If a DO or LOOP instruction has a repetitor phrase, a conditional phrase, or both, the group of instructions forms a repetitive loop. The instructions are processed according to the repetitor phrase, optionally modified by the conditional phrase. (See Section A.4, “Conditional Phrases (WHILE and UNTIL)”.)
A.2.1. Simple Repetitive Loops
A simple repetitive loop is a repetitive loop in which the repetitor phrase is an expression that evaluates to a count of the iterations.
If repetitor is omitted but there is a conditional or if the repetitor is FOREVER, the group of instructions is processed until the condition is satisfied or a Rexx instruction ends the loop (for example, LEAVE).
In the simple form of a repetitive loop, exprr is evaluated immediately (and must result in a positive whole number or zero), and the loop is then processed that many times.
Example A.2. Simple LOOP block
/* This displays "Hello" five times */
Loop 5
say "Hello"
end
Note that, similar to the distinction between a command and an assignment, if the first token of exprr is a symbol and the second token is (or starts with) =, the controlled form of repetitor is expected.
