August 2024 - Wu_bp_2024s

G3 I6 Project1a ....
by Reggie Mack 13 Aug '24

13 Aug '24

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.NET info
by Peter McKellar 13 Aug '24

13 Aug '24

Hi Rony, Yesterday you requested we contact you for links or further info on the .NET environment. thx Peter

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Recordings Installment 6 (Monday, 20240812)
by Rony G. Flatscher 12 Aug '24

12 Aug '24

Hi there, here the links of today's recordings: * Projects Group 2: <https://zoom.us/rec/share/Mccvt43H6rDJFB8a9oj8S__O7amcVTzQ6TFCEVlS3-dDSErP5…> * Project Reggie: <https://zoom.us/rec/share/Mccvt43H6rDJFB8a9oj8S__O7amcVTzQ6TFCEVlS3-dDSErP5…> * 140_AutoWin_vba_V03, "Object Rexx (“ooRexx”) vs. MS Visual Basic Script ("VBScript")": <https://zoom.us/rec/share/Mccvt43H6rDJFB8a9oj8S__O7amcVTzQ6TFCEVlS3-dDSErP5…> * 070_ooRexx_trace_debug_V14, "Trace (Debug)": <https://zoom.us/rec/share/Mccvt43H6rDJFB8a9oj8S__O7amcVTzQ6TFCEVlS3-dDSErP5…> * 080_ooRexx_environment_symbols_V15, "ooRexx Runtime Environment and Resolving Environment Symbols": <https://zoom.us/rec/share/Mccvt43H6rDJFB8a9oj8S__O7amcVTzQ6TFCEVlS3-dDSErP5…> * 320_Codepages_V04_code, "Definitions, Some Implications": <https://zoom.us/rec/share/Mccvt43H6rDJFB8a9oj8S__O7amcVTzQ6TFCEVlS3-dDSErP5…> Cheers ---rony -- -- __________________________________________________________________________________ Prof. Dr. Rony G. Flatscher Department Wirtschaftsinformatik und Operations Management Institut für Wirtschaftsinformatik und Gesellschaft D2c 2.086 WU Wien Welthandelsplatz 1 A-1020 Wien/Vienna, Austria/Europe http://www.wu.ac.at __________________________________________________________________________________

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G3-b: Project1 ....
by Reggie Mack 12 Aug '24

12 Aug '24

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G1 - Assignments
by Rosini, Giorgia 12 Aug '24

12 Aug '24

Dear Rony, The second idea was to combine an e-mail and outlook calendar using ooRexx and have a reminder for some events (or appointments). /* Send an email */ outlook = .OleObject~new("Outlook.Application") mailItem = outlook~CreateItem(0) /* 0 corresponds to MailItem */ mailItem~To = "giorgia.rosini(a)wu.ac.at" mailItem~Subject = "Birthday Reminder" mailItem~Body = "Don't forget Mama´s Birthday tomorrow!" mailItem~Send() /* Create a calendar event */ namespace = outlook~GetNamespace("MAPI") calendar = namespace~GetDefaultFolder(9) /* 9 corresponds to the Calendar folder */ appointment = calendar~Items~Add() appointment~Subject = "Mama´s Birthday" appointment~Start = "2024-08-12 09:30" appointment~Duration = 60 appointment~Save() Cheers! Milos and Giorgia

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G1 - Assignments
by Rosini, Giorgia 12 Aug '24

12 Aug '24

Dear Rony, as you asked, I will send you the 2 ideas that Milos and I had and how we realized it: The first one was: a code for a random inspirational message in word and after a note on Notepad as well with the message "How do you feel?" after the inspirational message. When you run it in tryrexx in virtual pc, it creates a doc in PC/Documents with a random name and inspirational message and a note on Notepad. /* Array of random funny names */ names = .array~of("Goofy McGoofface", "Wacky Willy", "Silly Sally", "Jokester Joe", "Quirky Quinn") /* Array of random funny messages */ messages = .array~of("Wishing you a day full of smiles!", "Stay quirky, it suits you!", "You're a joy to be around!", "Keep spreading the laughter!", "You're one of a kind, and that's awesome!") /* Pick a random name and message */ nameIndex = random(1, names~size) msgIndex = random(1, messages~size) name = names[nameIndex] msg = messages[msgIndex] /* Create the greeting */ greeting = "Hey " || name || "!" /* Create an OLE object for Word */ wordObj = .OLEObject~new("Word.Application") wordObj~Visible = 1 /* Create a new document */ doc = wordObj~Documents~Add() selection = wordObj~Selection /* Add Greeting Text */ selection~TypeText(greeting) selection~ParagraphFormat~Alignment = 1 /* Center alignment */ selection~Font~Size = 36 selection~Font~Bold = 1 /* Add Message Text */ selection~TypeParagraph() selection~TypeText(msg) selection~Font~Size = 24 selection~Font~Italic = 1 /* Save the document */ doc~SaveAs("Funny_Greeting_Card.docx") /* Create another OLE object */ shellObj = .OLEObject~new("WScript.Shell") shellObj~Run("notepad.exe") /* Pause briefly to ensure Notepad is open before sending keys */ call SysSleep 1 /* Write text in Notepad */ shellObj~SendKeys("How do you feel in the moment?") /* Clean up */ wordObj~Quit() The second one arrives with the next e-mail. Cheers! Milos and Giorgia

