Note: this is the OS/2 release in which REXX became part of the base operating system. It had previously been included in the IBM OS/2 Extended Edition 1.2 only.
NUMBER 290-691
DATE 901030
TYPE Programming
TITLE IBM OPERATING SYSTEM/2 STANDARD EDITION VERSION 1.3 AND OPERATING
SYSTEM/2 PROGRAMMING TOOLS AND INFORMATION VERSION 1.2/1.3
ABSTRACT Operating System/2 (R) (OS/2 (R)) Standard Edition (SE)
Version 1.3 fulfills IBM's stated intent to deliver in OS/2 Standard
Edition a 2MB OS/2 entry system and to further expand the range of
OS/2 capable systems. Operating System/2 Programming Tools and
Information Version 1.2/1.3 will assist application developers to
fully utilize this new function.
IBM Operating System/2 Standard Edition Version 1.3 has been
enhanced to provide increased performance in memory-constrained
environments, and reduced requirements for system memory and fixed
disk space. Also provided are Procedures Language 2/REXX, enhanced
font support, improved printer device drivers and usability
enhancements.
Planned Availability Date:
IBM Operating System/2
Standard Edition Version 1.3 November 30, 1990
IBM OS/2 Programming Tools
and Information Version 1.2/1.3 December 21, 1990
(R) Registered trademark of International Business Machines
Corporation.
PRODNO 84F7588 OS/2 SE Version 1.3
3.5-Inch (1.44MB) Media
84F7587 OS/2 SE Version 1.3
5.25-Inch (1.2 MB) Media
85F1671 OS/2 Programming Tools and Information
Version 1.2/1.3 3.5-Inch (1.44 MB)
OVERVIEW HIGHLIGHTS
o Increased performance in memory-constrained environments
o Reduced main memory and fixed disk requirements
o Adobe Type Manager (1), ATM (1) and IBM's core set of fonts
o Procedures Language 2/REXX
o Printer installation, performance, usability and device driver
enhancements
o New program properties enable simplified application auto start
at boot time
(1) Registered trademark of Adobe Systems, Inc.
DESCRIPTION
BUSINESS SOLUTIONS
In addition to all previously announced function, IBM Operating
System/2 Standard Edition Version 1.3 provides increased performance
over OS/2 SE 1.2. IBM Operating System/2 Standard Edition
Version 1.3 is faster in performing system functions than OS/2 SE 1.2
in memory-constrained environments. (A memory constrained
environment is caused when applications overcommit system memory and
disk swapping occurs).
The minimum system storage required to operate OS/2, including
the DOS compatibility mode, has been reduced from 2.5MB to 2.0MB.
This reduction will allow many Personal System/2 (R) (PS/2 (R))
systems to utilize the true multitasking of IBM Operating System/2
Standard Edition Version 1.3 without additional storage.
NOTE: 2.5MB or greater system memory and a 60MB or greater fixed
disk partition are recommended for use with the high performance file
system.
A new selectable install utility allows IBM Operating System/2
Standard Edition Version 1.3 to install in less fixed disk storage
than OS/2 SE 1.2, freeing more space for user programs and data. The
smallest install will require approximately 8.0MB of fixed disk space
and the full install 11.0MB on a system with at least 4MB of system
memory.
(R) Registered trademark of International Business Machines
Corporation.
GROWTH ENABLEMENT
IBM Operating System/2 Standard Edition Version 1.3 includes Adobe
Type Manager and will be shipped with IBM's core set of fonts. Adobe
Type Manager accepts Adobe Type 1 outline fonts to provide high
quality typographic text in a full range of sizes and styles to all
IBM Operating System/2 Standard Edition Version 1.2 supported
printers and displays, providing "What You See Is What You Get"
(WYSIWYG) technology for OS/2 Presentation Manager (TM) (PM)
applications. Over 600 different typefaces available in Adobe Type 1
font format can now be used with OS/2.
(TM) Trademark of International Business Machines Corporation.
The twelve core fonts included with IBM Operating System/2
Standard Edition Version 1.3 are:
o Times New Roman (2)
o Times New Roman Bold
o Times New Roman Italic
o Times New Roman Bold Italic
o Helvetica (3)
o Helvetica Bold
o Helvetica Italic
o Helvetica Bold Italic
o Courier
o Courier Bold
o Courier Italic
o Courier Bold Italic
Adobe Type Manager requires no new application programming
interfaces and works with existing OS/2 applications that use
Presentation Manager outline fonts. IBM Operating System/2 Standard
Edition Version 1.3 will support additional vendor font-rendering
technologies developed for use with IBM Operating System/2 Standard
Edition Version 1.3.
IBM Operating System/2 Standard Edition Version 1.3 includes
Procedures Language 2/REXX (REXX). REXX is an easy-to-learn language
designed to facilitate the writing of clear, structured, interpreted
procedures. REXX can provide the data manipulation and procedural
logic framework for OS/2 commands and conventional calls to other
high-level languages and CMD programs.
The REXX interpreter implements both the SAA (TM) level 1 and
the SAA level 2 definition of Procedures Language. Because of this,
it provides a more portable procedural alternative to OS/2 CMD
programming, reducing the programming investment for users who
require applications that execute in several SAA environments. REXX
helps protect programming investment for users who already developed
REXX procedures for other SAA environments. REXX was previously
available in OS/2 Extended Edition Version 1.2.
REXX also includes a repertoire of arithmetic, string
handling, and logic operations that can be interpreted by OS/2.
Users may use REXX as a personal computing language without requiring
a compiler. The extended repertoire in this interpreter can enhance
programmer productivity. In addition, REXX may be used to extend an
application by creating macros that have a mix of REXX instructions,
application specific instructions, and OS/2 commands.
The limit on the number of active Presentation Manager windows
has been increased 10 - 20 times over IBM Operating System/2 Standard
Edition Version 1.2 in the same environment.
IBM Operating System/2 Standard Edition Version 1.3 remains
Note: the above is shown in the original announcement letter format.