The 2006 International Rexx Symposium
10 - 13 April 2006
Austin, Texas, USA

Title	ooRexx Utilities
Speaker	David Ashley
Abstract	I have developed a number of utility classes and routines for ooRexx. These include and XHTML subclass of all the ooRexx collection classes, and SMTP class, a mime class, a simple XML parser, and many useful utilities. Eventually these will be included into the ooRexx project (maybe soon).
Papers (Available to RexxLA members only)	PDF of slides

Title	Update on ooRexx Version 4
Speaker	David Ashley
Abstract	David and Rick will discuss the next version of ooRexx.
Papers (Available to RexxLA members only)	PDF of slides

Title	Participating in an Open Source Project
Speaker	David Ashley
Abstract	This presentation will outline the requirements for working on an Open Source project, specifically the Open Object Rexx Project. It will give an overview of the ooRexx Project Charter, outline requirements for contributions to the project, introduce the legal ramifications of working on an open source project, and lay out some of the general ground rules for open source projects.
Papers (Available to RexxLA members only)	PDF of slides

Title	The Watcher: An OO Development Case Study
Speaker	Gil Barmwater
Abstract	Having started using Object Rexx coming from a classic Rexx background, my initial usage was limited to using the built-in classes as extended BIFs, albeit with a different syntax. After finally getting my head around the ideas of Object Oriented Design, I set out to develop a program using that paradigm under ooRexx. This talk will walk through the problem to be solved, the design that evolved and the implementation that is now a production program.
Papers (Available to RexxLA members only)	PDF of slides(Need to Rotate View)

Title	Visual SlickEdit with Rexx, Part II
Speaker	Gil Barmwater
Abstract	Visual Slick Edit, an advanced code editor and/or a stand-alone development environment, has long included support for Rexx but work by several RexxLA members has enhanced that support and extended it for ObjectREXX/oorexx. This talk will introduce the basic Rexx support that comes with the product and demonstrate the enhancements and extensions that have been developed. This is an update on the talk presented at the 2005 Symposium.
Papers (Available to RexxLA members only)	PDF of slides Supplemental material

Title	Mainframe CVS at Rocket Software
Speaker	Lisa Bates
Abstract	Using classic Rexx utilizing functionality in both TSO and USS, I created a suite of commands that extends the functionality of CVS (Concurrent Versioning System) to TSO datasets, converting a hierarchical structure to/from TSO datasets. CVS is source code maintenance software, and for many, the defacto standard that is used for maintaining source code.
Papers (Available to RexxLA members only)	PDF of Slides(Need to Rotate View)

Title	Enhanced Arithmetic for Rexx
Speaker	Mike Cowlishaw
Abstract	The IEEE 754R revision committee is currently in the process of standardizing decimal floating-point arithmetic, based on the decimal arithmetic currently in Rexx. In this talk, Mike will summarize the current Rexx arithmetic and the differences and enhancements in the IEEE draft standard and then make an initial proposal for how this might be added to Rexx.
Papers (Available to RexxLA members only)	PDF of slides

Title	The Vienna Version of BSF4Rexx
Speaker	Rony G. Flatscher
Abstract	The Bean Scripting Framework for Rexx allows Rexx programs to interface with Java objects and use Java class libraries as external Rexx function libraries. One of the core infrastructures in use is Apache's Jakarta BSF (Bean Scripting Framework), which allows Java programs to invoke scripts in non-Java languages, in the case of BSF4Rexx it is the Rexx language. The BSF4Rexx package includes explicit support for (Open) Object Rexx in the form of the module BSF.CLS, which camouflages the Java classes as (Open) Object Rexx classes, allowing Object Rexx messages being sent to Java proxy objects, which will be carried out at the Java side. The Vienna Version of BSF4Rexx is a significant improvement over the earlier development versions, most notably the Augsburger and the Essener version.
Papers (Available to RexxLA members only)	PDF of slides

Title	ooRexxUnit: A JUnit Compliant Testing Framework for ooRexx Programs
Speaker	Rony G. Flatscher
Abstract	ooRexxUnit is an Open Object Rexx implementation of the JUnit testing framework (cf. JUnit. It allows for creating and running ooRexx test cases, which assert whether application specifications are met. One usually creates such test cases according to the specification parallel to the development of the application and employs them every time the application is developed further or changed because of maintenance, bug-fix needs. This talk will introduce the ooRexxUnit framework, give examples of how to employ and implement systematically such unit tests. One aim will be to show and demonstrate, how easy it is with such a testing framework in place to test Rexx and ooRexx programs.
Papers (Available to RexxLA members only)	PDF of slides