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Meeting Summary for WU - Learn Programming from Zero in Only Three Weeks, Aug 09, 2024 08:56 AM Vienna ID: 919 2506 6620
by Rony G. Flatscher 09 Aug '24

09 Aug '24

Quick recap Rony led a comprehensive meeting covering topics such as markup languages, cascading style sheets, and tools for web resource processing and Windows program interaction. He demonstrated various programming techniques including the use of Curl, Rex, and OLE Info tool, and explained concepts like piping and redirection in operating systems. The conversation ended with discussions on small projects and homework assignments for the participants. Next steps All students to come up with 3 small project ideas using Rex to control 2 Windows programs by Monday. All students to present their 3 project ideas on Monday morning. All students to choose one of their 3 project ideas to implement. All students to create a Rex program implementing their chosen project idea by Tuesday. All students to present and demonstrate their implemented project on Tuesday morning. All students to complete the two small homework assignments over the weekend. Rony to send AI-generated meeting summaries from Zoom over the email list over the weekend. All students to download and familiarize themselves with the OLE info tool utilities if not using ORex 5.1. All students to practice using the curl command for interacting with web services. All students to review the concepts of HTML, XML, and markup languages covered in the session. All students to experiment with redirecting standard input/output/error in Rex programs. All students to practice using the Parse keyword for extracting information from HTML text. All students to review the usage of OLE objects and methods for controlling Windows applications. Summary Cascading and Normal Messages Explained Rony clarified the difference between cascading and normal messages in response to Reggie's question. He explained that cascading messages can be used to save space and avoid repetition, but they might be confusing when mixed with normal messages. Rony also encouraged the participants to ask questions if anything was unclear. Charlotte and Sharlet joined the meeting later, and Rony introduced a feature of the Zoom menu system that generates a brief summary of the talks. Markup Languages, DTDs, and CSS Explained Rony discussed the concept of markup languages, emphasizing the importance of Document Type Definitions (DTD) in specifying a markup language. He detailed the history of markup languages, from the Standardized General Markup Language (SGML) developed by IBM to the widely-used Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) for the World Wide Web. Rony also explained the complexities and simplifications of markup languages, the role of empty elements in XML, and the significance of unique attribute values. Furthermore, he introduced the concept of cascading style sheets (CSS) for defining formatting rules and demonstrated the process of formatting HTML text using a CSS. Understanding CSS and HTML Formatting Properties Rony discussed the use of Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) to improve the formatting of documents for consistent viewing across different browsers. He explained the basics of HTML formatting properties and CSS, including setting font properties, background colors, and other visual elements using relative sizes. Rony also introduced the concept of a parse tree, which represents the hierarchical structure of a document, and emphasized the importance of understanding tag and class attribute formatting rules as well as the role of the Document Object Model (DOM) parse tree in rendering HTML text. Rony Demonstrates Rex Link Extraction Rony demonstrated how to extract a link from a web page using Rex, a programming language. He explained the process of navigating to the web page, waiting for the HTML text to load fully, and then using the Parse keyword statement to extract the link. Rony emphasized the importance of ensuring the HTML text is fully loaded to avoid any issues. A question was raised about the methods "body" and innerHTML, but the answer was not provided in the transcript. Internet Access, HTML, and Browser Wars Rony discussed the challenges and potential solutions for accessing the internet using different operating systems. He demonstrated the use of the Curl command for fetching HTML text from a website and redirecting the output to a Rex array in a programming context. Rony also explained the principles of HTML and XML, the Document Object Model (DOM), and its programming interfaces, including the use of JavaScript. He delved into the evolution of Microsoft's Internet Explorer and its impact on the browser wars, and expressed concern about the lack of a widely