IBM

REXX for OS/2 1.3


30 Oct 1990
Copyright © International Business Machines Corporation, 1990. All Rights Reserved

Note: this is the OS/2 release in which REXX became part of the base operating system. It had previously been included in the IBM OS/2 Extended Edition 1.2 only.

NUMBER     290-691
DATE       901030
TYPE       Programming

TITLE      IBM OPERATING SYSTEM/2 STANDARD EDITION VERSION 1.3 AND OPERATING
           SYSTEM/2 PROGRAMMING TOOLS AND INFORMATION VERSION 1.2/1.3

ABSTRACT          Operating System/2 (R) (OS/2 (R)) Standard Edition (SE)
           Version 1.3 fulfills IBM's stated intent to deliver in OS/2 Standard
           Edition a 2MB OS/2 entry system and to further expand the range of
           OS/2 capable systems.  Operating System/2 Programming Tools and
           Information Version 1.2/1.3 will assist application developers to
           fully utilize this new function.
                  IBM Operating System/2 Standard Edition Version 1.3 has been
           enhanced to provide increased performance in memory-constrained
           environments, and reduced requirements for system memory and fixed
           disk space.  Also provided are Procedures Language 2/REXX, enhanced
           font support, improved printer device drivers and usability
           enhancements.
                  Planned Availability Date:
           IBM Operating System/2
             Standard Edition Version 1.3          November 30, 1990
           IBM OS/2 Programming Tools
             and Information Version 1.2/1.3       December 21, 1990
            (R) Registered trademark of International Business Machines
              Corporation.
PRODNO       84F7588  OS/2 SE Version 1.3
                      3.5-Inch (1.44MB) Media
             84F7587  OS/2 SE Version 1.3
                      5.25-Inch (1.2 MB) Media
             85F1671  OS/2 Programming Tools and Information
                      Version 1.2/1.3 3.5-Inch (1.44 MB)

OVERVIEW   HIGHLIGHTS
           o   Increased performance in memory-constrained environments
           o   Reduced main memory and fixed disk requirements
           o   Adobe Type Manager (1), ATM (1) and IBM's core set of fonts
           o   Procedures Language 2/REXX
           o   Printer installation, performance, usability and device driver
               enhancements
           o   New program properties enable simplified application auto start
               at boot time
            (1) Registered trademark of Adobe Systems, Inc.
           DESCRIPTION
           BUSINESS SOLUTIONS
           In addition to all previously announced function, IBM Operating
           System/2 Standard Edition Version 1.3 provides increased performance
           over OS/2 SE 1.2.  IBM Operating System/2 Standard Edition
           Version 1.3 is faster in performing system functions than OS/2 SE 1.2
           in memory-constrained environments.  (A memory constrained
           environment is caused when applications overcommit system memory and
           disk swapping occurs).
                  The minimum system storage required to operate OS/2, including
           the DOS compatibility mode, has been reduced from 2.5MB to 2.0MB.
           This reduction will allow many Personal System/2 (R) (PS/2 (R))
           systems to utilize the true multitasking of IBM Operating System/2
           Standard Edition Version 1.3 without additional storage.
           NOTE:   2.5MB or greater system memory and a 60MB or greater fixed
           disk partition are recommended for use with the high performance file
           system.
                  A new selectable install utility allows IBM Operating System/2
           Standard Edition Version 1.3 to install in less fixed disk storage
           than OS/2 SE 1.2, freeing more space for user programs and data.  The
           smallest install will require approximately 8.0MB of fixed disk space
           and the full install 11.0MB on a system with at least 4MB of system
           memory.
            (R) Registered trademark of International Business Machines
              Corporation.
           GROWTH ENABLEMENT
           IBM Operating System/2 Standard Edition Version 1.3 includes Adobe
           Type Manager and will be shipped with IBM's core set of fonts.  Adobe
           Type Manager accepts Adobe Type 1 outline fonts to provide high
           quality typographic text in a full range of sizes and styles to all
           IBM Operating System/2 Standard Edition Version 1.2 supported
           printers and displays, providing "What You See Is What You Get"
           (WYSIWYG) technology for OS/2 Presentation Manager (TM) (PM)
           applications.  Over 600 different typefaces available in Adobe Type 1
           font format can now be used with OS/2.
            (TM) Trademark of International Business Machines Corporation.
                  The twelve core fonts included with IBM Operating System/2
           Standard Edition Version 1.3 are:
           o   Times New Roman (2)
           o   Times New Roman Bold
           o   Times New Roman Italic
           o   Times New Roman Bold Italic
           o   Helvetica (3)
           o   Helvetica Bold
           o   Helvetica Italic
           o   Helvetica Bold Italic
           o   Courier
           o   Courier Bold
           o   Courier Italic
           o   Courier Bold Italic
                  Adobe Type Manager requires no new application programming
           interfaces and works with existing OS/2 applications that use
           Presentation Manager outline fonts.  IBM Operating System/2 Standard
           Edition Version 1.3 will support additional vendor font-rendering
           technologies developed for use with IBM Operating System/2 Standard
           Edition Version 1.3.
                  IBM Operating System/2 Standard Edition Version 1.3 includes
           Procedures Language 2/REXX (REXX).  REXX is an easy-to-learn language
           designed to facilitate the writing of clear, structured, interpreted
           procedures.  REXX can provide the data manipulation and procedural
           logic framework for OS/2 commands and conventional calls to other
           high-level languages and CMD programs.
                  The REXX interpreter implements both the SAA (TM) level 1 and
           the SAA level 2 definition of Procedures Language.  Because of this,
           it provides a more portable procedural alternative to OS/2 CMD
           programming, reducing the programming investment for users who
           require applications that execute in several SAA environments.  REXX
           helps protect programming investment for users who already developed
           REXX procedures for other SAA environments.  REXX was previously
           available in OS/2 Extended Edition Version 1.2.
                  REXX also includes a repertoire of arithmetic, string
           handling, and logic operations that can be interpreted by OS/2.
           Users may use REXX as a personal computing language without requiring
           a compiler.  The extended repertoire in this interpreter can enhance
           programmer productivity.  In addition, REXX may be used to extend an
           application by creating macros that have a mix of REXX instructions,
           application specific instructions, and OS/2 commands.
                  The limit on the number of active Presentation Manager windows
           has been increased 10 - 20 times over IBM Operating System/2 Standard
           Edition Version 1.2 in the same environment.
                  IBM Operating System/2 Standard Edition Version 1.3 remains

Note: the above is shown in the original announcement letter format.