Title	UNO.CLS: An (Open) Object Rexx Module for Universal Network Objects
Speaker	Rony G. Flatscher
Abstract	The free and Open Source office product named Open Office is built with a CORBA like distributed component model, named Universal Network Objects (UNO). In the past year quite some work was carried out in creating an (Open) Object Rexx interface module, allowing UNO classes to be addressed as if they were Object Rexx classes. This interface works with all UNO classes, be they implemented in C++ or Java or even in another language. This talk will introduce the architecture and explain core functionality of the module UNO.CLS, followed by ooRexx nutshell scripts driving the Open Office word processor, spreadsheet and presentation modules. All scripts and macros work unchanged under Linux and Windows, enabling companies and organizations to switch off the proprietary, operating system pinning office products like Microsoft Office. Or with other words: the full functionality of Open Office becomes available to Rexx programmers, matching and even surpassing what is possible with other products. This technology helps to open up the opportunity to companies and organizations to strategically move away over time from products that lock them in into a specific operating system and/or office product involuntarily.
Papers (Available to RexxLA members only)	PDF of slides Reference Paper - OpenOffice.org Automatisation with Object Rexx - Martin Burger Reference Paper - OpenOffice.org Automation: Object Model, Scripting Languages, Nutshell Examples - Andreas Ahammer

Title	ooRexx on MacOS
Speaker	René Jansen
Abstract	The history and future of Rexx and ooRexx on MacOS.
Papers (Available to RexxLA members only)	PDF of slides

Title	But I don't use objects... or do I?
Speaker	Rick McGuire
Abstract	Classic Rexx programmers frequently turn away from using Object Rexx because they're not comfortable with object oriented concepts. However, many programmers who consider themselves procedural programmers are closer to using objects than they realize. By starting with some very common Rexx programming idioms, we'll attempt to demonstrate that how these programs can be made more robust and simpler to write by allowing the Object Rexx language to do a little more of the work...and all without using the words Polymorphism, Inheritance, and Encapsulation.
Papers (Available to RexxLA members only)	PDF of slides

Title	The ooRexx Collection Classes
Speaker	Rick McGuire
Abstract	Classic Rexx programmers are accustomed to using stems to implement different sorts of collections (arrays, directories, etc.). "If all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail". This works well, but for many sorts of constructs, this requires additional work on the part of the programmer to transform stems into the desired collection type. In addition, because these collections are mapped back onto stem variable lookups, they can suffer from somewhat less than optimal performance. Object Rexx has a number of built-in collection classes that are tuned to specific uses, and also have additional functions that can remove some of the burden of using different types of collections. This talk will cover the different types of collections to help Rexx programmers understand how they are used and to choose the appropriate type for a given task.
Papers (Available to RexxLA members only)	PDF of slides

Title	The API is dead, long live the API
Speaker	Rick McGuire
Abstract	The next major release of the Open Object Rexx interpreter will include a revamped set of API aimed at making it easier for application developers and extension writers to fully access and exploit Rexx objects. The new APIs include: Full object access to external function arguments and the ability to return objects as results. The ability to write native code methods for Rexx classes. Automatic datatype conversions for method and function arguments and return results. Automatic package loading driven by a new ::package directive. Convenience methods for accessing some standard Rexx classes instances. The ability to create Rexx interpreter sessions that can be kept alive and driven by external application code. The ability to attach additional threads to a Rexx session and call methods. This is particularly useful for event dispatching. Some changes to RxFuncAdd, etc. to allow compatible interactions with new interface packages. New strategy for creating and using Rexx exits. Fuller access to Rexx facilities inside of exit handlers.
Papers (Available to RexxLA members only)	PDF of slides

Title	Implementing BSF4Rexx with ooRexx on Linux & Windows
Speaker	Lee Peedin
Abstract	Using the bfs.cls created by Dr. Rony Flatscher, Lee will start with some very simple examples of calling Java classes within ooRexx. As the presentation progresses, Lee will gradually incorporate additional Java classes. By the presentation's end, the audience should have a general understanding of how to implement Java classes for practical applications.
Papers (Available to RexxLA members only)	PDF of slides(Need to Rotate View) Supplemental material

Title	Creating Cross Platform GUI Applications using BSF4Rexx & ooRexx
Speaker	Lee Peedin
Abstract	Continuing with the BSF4Rexx presentations, Lee will discuss the various GUI development tools available to ooRexx through Java AWT, Swing, and SWT. Many of the widgets (buttons, labels, text boxes, menus, etc.) available through Swing will be demonstrated. Lee will also present a SWT application that demonstrates cross platform printing.
Papers (Available to RexxLA members only)	PDF of slides(Need to Rotate View) Supplemental material

Title	Creating OODialog Interfaces Without Access to the Resource Workshop
Speaker	Jon Wolfers
Abstract	When Object Rexx went open source and became ooRexx, the OODialog Windows GUI manager came across with it, but not the IDE in the form of the Resource Workshop & Template generator. Developing GUI applications by hand may sound daunting. Jon will show us how easy it is with the aid of templates and helper classes.
Papers (Available to RexxLA members only)	PDF of slides Supplemental material

Title	ooRexxUnit "Hack-a-thon"
Facilitators	Rick McGuire Rony G. Flatscher
Abstract	The goal of the hack-a-thon is to see how many test buckets we can add to the ooRexx regression bucket using Rony Flatscher's ooRexxUnit test framework. Participants will be able to pick any feature of the language they feel like working on, and just hack away for an evening on new tests. This will give attendees an opportunity to get a little more comfortable with the Object Rexx language, and also make some steps toward growing the ooRexx developer community.