accepted standard body for modern HTML. Lastly, he suggested some resources for further learning about HTML. Curl Tool Overview and Integration Rony introduced the Curl tool, explaining its history, purpose, and how to use it to access and process HTML web resources. He also mentioned the possibility of integrating Curl commands into Rex programs via the address system. Following the Curl tutorial, there was a brief discussion about the methods originating from MS Internet Explorer and the potential shift to Curl as the default. Rony then welcomed everyone back from a 15-minute break and indicated that the next part of the presentation would focus on working with Windows programs. OLE Info Tool Functionality and Usage Rony presented and explained the functionality of the OLE Info tool, a set of programs designed to interact with Windows programs. He highlighted its ability to interrogate methods, properties, events, and constants of Windows applications, and its usefulness in understanding and working with Windows programs, particularly for students and users of older Windows versions. Rony also demonstrated how to use the tool to analyze registered proc and class IDs, generate HTML documentation for various objects, and create Rex programs that define published OLE constants. He emphasized the importance of using 64-bit versions of Windows and Rex for modern systems and the tool's potential to reveal undocumented properties. Regs Directory and Windows Program Control Rony explained the functionality of the 'getOleConstants.rex' program, which generates a Regs Directory and saves constants for use in Windows programs. He demonstrated how to use the program and access the saved constants using the environment symbol. Rony then assigned a task to the group to develop three project ideas by Monday, with one idea to be selected and demonstrated on Tuesday. The projects were to focus on using Regs to control two Windows programs in a useful or interesting way, with possibilities ranging from combining words with Excel to utilizing any available Windows command. Operating System Commands and Redirection Rony provided a comprehensive overview of operating system commands, focusing on their usage, switches, arguments, and return codes. He demonstrated how to use various commands in Windows and Unix, including directory listing, file copying, and sorting, and highlighted the importance of using double quotes around file names containing blanks. Rony also introduced the concept of the Rex program, which can be used to execute commands on both Windows and Unix systems, and explained its functionality, process management, and the significance of the PATH variable. Lastly, he discussed the redirection of standard files, including input, output, and error, and demonstrated how to redirect standard in, out, and error to different files. Piping, Redirection, and Rex Programs Rony explained the concept of piping in operating systems, using the pipe symbol to redirect the output of one program as input to another. He demonstrated how this technique can be used in a chain of commands, and how each program's standard input, output, and error can be redirected. He also introduced the concept of the null device and discussed the functionality of Rex programs in piping. Furthermore, he explained the use of redirection in Unix to filter and sort text, and how to combine multiple programs using redirection. He also mentioned that the same technique could be applied on Windows. Programming Tools and Techniques Discussion Rony discussed various tools and techniques used in programming, with a focus on the 'quote' routine, the 'Carl' command, and the Curl tool. He demonstrated how to use these tools for tasks such as directory listing, data retrieval, and text translation between languages. Rony also emphasized the importance of understanding the system and registering for authorization keys when using web services. He concluded by leading a session on small projects involving Curl and Windows programs, setting homework for the group to work on these over the weekend, and encouraging them to enjoy their time off. /AI-generated content may be inaccurate or misleading. Always check for accuracy. / -- -- __________________________________________________________________________________ Prof. Dr. Rony G. Flatscher Department Wirtschaftsinformatik und Operations Management Institut für Wirtschaftsinformatik und Gesellschaft D2c 2.086 WU Wien Welthandelsplatz 1 A-1020 Wien/Vienna, Austria/Europe http://www.wu.ac.at __________________________________________________________________________________

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Meeting Summary for WU - Learn Programming from Zero in Only Three Weeks, Aug 08, 2024 08:58 AM Vienna ID: 919 2506 6620
by Rony G. Flatscher 09 Aug '24

