Introduction: IBM's Systems Application Architecture^® (SAA ) defines a set of functions and rules for interchange of programs and data between different hardware and software platforms. In the SAA definition, Common User Access (CUA ) calls for languages which are portable across these multiple platforms. REXX (the Reformed EXecutive language eXtended) has been defined as the procedural language of SAA.

Since its introduction to MVS in TSO/E version 2, REXX has become a potential replacement for TSO's CLIST language. The portability of REXX procedures across platforms makes it preferable to CLISTs for any new TSO procedure development.

This course teaches the complete REXX language and focuses on its use in TSO/E, however, approximately 75% of the material covered in the course will also apply to REXX in VM/CMS or OS/2^®. This course also describes the use of REXX to create ISPF editor macros and the use of REXX procedures to perform OS/390 operator console functions. Through lab exercises, the student will gain hands-on experience with all major statements in the language.

Audience: Systems and application programmers, or end-users who have a need to create procedures or macros in the TSO/E environment.

Prerequisites: The student must have experience with TSO/ISPF and a working knowledge of OS/390 data organization concepts.

Objectives:  On completion of this course, the student should be able to:

• Create REXX procedures which can invoke TSO/E commands and programs
  
  
• Create REXX procedures which can perform I/O against sequential and partitioned data sets
  
  
• Create ISREDIT macros which can enhance the ISPF edit environment
  
  
• Create REXX procedures which can interact with the OS/390 operator's console
  
  
• Create REXX procedures to capture and tailor the output of TSO/E commands
  
  

Duration: This course is 5 days long.