#!/usr/bin/rexx
        /* rexx procedure */

         input = ""

         parse arg input

         do while input = ""

            say "Input file ?" input

            parse pull input

         end /* end do while input = "" */
         parse var input output "." .
         output = strip(output) || ".fic"


        /* opening input file */

         if stream(input, 'C', 'OPEN READ') <> 'READY:' then do

            say "==>Error : the input file" input "can not be opened."

            exit

         end /* end if stream(input, 'C', 'OPEN READ') <> 'READY:' */



        /* opening output file */

         cmd = '"del' output '"'
         interpret cmd
         if stream(output, 'C', 'OPEN WRITE') <> 'READY:' then do

            say "==>Error : the output file" output "can not be opened."

            exit

         end /* end if stream(output, 'C', 'OPEN WRITE') <> 'READY:' */



         /* reading input file */

         i = 0

         do while(lines(input))

            i = i + 1
            temp = ""
            temp = linein(input)

            if i <= 1 then RC = charout(output,temp,1)
            else RC = charout(output,temp)  

         end /* end do forever */


        /* closing input & output file */

         rc = stream(input, 'C', 'CLOSE')

         say i "lines read from" input

         rc = stream(output, 'C', 'CLOSE')

         say "1 lines written to" output



         exit