09 Aug '24

Quick recap Rony discussed the challenges of balancing work and a demanding course, while also providing an in-depth overview of various collection classes and their functionalities in Rex and Python. He also delved into the functionalities of the output monitor in dot language, the benefits of using the early object class in Allyx, and the process of programming windows using Rex and other applications. Lastly, he presented a detailed explanation of a C programming code that manages network drives and the creation of an Excel application with a worksheet. Next steps All participants to complete the two homework assignments as soon as possible. Charlotte to discuss her schedule constraints with Mike and explore options for adjusting her workload. Charlotte to connect with Reggie in the evening to get help catching up on previous material and homework. All participants to run through the OLE automation sample programs provided with Object REXX. All participants to practice creating simple programs to control Windows applications like Internet Explorer and Excel using Object REXX. All participants to review the documentation and examples for the WScript.Shell and WScript.Network OLE components. All participants to experiment with creating Excel spreadsheets and charts programmatically using Object REXX. Rony to correct and re-upload the slides that had an error related to the "coltitle" array. All participants to review the provided links for further information on Active Directory Services and Windows Management Instrumentation. All participants to prepare one small sample program using collections and one short sample program demonstrating Windows automation for the next session. Summary Rony's Balancing Work, Course, and Classification Tree Rony discussed the challenges of balancing work and a demanding course, emphasizing the importance of time management and the benefits gained from the course. He also addressed technical issues with the platform's recording and captioning features. Rony then presented an overview of the classification tree of Object Recs, explaining the fundamental classes and their roles in the system. He highlighted the 'source' method of the class method class, which allows for the retrieval and modification of source code for another method. Lastly, he introduced the alarm class, a simple class that allows a message to be sent at a later time. Alarm, Monitor, and String Classes Rony discussed the functionality of the Alarm and Monitor classes in the context of a business administration application, emphasizing their importance for object-oriented reformulation in Rex. He also explained the properties and functions of string classes in the programming language Rexx, highlighting that string values are immutable and demonstrating how to create, assign, concatenate, and add numbers to strings using both classic and object-oriented approaches. Lastly, he briefly touched on the use of the Stem class, the Directory and String Table classes, and the Stream class for representing files in the system. Operating System Classes and Programming Rony explained the functionality and usage of various classes in the operating system, including the stream, mutable buffer, and collection classes. He clarified the differences between ordered and unordered collections, and listed several collection classes such as Array, Lists, Queues, and Bags. Rony also discussed the 'put' and 'get' methods used in programming languages, emphasizing that the interpreter reformulates statements according to a specific pattern, ensuring the same functionality with different syntax. Collection Classes in Rex and Python Rony discussed the functionality and use cases of various collection classes in Rex and Python. He explained the differences between ordered and unordered collections, and highlighted the unique features of the array class in Rex. He also demonstrated how to use the list, queue, and stream classes in Python, and briefly touched on the circular queue class. Rony referred to Chapter 5.3.6 of the Rex reference for further details. Collection Classes Overview and Recommendations Rony presented an in-depth overview of various collection classes, focusing on their unique features, usage, and limitations. He emphasized his preference for the Directory class over others for its ability to store and retrieve objects based on their index values, and demonstrated its functionality. Rony also introduced the Relation Collection class, Bag class, Table class, and classic Rex class, explaining their specifications and use cases. He encouraged the use of these classes for managing collections, as they are tested and proven to be effective. Collection Classes and Supplier Iteration Rony led a comprehensive discussion on the functionalities of collection classes, focusing on the 'make array' method, ordered and unordered collections, and the supplier class. He demonstrated how to create arrays from collections, sort them, and store their contents in a file, while also introducing a new variant of the do loop to support the iterating of suppliers. Rony further discussed the Classification Tree Iterator Class, its application to different types of collections, and how to use it with a two-dimensional array. He also presented a programming