Please Archive This Rexx-Capable Version

[Monty Ealerman]

I probably will never crash all my copies of it out, but I'd appreciate anyone holding an archive copy of this REXX-capable SPF-like editor. The vendor who holds the copyright won't sell it any longer, and only sells more GUI-intensive versions that don't include REXX. You can download it from here for a while.

http://www.sendspace.com/file/oq4ivr

Regards,

Monty

[don.leahy]

In our shop there about a dozen copies of SPFPC40.EXE stashed in various LAN directories.

It's no longer included in our "standard desktop image", but just about everyone still uses it. It's a brilliant piece of software; a masterpiece, IMO.

It still works even though the vendor has abandoned it. Our shop "got rid" of it because the vendor would not certify it as Y2K compliant, even though it is.

[Monty Ealerman]

Hi Don,

I agree that it's a great product.

The file I posted the link to for backup/archival purposes is a self-extracting WINZIP file containing the whole product, not just the executable file.

It's especially useful if you use the Hercules mainframe emulator (an outstanding program set by Roger Bowler, Jan Jaeger, and others) with a version of MVS that doesn't have ISPF.

There are numerous REXX edit macros in the PC product, including a SUBMIT macro that runs the file through the emulated card reader.

Volker Bandke's Turnkey MVS includes the Hecules emulator and MVS 3.8J, and is available on CD for $5 from Sam Knutson at http://cbttape.org/cdrom.htm Volker Bandke's Turnkey MVS page is at http://www.bsp-gmbh.com/turnkey/index.html

Regards,

Monty

[don.leahy]

Small correction. The version I have is called SPFPRO.EXE. I am not sure if that is more recent than SPFPC40 or not. I have a zipped archive somewhere...probably on a memory stick.

My only complaint about the product was that not all ISPF services were supported. A lot of them were, but not quite all. And, inevitably, since the product's demise it has fallen further behind.

It is still my text editor of choice on my desktop.

I sometimes use it in partnership with ISPF's WSA feature. This allows me to seamlessly use SPFPRO to edit mainframe data sets. All of the uploading and downloading occurs automatically, behind the scenes. (You can use just about any PC-based editor to do this....it doesn't have to be SPFPRO).

And WSA also lets you do the opposite: edit workstation files on the mainframe. But I digress....

[Monty Ealerman]

Hi Don,

The newer version, SPFPRO, has more GUI stuff, but it doesn't have REXX. That's part of why I prefer 4.0, which the vendor won't sell any longer. They want you to buy their current product, which in my opionion is a good product, but also in my opinion is inferior to the 4.0 product.

Regards,

Monty

[don.leahy]

Originally Posted by Monty Ealerman

Hi Don,

The newer version, SPFPRO, has more GUI stuff, but it doesn't have REXX. That's part of why I prefer 4.0, which the vendor won't sell any longer. They want you to buy their current product, which in my opionion is a good product, but also in my opinion is inferior to the 4.0 product.

Regards,

Monty

You are thinking of SPF/SE. That was the horrible successor to SPF/PC; all GUI, no Rexx.

I have used both SPFPC40 and SPFPRO. They are so similar that I suspect that SPFPRO was merely a rebranding of SPFPC40. Anyway, the vendor won't sell you either one of them. (I tried).

The story that I heard was that the original developers, who were ex-mainframers, left the company en masse. The team that took over lacked mainframe experience, which is why the product changed so radically.

[Monty Ealerman]

I think you're right, Don.

I apparently was mistaking SPFPRO for SPF/SE.

The vendor's unwillingness to sell new copies of their older product reminds me of Aesop's "Dog in the Manger".

[DoubtfulBadger]

Does anyone know if it's possible to change its behaviour so that I can use ENTER to enter instead of having to use CTRL?

I've been using ENTER on the mainframe for 15 years and there's no way I can cope with having to use CTRL.

Wait a minute, I've done it using option K - I just don't quite know how

[prino]

Originally Posted by Monty Ealerman

... but I'd appreciate anyone holding an archive copy of this REXX-capable SPF-like editor. ...

An archive copy?

Looks great, except for the fact that you cannot resize the window to 132x43 on XP.

How compatible are the macro's, will ISPF edit macro's run without modification, or are there any things to watch out for?

Robert

PS: Anyone needing me to hold a backup of Tritus TSPF?

[Monty Ealerman]

Originally Posted by DoubtfulBadger

Does anyone know if it's possible to change its behaviour so that I can use ENTER to enter instead of having to use CTRL?

I've been using ENTER on the mainframe for 15 years and there's no way I can cope with having to use CTRL.

Wait a minute, I've done it using option K - I just don't quite know how

Option 0.K allows selecting a remapping of the keyboard. The mappings are saved in the \PROFILES sub-directory. I use the Enter key as the "Newline" key, and the Ctrl key as the "Enter" key.