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:\\] |