trick for handling multi-dimensional arrays, suggested using the supplier version for processing all collected items, regardless of the collection's order, and explained the four set-like operations available in the collection classes. Lastly, he demonstrated the process of using two different back collections and detailed the process of the union and intersection operations. Output Monitor, Set, and Collection Operations Rony explained the functionalities of the output monitor in dot language, including how characters are displayed on the screen and how different control characters affect the cursor position. He also demonstrated the differences between set and collection operations, showing how the minus operation removes elements from a collection and how the subset message checks whether one collection is a subset of another. Rony clarified that the result of a set-like operation is always of the same type as the receiving object, and that the argument can be any collection object, which will be turned into a bag if it has no user-defined index. New Chapter on Windows and Microsoft Office Rony initiated a new chapter on Windows and Microsoft Office, emphasizing the importance of completing two homework assignments to fully grasp the concepts. He acknowledged the challenging nature of the three-week course but expressed confidence in the participants' ability to develop new knowledge and problem-solving skills. Rony encouraged everyone to start the new chapter and begin recording. Olay's Automation Activities and Infrastructure Rony discussed Olay's automation activities and infrastructure, focusing on Microsoft's Component Object Model (COM) and its implementation in Windows. He explained the advantages of the Object Linking and Embedding (OLE) standard, which allows data exchange between different Windows programs, and the development and capabilities of the OLE (ActiveX) Automation infrastructure. Rony also highlighted the importance of understanding these technical aspects for a complete technology assessment, and cautioned about the potential risks of incorrect or damaged Registry data. Lastly, he introduced the concept of a moniker, a human-readable stream that carries enough information for the Windows operating system to locate components, and discussed the use of the OLEObject class to control ActiveX Windows programs. Early Object Class in Allyx Rony explained the benefits of using the early object class in Allyx, which simplifies communication with Windows programs. He detailed how the early object class handles technical details, such as argument conversion and compliance with static typing, thereby reducing the need for direct programming with Windows APIs. Rony also discussed the methods and properties of the early object class, including the constructor, get and set methods, and the use of dispatch messages for specific methods. He emphasized that, while technical details are available for those who need them, the early object class largely abstracts them away for easier programming. Programming Windows With Rex and Applications Rony explained the process of programming windows using Rex and other applications like Internet Explorer, Excel, and Word. He emphasized the importance of understanding the published windows methods and their arguments, and suggested using natural examples as a more efficient way to learn. He also demonstrated how to use a program to add and remove users from a specific Windows machine, and provided links to Wikipedia for further understanding of these technologies. Lastly, he showed a Rex program that uses the Microsoft Internet Explorer, and discussed the use of Windows components, specifically the Vscript and Wscript shells, in creating applications. Excel Application Development and C Programming Rony presented a detailed explanation of a C programming code that manages network drives and the creation of an Excel application with a worksheet. He demonstrated how to manipulate data in Excel using various functions and how to use the Excel.Application module in Rex to create and populate Excel spreadsheets with data. Rony also showed how to use the Curl command to retrieve data from a web server and how to process returned strings. He further discussed the creation of an Excel instance with a worksheet, titled "City and Celsius", and how to define column titles, select a chart location, and create an active chart using the data selected in the worksheet. Lastly, he presented a detailed explanation about a misleading correlator and suggested using samples to create Rex programs that drive Microsoft office components. Sharlet expressed her concerns about her packed schedule and the difficulty of digesting the new information. Rony offered his assistance and suggested she discuss her situation with Mike. /AI-generated content may be inaccurate or misleading. Always check for accuracy. / -- -- __________________________________________________________________________________ Prof. Dr. Rony G. Flatscher Department Wirtschaftsinformatik und Operations Management Institut für Wirtschaftsinformatik und Gesellschaft D2c 2.086 WU Wien Welthandelsplatz 1 A-1020 Wien/Vienna, Austria/Europe http://www.wu.ac.at __________________________________________________________________________________

