OS/2 platform differences in LotusScript®

Language construct differences

Construct

Usage in OS/2

Command

Command-line arguments are not normally used on OS/2. However, if the IBM® software application permits arguments, they are returned.

CreateObject

Not supported. Generates a run-time error.

GetObject

Not supported. Generates a run-time error.

Shell

The window style option is not supported for an OS/2 system application or for a user application that saves its environments via Profile.

The default window style is normal with focus.

Shell always returns a valid value greater than 31.

File system differences

LotusScript® supports both HPFS and FAT file systems:

  • The FAT file system supports conventional file names only. Conventional file names consist of up to 8 characters, a period separator, and up to 3 characters.
  • The HPFS file system recognizes both conventional and long file names. Long file names can be up to 254 characters in length, including any number of periods. Blanks are supported if the file name is enclosed in double quotes. A file name consisting either of all periods or all blanks is not supported.

HPFS requires 500K of system memory. Each OS/2 PC must have at least 6MB of memory as a minimum requirement; otherwise performance will be adversely affected.

Files with long file names or blank spaces can be copied only to a diskette or disk formatted with FAT using the direct-manipulation method. Long file names are truncated to conventional file length when moved from a HPFS to a FAT file system. The long file name is saved as an extended attribute until the file is copied back to an HPFS disk using the direct-manipulation method and the workplace shell. The use of HPFS files incorrectly transferred to a FAT file system results in a run-time error.

An asterisk (*) as a wildcard in a file name indicates that any character can occupy that position and all remaining character positions. A question mark (?) as a wildcard in a file name indicates that any character can occupy that position only.

File names are not case sensitive.

Other differences

OLE functions are not supported. This limitation affects CreateObject and GetObject.

OS/2 users can invoke REXX applications from LotusScript®.