have commands similar to XEDIT syntax,
plus a few commands added to do XEDIT like things from command line. Unless
you go to command line, it'll be invisible.
Sounds good Charlie. I do like the idea of being able to go to the command line
when I have to, and ignoring it in other cases.
Regards, Larry.
I'm kinda psyched about the command line; it lets me build in the
config-startup stuff as a macro, plus I can add more complex commands without
cluttering up the menus and making TxEd clumsy to use and hard to learn. Also
allows a couple other extensions I'll talk more about when I figure out how to
do them C-:
Why dont you just change your Xedit Profile? One of the great features of
Xedit is the user tailorable profile. Another is the ability to make your own
Xedit macros and invoke them from the command line. And you can invoke any CMS
command or REXX exec from it. You can also have as many Xedit sessions going
as you have memory. Being a system programmer, I set my memory to 16 meg.
Thats alot of sessions. The only thing that it doesnt do well is split
screens. The MVS/SPF split screen implementation is much better. Paul
Paul,
I have fiddled with the profile, but finding out how to do things with the
documentation is an adventure game that isn't even fun. As an example, there
may indeed be a way to format a paragraph easily, but I have yet to discover
it. Joining lines is another hassle… count how many lines to move the file,
then issue the join command. No thanks. With TxED or CED, or for that matter
any reasonably friendly editor, I position the cursor (easier and quicker than
positioning the file, then one keystroke does the trick. Formatting? Again, one
keystroke. I don't use XEDIT enough to justify spending weeks learning all the
ins and outs of the command language, but certainly enough to know that it's
worth the download time to get the files to my Amiga for some really productive
work.
Regards, Larry.
Rexx is an interpreter, though you can set up function libraries
and program interfaces which allow very fast custom programs
to be written. It will probably be out this fall, can't give
a price since the publisher isn't definite yet but the author
wants it to be inexpensive enough that everyone will consider
getting it. I just got the preliminary TxEd interface up with
AREXX last week, basicly just added a command line interface
and a message port. I don't have a real feel for speed yet since
most editing operations are slow at language speeds anyhow
( like 15 screen updates/second, etc). If you want to
get in touch with the author, I can forward an address/phone #
for you. Either email or send it to:
attn: cheath
Microsmiths, Inc
PO Box 561
Cambridge, MA 02140
(617) 354-1224
Cheath, thanks for the info – I'll gather some questions and forward them to
you.
Marlene