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Meeting Summary for WU - Learn Programming from Zero in Only Three Weeks, Aug 07, 2024 09:00 AM Vienna ID: 919 2506 6620
by Rony G. Flatscher 09 Aug '24

09 Aug '24

Quick recap Rony led a comprehensive discussion on the concept of data types, abstract data types, and their implementation in the Rex programming language, with a focus on object-oriented programming and multi-threading. He also demonstrated the creation of new instances, the use of directives, and the importance of understanding the terminology and scope of different variables. The team also addressed technical issues, the development of Rex, and the potential for future in-person meetings. Next steps Here are the key action items from the meeting: All participants to create two short programs implementing concepts learned, working together in groups. All participants to review the recording links that will be sent by Rony. Priska to try the Alt + 126 keyboard shortcut to input the tilde character. Peter to help tutor Kim and bring her up to speed if she missed content. Peter to consider attending the Rex Symposium in May. Rony to experiment with reducing screen resolution to 1024x768 for future recordings to reduce file sizes. Rony to send recording links from today's session to participants. Rony to inform the other absent participant that Peter offered tutoring assistance. Summary Understanding Data Types and Abstract Data Types Rony led a discussion on the concept of data types, seeking informal definitions and associations from the group. The team struggled to provide a clear definition, but Prisca offered her interpretation, linking data types to the elementary school concepts of colors, sounds, and letters. Rony then elaborated on this, explaining that data types are used to express information through letters or characters, using the example of writing names or creating strings of characters. He further clarified the concept of abstract data types, which are general descriptions of data types, and encouraged the team to invent their own data types. Rony also discussed the implementation of data types in their system, emphasizing the importance of understanding the terminology and the use of methods to define the operations of an abstract datatype. Understanding ADT and Object Messaging in Rexx Rony explained the concept of Abstract Datatype (ADT) and how to create new instances using the 'new' message, using the string class as an example. He also discussed the alternative, simpler method for creating strings in All Rexx and the influence of the older programming language, Small Talk, on the development of All Rexx, particularly in the concept of interacting with objects through messages. Rony further clarified the process of object messaging in Rexx and introduced the concept of cascading messages. Reggie was present and asked questions to better understand the process. Rony also provided an example to illustrate the practical application of these principles. Rony Demonstrates Abstract Data Type Implementation Rony demonstrated the implementation of an abstract birthday data type and its usage, including the creation and assignment of values to different objects. He explained the concept of scope, its visibility rules, and the new Program Scope introduced by Regs, which makes all classes and routines defined via directives always visible and available for use throughout the program. Rony also clarified the differences between method and routine scopes in the Rex language, and introduced the concept of floating methods. Finally, he demonstrated the implementation of the abstract data type 'Person', showed how to use cascading messages to increase salaries, and suggested an alternative solution without cascading messages. Class-Based Programming and Garbage Collection Rony discussed the process of creating objects in a class-based programming language, emphasizing the importance of the 'Init' method for initializing object attributes. He also introduced the concept of garbage collection, explaining how it helps to manage memory by periodically identifying and destroying unused objects. Lastly, he highlighted the significance of the 'uninit' method in certain situations, such as when an object holds a system-wide lock, allowing it to release the lock before being destroyed. Rex Development and Virtual Keyboard Issue Rony took a short break before discussing an intriguing aspect related to classes. Reggie asked about the development of Rex, and Rony explained it was originally created in the Hursley lab by a team led by Shaw, with contributions from an English gentleman named Simon Nash and Rick McGill who later moved the development to the United States. Rony also addressed Prisca's issue with the virtual keyboard being in German and not allowing her to change the language. Rony suggested she try changing the language in the virtual machine settings, and they agreed to revisit the issue later. Classification Tree and Object-Oriented Systems Rony explained the concept of a classification tree in object-oriented systems, likening it to the biological classification of species. He emphasized the efficiency of the system, the possibility of multiple inheritance, and the importance of understanding the terminology in object-oriented systems. He also discussed the resolution of methods and the use of 'super' and 'self' variables, hinting at further exploration of these concepts in future discussions. Inheritance, Class Definition, and Multithreading Rony used the example of a special interest group for dogs to explain the concept of inheritance and class definition. He demonstrated how to implement different dog types, each with unique barking patterns, and emphasized the importance of understanding the differences between normal, little, and big dogs. Rony encouraged participants to come up with their own comparable data types and to use the subclass keyword to specialize existing classes. He also clarified the output of the program and introduced the topic of multithreading, promising to explain it in a future session. Multi-Threading in Application Programming Rony discussed the concept of multi-threading in application programming, highlighting its potential benefits and challenges. He explained that multi-threading allows different parts of a program to execute concurrently, but it can lead to issues such as data integrity problems and deadlocks. Rony emphasized that these issues can be addressed by using the intra-object and inter-object multi-threading capabilities provided by the Oorex programming language. He then invited questions and prepared to continue the presentation with a repetition of the most important concepts. Rony's Rex Programming Language ADTs Rony discussed the implementation of abstract data types (ADTs) using the Rex programming language. He explained the process of creating ADTs, emphasizing the uniqueness of each value and the importance of encapsulation. He demonstrated how objects communicate via messages and how to send messages to objects. Rony also discussed the use of directives in the setup phase of a program, the five different scopes defined in Object Rexx, and the process of object creation. Lastly, he introduced the concepts of object deletion, the classification tree, and method resolution in super classes, highlighting the role of special variables 'super' and 'self' in this context. Dog Sanctuary Solution and Multi-Threading Rony presented a solution to a problem involving a special interest group dog sanctuary, using inheritance to define different classes of dogs (normal, big, and little) and their respective barking behaviors. He also touched on the concept of multi-threading, emphasizing its potential benefits and pitfalls. A question was raised by Sharlet about the location of class links, which Rony clarified were sent via email. The conversation ended with Rony preparing to discuss the implementation of abstract data types using different directives. Class Directive and Resource Directive Explained Rony explained the various sub-keywords used in the Class Directive for defining abstract data types, including the concepts of subclass and metaclass. He demonstrated the use of multiple inheritance in a program involving three classes and clarified the historical and terminological reasons for using mix and class over subclass. Rony further explained the Method Directive, Attribute Directive, and Constant Directive, which are used to create getter and setter methods, instance methods, and class and instance methods that return a constant value, respectively. Lastly, he introduced the Resource Directive, which allows for the creation of resources, such as multi-line text, that can be accessed and output efficiently. Short Programs, Attributes, and Methods Rony emphasized the importance of creating short programs to better understand concepts and encouraged group sessions for learning and problem-solving. He clarified several technical aspects, including the concepts of attributes and methods in object-oriented programming, and their impact on multi-threaded programs and storage. The group also discussed the challenges faced by students, with Peter offering assistance to a struggling student and expressing his intention to attend a symposium in May. The possibility of a future in-person meeting was also discussed. /AI-generated content may be inaccurate or misleading. Always check for accuracy. / -- -- __________________________________________________________________________________ Prof. Dr. Rony G. Flatscher Department Wirtschaftsinformatik und Operations Management Institut für Wirtschaftsinformatik und Gesellschaft D2c 2.086 WU Wien Welthandelsplatz 1 A-1020 Wien/Vienna, Austria/Europe http://www.wu.ac.at __________________________________________________________________________________

