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Phantom · Posted: Thu Jul 08, 2004 7:22 am Post subject: Invoke REXX from COBOL

Hi,

Can someone provide me with a sample COBOL program to Invoke a REXX routine. (Just for example, lets assume my REXX just has a SAY 'Hi' COMMAND).

I tried to search for previous posts but couldn't find what I wanted .

Thanks,

kolusu · Posted: Thu Jul 08, 2004 7:45 am Post subject:

Phantom,

I don't think you can a REXX exec from batch COBOL. Why not compile the REXX exec and use the regular call statement.

Check this manual for compiling a rexx exec.

http://publibz.boulder.ibm.com/cgi-bin/bookmgr_OS390/BOOKS/EAGUA03/CCONTENTS?DT=19940906172949

Hope this helps...

Cheers

Kolusu
_________________
Kolusu
www.linkedin.com/in/kolusu

Cogito-Ergo-Sum · Posted: Thu Jul 08, 2004 7:52 am Post subject:

OTOH, if you want ISPF services to be used, then you may want to look-up ISPLINK.
_________________
ALL opinions are welcome.

Debugging tip:
When you have eliminated all which is impossible, then whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth.
-- Sherlock Holmes.

Phantom · Posted: Thu Jul 08, 2004 8:00 am Post subject:

Kolusu,

Unfortunately our shop does not have the REXX compiler. Is it not possible to call REXX from COBOL at all?

I am not going to look for a ONLINE OUTPUT from REXX. Assume I have a REXX that does something in BATCH mode. Can this REXX be called by a COBOL program ?

Please guide me.

Phantom · Posted: Thu Jul 08, 2004 8:05 am Post subject:

Cogito,

I don't have ISPF calls in my REXX.

Thanks,

Cogito-Ergo-Sum · Posted: Thu Jul 08, 2004 8:11 am Post subject:

Hmm. I was just guessing; because, I have not heard of such situations before.

Maybe, you can have the COBOL program in one step followed by the REXX program in the other step ?
_________________
ALL opinions are welcome.

Debugging tip:
When you have eliminated all which is impossible, then whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth.
-- Sherlock Holmes.

Phantom · Posted: Thu Jul 08, 2004 8:41 am Post subject:

Cogito, This is mainly for privacy.

REXX will create a file dynamically and will call another program internally. The contents of the file should not be viewable to others.

If I call REXX in a separate step, the rexx source code could be traced easily and the contents of the file could be determined, but If I call REXX via COBOL program, then no one can know what REXX is being invoked since, all we have is the COBOL load module in the jcl.

Everyone should be able to submit the job but the contents of the file should be hidden.

Please guide me,

Cogito-Ergo-Sum · Posted: Thu Jul 08, 2004 8:52 am Post subject:

kolusu · Posted: Thu Jul 08, 2004 8:59 am Post subject:

Phantom,

Phantom · Posted: Thu Jul 08, 2004 9:22 am Post subject:

Kolusu,

This is really interesting. Please provide me some info regarding BPXWDYN. Yup, as you said the rexx routine will create a dataset with different name everytime.

Also, could you please provide me with some info on calling rexx via cobol (Just for learning purpose).

Thanks a ton.
Phantom

kolusu · Posted: Thu Jul 08, 2004 9:36 am Post subject:

Phantom,

Here is the documentation of BPXWDYN: Text Interface to Dynamic Allocation and Dynamic Output

Hope this helps...

Cheers

Kolusu
_________________
Kolusu
www.linkedin.com/in/kolusu

Phantom · Posted: Thu Jul 08, 2004 9:36 am Post subject:

Kolusu,

kolusu · Posted: Thu Jul 08, 2004 9:54 am Post subject:

Phantom,

Phantom · Posted: Thu Jul 08, 2004 10:17 am Post subject:

Wow, thatz great Kolusu. If we can get back the source code back from load module, then we will miss the security completely. Is there any secured way for the problem ?

Thanks a lot....Unfortunately our shop has a firewall which doesnot allow us to browse FTP sites....(unable to browse the BPXWDYN site...)

I'm trying to search for this over the net. Meanwhile if you have some other HTTP sites please let me know.

Thanks a lot.

kolusu · Posted: Thu Jul 08, 2004 10:30 am Post subject:

Phantom,

If your shop has QuickRef (QW) then you can simply type