OS2 World Community Forum

OS/2, eCS & ArcaOS - Technical => Programming => Topic started by: Jean-Yves on September 10, 2014, 04:38:46 pm

Title: VisPro Rexx printed manual
Post by: Jean-Yves on September 10, 2014, 04:38:46 pm
Hi there,

If anyone has a printed copy of the VisPro Rexx manual that they would like to donate or sell at a reasonable price (inc postage to the UK), could you let me know?

I have the manuals as inf files but I prefer to use books on the whole.  I know that the manual is probably out of date compared to the last released version but that would still be fine. It's mainly the overall approach/architecture and workflow I want to remember. As far as I can remember, I never had printed manuals, just an electronic download direct from hockware.

I have some app ideas I'd like to try out and it's been a while since I've used either eCS or VisPro so I need to do some bedtime reading to refresh my mind

Alas, I've lost all my old Vispro source files for the programs I wrote years ago. I notice one of the program binaries is still on hobbes though so that was fun to find!
Title: Re: VisPro Rexx printed manual
Post by: Martin Iturbide on September 10, 2014, 07:27:04 pm
Welcome Jean-Yves.

I talked to Dave Hock (Hockware) some time ago and he allowed VisPro Rexx to be released AS IS. Sadly the source code of it was lost and can not be released as open source.

All the information about VisPro REXX I was able to find was posted here: http://www.edm2.com/index.php/Hockware_VisPro/REXX (http://www.edm2.com/index.php/Hockware_VisPro/REXX) . Let me know if you have something else that can be included.

Which ones were the programs that you developed years ago? Too bad that the source code was also lost :(

Regards
Title: Re: VisPro Rexx printed manual
Post by: Jean-Yves on September 11, 2014, 03:50:18 pm
Hi Martin,

Yes I have the latest 3.1.1 release with all the latest patches. It's a really great Visual IDE, if a little rough around some edges (understandably given it's not been developed in years)

I have seen those articles you mention. I was just hoping that in the unlikely event of someone gaving the printed manual and no longer wanting/needing it, they might consider parting with it. I prefer print to online docs for some reason.

The app I found on Hobbes is just a small utility to allow users to easily configure the startup file for the QLaY Sinclair QL emulator (which itself runs under DOS). I had a couple of other apps written in Vispro Rexx that did rather more than this (one generated a bunch of SQL statements for a client given various parameters if I remember correctly) but as I said, alas, I cannot find a CD with the source backed up.

Anyway, thanks for replying.  :) 

Jean-Yves
Title: Re: VisPro Rexx printed manual
Post by: muffetta on September 11, 2014, 04:25:38 pm
Hi there,

If anyone has a printed copy of the VisPro Rexx manual that they would like to donate or sell at a reasonable price (inc postage to the UK), could you let me know?

I have the manuals as inf files but I prefer to use books on the whole.

Hi Jean-Yves,

A pdf conversion from the bundled books in inf format, ready for print, could help you? I made the same for vx-rexx, and now i have my personal printed book edition, really usefull.
If you send me the inf you have, i could convert them.
Regards
Title: Re: VisPro Rexx printed manual
Post by: Jean-Yves on September 12, 2014, 12:23:54 pm
Hi Barbara, that would be great, many thanks  :)

What's the best way to get the files to you? Shall I attach here?

Would I be able to have a copy of the VX-REXX PDF too? I have a license for that somewhere, but I lost the media ages ago and I don't think I ever got beyond installing it. I keep on the lookout for it coming up on eBay but so far no joy. I'm not sure about the legal status of VX-REXX though, so that may not be possible. I know Watcom open sourced the C/C++/Fortran compilers but I never heard anything about Rexx.

Actually, I wonder whether it would be worth popping the PDFs on hobbes for access by a wider audience?

Anyways, thanks again for your very kind offer

JY
Title: Re: VisPro Rexx printed manual
Post by: muffetta on September 12, 2014, 12:45:53 pm
Hi Barbara, that would be great, many thanks  :)

What's the best way to get the files to you? Shall I attach here?
Yes i think as attach is right, let me only remember all the steps i made  to convert it :P !

Would I be able to have a copy of the VX-REXX PDF too?
I put it in /pub/incoming just now
I have a license for that somewhere, but I lost the media ages ago and I don't think I ever got beyond installing it. I keep on the lookout for it coming up on eBay but so far no joy. I'm not sure about the legal status of VX-REXX though, so that may not be possible. I know Watcom open sourced the C/C++/Fortran compilers but I never heard anything about Rexx.

Actually, I wonder whether it would be worth popping the PDFs on hobbes for access by a wider audience?

Anyways, thanks again for your very kind offer

JY
Maybe i wrong putting it on Hobbes?
VX-REXX is "Abandonware" now and it is also available on internet, the same for Vispro/REXX (i remember the author itself release it as "freeware", without sources).
Can someone explain right the limitations of these licenses please?
Regards
Title: Re: VisPro Rexx printed manual
Post by: Jean-Yves on September 12, 2014, 12:51:55 pm
I think I have been very stupid!  I just looked on Hobbes and the VISPROREXX-3_1_1.wpi description says that that includes the manual as a PDF already!!!

I can't check right now as I don't have access to an eCS machine here, but I'll look tonight if that is the case.  If it is, bingo! :D

With regards the Vx-Rexx, I am sure you are fine - I don't think anyone would mind the manual being made available. I've grabbed a copy anyway! Thank you.  :)