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Meeting Summary for WU - Learn Programming from Zero in Only Three Weeks, Aug 06, 2024 09:01 AM Vienna ID: 919 2506 6620
by Rony G. Flatscher 09 Aug '24

09 Aug '24

Quick recap Rony led a comprehensive session on Zoom features and programming concepts, with a focus on the Rexx programming language and its various features such as functions, variables, and error handling. He also introduced new concepts like the 'parse' keyword statement and discussed the use of redirection and piping in operating systems. The team also discussed the creation of a programming course for novices, the potential of enhancing Rex on the mainframe, and the advantages and challenges of creating a Python bridge with Rex. Next steps All participants to experiment with and write small Rex programs based on concepts covered in the session. All participants to submit 2 short example programs from yesterday's session and 2 from today's session via the mailing list. Charlotte to work with Mike on resolving installation issues, ensuring to unblock installation files before use. Peter to continue assisting Kim with hands-on programming practice as needed. Rony to send links to today's installment recordings to all participants. All participants to review the recordings of today's session for better understanding of concepts. Reggie to further explore the chaining of programs using the Requires directive. All participants to prepare for tomorrow's session on object-oriented programming concepts. Peter to install and familiarize himself with IntelliJ IDE. Rony to consider creating a Rex external function package to bridge with Python in the future. All participants to experiment with condition handling and user-defined conditions in Rex. All participants to practice using the Parse keyword and its variations. All participants to explore the use of standard files and redirection in Rex programs. Steffi to clarify the format for submitting example programs if needed. Kim to catch up on missed content using session recordings when feeling better. Summary Zoom Features and Programming Concepts Rony led a session on Zoom features and programming concepts, with Charlotte and Milos in attendance and Peter and Steffi expected. Rony addressed technical issues, including an email distribution problem and difficulties with software installation, suggesting solutions and promising to discuss them further after Steffi's arrival. He also explained the use of labels and internal routines in programming, emphasizing their efficiency and ease of maintenance. Sharlet's question about the chat feature was clarified, and Rony encouraged participants to ask further questions. Rex Programming Concepts and Return Code Rony discussed the functionality of a program in Rex, emphasizing the importance of the exit statement to prevent infinite loops. He introduced the concept of functions in Rex, explaining how to call them and their return values. He also highlighted the significance of the Return Code in a program's interaction with the operating system, using the example of a backup command in Windows to illustrate this. Rony cautioned against using the variable 'result' for personal use as it might be automatically assigned the return value of the function. Rexx Programming Language Overview Rony provided an in-depth overview of the Rexx programming language, focusing on the use of variables, built-in functions, and the challenges of accessing relational databases. He also explained the search process for routines and functions, the concept of 'scope', and the use of stem variables. Rony emphasized the importance of understanding the language's limitations and best practices to ensure efficient and effective programming. He also demonstrated how to access built-in functions and highlighted the use of external function packages for database access. Introducing Parse Keyword Statement in Recs Rony introduced a significant conceptual shift in their approach by utilizing the 'parse' keyword statement in Recs. He demonstrated how this function can be used to parse strings into variables, emphasizing the importance of identifying and counting leading and trailing blanks. Rony showcased a modified program that can accurately count these positions and explained the functionality of the Parse keyword statement in a program. He also highlighted the versatility of the Parse keyword statement, demonstrating its use in parsing strings delimited by various characters, and its application to dynamic expressions and user input. The discussion aimed to familiarize the audience with the different uses of Parse and encouraged experimentation to better understand its capabilities. Zoom Programs, Mailing List, and Presentation Rony led a discussion about creating small programs and utilizing Zoom's chaptering feature for easy reference in recordings. He also addressed a technical issue with the mailing list, explaining that the "unverified" status was a common feature of Microsoft Outlook and not a certification issue. The team was asked to create and send assignments via the mailing list. Rony also shared his screen to begin the presentation, which was to