REXX Tips & Tricks:General Foreword

This document contains tips & tricks about REXX programming under OS/2. It also contains general information about REXX, including literature, third-party software, REXX on non-OS/2 platforms, and more.

This document is intended for people who already have some knowledge in REXX programming.

Absolute beginners in REXX programming should read one of the REXX tutorials (see the Literature section) before reading this document.

First-time readers of this document should read the sections Installing REXX Tips & Tricks, Using the samples, Using IPF Keys and Icons used in REXX Tips & Tricks before using this document. Those who are familiar with RXT&T might re-visit those sections from time to time; they will find they get more out of RXT&T when they actively use the suggestions given in those sections.

I also recommend that readers visit frequently the REXX home page maintained by Mike Cowlishaw, the REXX FAQ maintained by Dave Martin and the home page of the REXX Language Association (see Internet - Web Pages).

Since January 2001 I work as a freelancer. So, if you need support for OS/2 (Server or Clients), REXX programming, or any flavour of Unix you're welcome to contact me.

Please direct your inquiries, complaints, suggestions, bug lists etc. to the author (see address below).

Author: Bernd Schemmer (Team OS/2, Certified LAN Server Engineer, Certified OS/2 Engineer)


 * Note: For the latest information, including updates, new entries, and bug fixes, see the and refer to History, Version 3.60.

German users of this document should set an additional IPF KEY to display ancillary information in German (see the section Using IPF Keys).


 * PS: If you like RXT&T - send me a postcard. If not - send me an email telling me what's wrong or missing.

Old versions
For historical purposes, the Foreword to each version of RXT&T is retained and displayed below.

To jump to the Foreword of the current version, click on

Foreword for Version 1.50
Well, here it is: The first English release of REXX Tips & Tricks. It's taken some time for me to translate it but now it's done.

Because English is not my native language, there may be many errors and misspellings in this document. Nevertheless I hope you'll understand it anyway.

To make this document more readable and useful for all readers I ask all English-speaking people to tell me their opinions about this document. Especially, I'm interested in hearing about errors, misspellings, grammatical nonsense and such things.

Thanks in advance

Bernd Schemmer, Frankfurt in April 1995 (corrected spelling errors in July 1995)

Note: If you're going to answer my question, please indicate if it's okay to publish your name and EMail address in the next issue of RXT&T. And, of course, I'm also interested in further information for this document, especially for the items marked with ? or (?).

(see also the General Foreword)

Foreword for Version 3.60
And here it is: The next version of RXT&T.

This is again only a maintenance update

After maintaining REXX Tips & Tricks for 10 years now I'm thinking to stop the updates now. That's because there's not that much new information about Classic REXX these days anymore (especially for OS/2).

Thanks for all who distribute to REXX Tips & Tricks and I hope REXX Tips & Tricks is still valuable for every one using OS/2.

Bernd Schemmer [Team OS/2, Certified LAN Server Engineer, Certified OS/2 Engineer], Frankfurt in June 2004