REXX Panel reference document

srinivasan.gajapathi · New User Joined: 05 Jun 2008 Posts: 3 Location: chennai

Hi all,

I am having basic idea about creation of REXX panels but need to learn additional parameter in panel definition,
so can anybody suggest me a site/tutorials which can be use as a reference for my tool/panel creation.

Regards,
Srini G

Akatsukami · Posted: Thu Sep 16, 2010 1:38 am

Of course, there are no such things as "REXX panels", but as that misnomer is a common one it is easily understandable by us. I would recommend that you begin by reading the fine manual. If then you then have specific questions, we will do our humble best to answer them.

srinivasan.gajapathi · New User Joined: 05 Jun 2008 Posts: 3 Location: chennai

Hi AKatsukami,

Thanks for your response, i ll start look into the link and work on the same. if incase any specific doubt arise ll reach back

Thanks & Regards (Srini G)

PeterHolland · Posted: Thu Sep 16, 2010 7:01 am

expat · Posted: Thu Sep 16, 2010 11:42 am

Peter, as the OP posted in the ISPF forum, one can only assume that he meant for an ISPF panel. Maybe an ISPF panel using PANEL REXX.

Your example, although correctly named, looks to me as it is totally CICS orientated.

But then if the OP doesn't post in the correct forum, how are we really supposed to know what they want

I think that this issue will be open for future debate.

However, I'm not sure if this should be done with only a limited participation, as I am sure that we don't want to see mass debating in public

dbzTHEdinosauer · Posted: Thu Sep 16, 2010 11:45 am

actually the cics implementation of panels with REXX PANEL PROGRAMS
are not the same as ISPF Panels which can be displayed thru REXX.

and again,
it is REXX PANEL PROGRAM - a CICS thing
and not REXX PANEL - a non-exsistant thing, derived from an incorrect use of terms when referring to ISPF PANELS.

PeterHolland · Posted: Thu Sep 16, 2010 11:51 am

Dick,

i was wondering how to read it "rexx panel" program or rexx "panel program" And yes its CICS only. Then there are also netview panels
that can only be processed by rexx. All in all its a little blurred the
terminology.

dbzTHEdinosauer · Posted: Thu Sep 16, 2010 12:00 pm

point taken.

the reference point taken by some of us on this board
is that the continual miss-use of terms leads 'some of us' to mention the fact,
that the TS is creating new terms for existing terminology.

i never did determine from the link if the REXX PANEL PROGRAMS were compiled REXX Scripts (which means they are a program)
or REXX Scripts, which means they are Scripts.
I imagine CICS does not have a REXX interpreter (as ISPF),
so they would be compiled, thus being Programs.
But if CICS has a REXX interpreter, then they would be Scripts and not Programs.

PeterHolland · Posted: Thu Sep 16, 2010 9:25 pm

Dick,

your interpretations about panels/scripts are sanctifying?
Please do me the favour about what you are saying
is an established fact.
The same with null values you talk about is a DB2 term,
there are a lot of programming languages (before db2) where
a null value is a valid term.

dbzTHEdinosauer · Posted: Thu Sep 16, 2010 9:53 pm

Peter, do not forget that a null value is zero, and means the value of the variable
whereas NULL in db2 is not a value but an attribute - meaning there is no assigned value to the column.

also, I was being a little sarcastic with my post,
yet attempted to stay within industry approved terminology.

a REXX Script that executes in ISPF via the REXX interpreter - is a REXX Script.
a compiled rexx script - is a compiled rexx script - i would go far as to say/agree that is is a program.

based on the above, I just questioned whether Scripts could be run in CICS,
since we know that programs of multiple languges can be.

ISPF Panels have their own language,
and the 'ISPF panel interpreter/display service' is invoked via the command DISPLAY API(among others)
which can be issued in the rexx scripting language (among others).

same as BMS is a facitlity/service to 'paint screens' in CICS.
The BMS facility is invoked via the API SEND (among others),
which merges data (one of the parms of the send api)
and the MAP (one of the parms of the send api).

But back to the original discussion:
This is an ISPF forum
and I stand behind what Akatsukami said
there is no such thing as a REXX PANEL in ISPF

and last but not least: sanctifying? I think of it as 'injecting precision into the conversation'.

i would rather talk to a layman about a technical subject,
who uses terms like thingimabob and whatchamacallit
than an illiterate technician - who misuses terms.