cover the first installment of a topic using Reggie's features for the first time. Rex Program Syntax and Error Handling Rony explained the syntax and execution process of the Rex program, emphasizing the importance of understanding conditions and exceptions. He clarified various types of conditions, such as syntax errors, runtime errors, and user-defined conditions, and how they can be handled using the call and signal keyword statements. Rony also demonstrated how to activate syntax handling in a program and discussed the use of variables and their values, including the 'no value' condition. He provided examples of how to handle specific errors and conditions, and how to execute the program with different return codes. Standard Error and Process Management in Programming Rony discussed the significance and functionality of standard error in programming, using a 24/7 running program as an example to illustrate its error identification capabilities. He explained the creation of a process by the operating system when a program is run, and the three standard files (standard input, standard output, and standard error) that are automatically created for that process. Rony also detailed the concept of operating system processes, the redirection of standard files, and the use of piping to allow for more complex program chains. He emphasized the importance of understanding these concepts for effective programming. Redirection, Rex Programs, and Sorting Data Rony presented a detailed explanation of how to use redirection in combination with simple Rex programs to filter and sort data. He demonstrated how to use the pipe feature to chain multiple programs together, and how to use the sort command to sort filtered data. He emphasized the ease of programming and the potential for creating powerful filter programs with minimal effort. After the presentation, Rony took a short break and then resumed the meeting. Rony's Rex Programming Language Overview Rony discussed the functionality of redirection in operating systems and the standard file handling in the Rex programming language. He demonstrated how to handle syntax conditions and exceptions, and introduced the concept of Routine Directives for defining procedures and functions. He also explained how to use routines and directives in the program, including a routine called 'Check Age' that checks an age and raises a user error if it is smaller than 6. Lastly, he showed how to define additional user conditions and discussed changes made to the main program and the 'Check Age' routine. Rex Programming Directives and Chain Functionality Rony explained the functionality of the Routine Directive and the Requires directive in Rex programming. He demonstrated how the Requires directive allows a program to access public classes and routines defined in another program, thereby increasing the program's functionality. Rony also clarified the use of the 'Requires' directive in a chain of programs, causing all the programs in the chain to be loaded and processed, with the first output coming from the program 'Cmd 4'. Reggie sought clarification on how the directives and setup phases work, and Rony confirmed that all programs in the chain are in the setup phase due to the presence of directives. Rex Language Overview and Intensive Course Rony provided an in-depth explanation of the Rex language, emphasizing the importance of understanding its string-based nature and the concepts of 'object' and 'instance'. He encouraged the team to experiment with these concepts and to actively participate in learning. Rony also clarified the acceptable formats for submitting programming examples and addressed queries about installation. Additionally, there were discussions about a potential team departure and the challenges of a new, intensive course covering procedural programming and object orientation. Both Rony and Peter agreed that the course was challenging but looked forward to seeing how they would progress. Programming Course Development and Rex Improvements Peter and Rony discussed the creation of a programming course for novices, focusing on developing skills rather than a specific version of the Rex interpreter. They also explored the complexities of the Rex community and the potential of enhancing Rex on the mainframe. The conversation touched on the capabilities of Java and its potential to surpass other languages in terms of speed and efficiency, with Peter expressing interest in its potential for number crunching and graphics processing. Lastly, they considered the advantages and challenges of creating a Python bridge with Rex, agreeing to continue discussions on this topic. /AI-generated content may be inaccurate or misleading. Always check for accuracy. / -- -- __________________________________________________________________________________ Prof. Dr. Rony G. Flatscher Department Wirtschaftsinformatik und Operations Management Institut für Wirtschaftsinformatik und Gesellschaft D2c 2.086 WU Wien Welthandelsplatz 1 A-1020 Wien/Vienna, Austria/Europe http://www.wu.ac.at __________________________________________________________________________________

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