You can use variables to build commands. The showfile&per;cmd program is an example. showfile types a file that the user specifies. It prompts the user to enter a file name and then builds a variable containing the TYPE command and the input file name.
To have Rexx issue the command to the operating system, put the variable containing the command string on a line by itself. Rexx evaluates the variable and passes the resultant string to Windows:
| /* showfile&per;cmd - build command with variables */ |
| /* prompt the user for a file name */ |
| say "Type a file name:" |
| /* assign the response to variable FILENAME */ |
| pull filename |
| /* build a command string by concatenation */ |
| commandstr = "TYPE" filename |
| /* Assuming the user typed "demo.txt," */ |
| /* the variable COMMANDSTR contains */ |
| /* the string "TYPE DEMO.TXT" and so... */ |
| commandstr /* ...Rexx passes the */ |
| /* string on to Windows */ |
Rexx displays the following on the screen when you run the program:
| [C:\\]rexx showfile |
| Type a file name: |
| demo.txt |
| This is a sample text file. Its sole |
| purpose is to demonstrate how |
| commands can be issued from Rexx |
| programs. |
| [C:\\] |