Knowing REXX is critical to getting the most from OS/2 and the applications you run under it. The REXX Cookbook is a unique tutorial designed to teach anyone, from the seasoned vetran to the non-programmer, to program in REXX by presenting detailed explanations of useful REXX programs. If you've experienced the frustration of trying to write real world code after finding only fragmentary examples in reference books you will appreciate the programs in this book!
This is Merill Calaway's second REXX book. The first, The ARexx Cookbook helped thousands of Amiga users to become fluent ARexx programmers, and is highly regarded in the Amiga community. In creating a book exclusively for the OS/2 community, he drew on the feedback from his earlier work to create the best available package for learning REXX.
Charles Daney of Quercus Systems, author of Programming in REXX, published by McGraw Hill, had this to say about The REXX Cookbook:
"It's one of the most detailed computer books I've ever seen, and not just trivial detail either, but good solid information. And some of your examples are among the best I've seen anywhere. The stuff on PostScript, SQL, DB2/2, AmiPro, etc. should be really valuable to many."
The book makes learning REXX far easier than ever before, because readers can see actual code used and explained in context. It is a bonus that the book's programs are so useful in their own right. For example, one project is an Inter-Process Control REXX program that combines VX-REXX by WATCOM, REXX and DB2/2 by IBM, and AmiPro by Lotus Development. The program, complete with its own Graphic User Interface, allows the user to find any database on the system, look at all its tables and columns, create a custom SQL statement to view any assortment of the data, and then put the formatted results into an AmiPro document at the cursor position, all with no typing involved! This is just one of the programs in the book, which is 100% tutorial.
Another unique program uses REXX and PostScript together to print envelopes quickly without needing to open a word processor. It even keeps a database of your personal addresses handy. There are some essential system utility programs to back up your .INI files, some EPM and TSPF editor macros, and even a program to teach you how to use the parse instruction.
The level of difficulty is graduated so the book is suitable for beginners and experts alike. You will find useful REXX code in The REXX Cookbook. Combined with any standard REXX reference, it rounds out a complete course in REXX fluency. Mr. Callaway says, "The REXX Cookbook is the very book I wished I had when I was learning to program in REXX."
The REXX Cookbook has been shipping since May, 1995.
The REXX Cookbook with The REXX FILES is $42.90, shipping and handling additional.
You can order online, or by phone, fax, or mail.