AmigaOS Manual: ARexx

Welcome

ARexx, the Amiga counterpart of the IBM REXX programming language, provides the freedom to customize your work environment. It is especially useful as a scripting language which allows you to control and modify applications and to direct how they interact with each other.

This manual introduces you to ARexx, tells you how to create ARexx programs and provides a reference section of ARexx commands.

Chapter 1. Introducing ARexx This chapter gives an overview of ARexx, how it works on the Amiga, and the basic features of the programming language.

Chapter 2. Getting Started This chapter tells you where to store your ARexx programs, how to execute an ARexx program, and provides several programming examples.

Chapter 3. Elements of ARexx This chapter details the rules and concepts that make up the ARexx programming language.

Chapter 4. Instructions This chapter contains an alphabetical listing of ARexx instructions, which are language statements that dictate an action.

Chapter 5. Functions This chapter describes the use of functions, which are program statements used by ARexx, and provides an alphabetical listing of the built-in ARexx functions.

Chapter 6. Debugging This chapter focuses on the source-level debugging features used in the development and testing of programs.

Chapter 7. Parsing This chapter explains how to extract patterns of information from strings.

Chapter 8. Input and Output This chapter explains the ARexx's input and output model.

Chapter 9. Sounds This chapter explains how to record and play sounds.

Chapter 10. Printing This chapter explains how to print.

Chapter 11. Serial and parallel ports This chapter explains how to receive and send data through the serial and parallel ports.

Chapter 12. Network resources This chapter explains how you can connect to a remote server and exchange data with it.

Appendix A. Error Messages This appendix lists the ARexx error messages.

Appendix B. Command Utilities This appendix lists the ARexx commands that can be run from the Shell.

Appendix C. Special Variables This appendix lists the ARexx special variables.

Appendix D. External Function Libraries This appendix lists the external ARexx function libraries.

Appendix E. External Function Hosts This appendix lists the external function hosts.

Appendix F. ARexx Compatible Applications This appendix lists the operating system applications which have an ARexx interface.

Appendix G. Control Sequences This appendix lists the control sequences for the text output.

Appendix H. Limits This appendix lists the ARexx implementation limits.

Glossary The glossary contains common ARexx terms.

Document Conventions

The following conventions are used in this manual:

KEYWORDS

Keywords are displayed in all uppercase letters, however, the arguments are case-insensitive.

| (vertical bar)

Alternative selections are separated by a vertical bar.

{ } (braces)

Required alternatives are enclosed by braces.

[ ] (brackets)

Optional instruction parts are enclosed in brackets.

<n>

Variables are displayed in angle brackets. Do not enter the angle brackets when entering the variable.

Courier

Text appearing in the Courier font represents output from your ARexx programs or other information that displays on your screen.

Key1 + Key2

Key combinations displayed with a plus sign (+) connecting them indicates pressing the keys simultaneously.

Key1, Key2

Key combinations displayed with a comma sign (,) separating them indicates pressing the keys in sequence.

Amiga keys

Two keys on the Amiga keyboard used for special functions. The left Amiga key is to the left of the space bar and is marked with a large solid A. The right Amiga key is to the right of the space bar and is an outlined A.

Sources of Additional Information

Further information on learning and using ARexx can be found in:

• Modern Programming Using REXX, by R.P. O'Hara and D.G. Gomberg, Prentice-Hall, 1985.
• The REXX Language: A Practical Approach to Programming, by M.F. Cowlishaw, Prentice-Hall, 1985.
• Programming in REXX, J. Ranade IBM Series, by Charles Daney, McGraw-Hill Companies, 1990.
• Using ARexx on the Amiga, by Chris Zamara and Nick Sullivan, Abacus, 1991.
• Libraries
• The Workbench ARexx Port

Communities

• The Rexx Language Association