hi mark,

 ml> i've just created a fairly simple (for most) REXX program to scan for
 ml> outbound mail on my system. what i would like to do is to place an
 ml> icon indicator on the desktop when it actually falls into the routine
 ml> that scans the outbound mail and then to remove that icon from the
 ml> desktop when the scan is over. i'd also like to place the icon at a
 ml> specific location on the desktop if possible.

At installation time, create a hidden object on the desktop:

/**/
call RxFuncAdd 'SysLoadFuncs', 'RexxUtil', 'SysLoadFuncs'
call SysLoadFuncs
Location = ""
Title = "Outbound Scan"
Class = "WPAbstract"
SetupString =
"ICONFILE=C:\MYICON.ICO;ICONPOS=31,21;NOTVISIBLE=YES;OBJECTID=;"
rc = SysCreateObject(Class,Title,Location,SetupString,"Fail")
if rc=0 then say "Couldn't SysCreateObject"


At runtime, unhide it:

/**/
call RxFuncAdd 'SysLoadFuncs', 'RexxUtil', 'SysLoadFuncs'
call SysLoadFuncs
rc = SysSetObjectData("","NOTVISIBLE=NO")
if rc=0 then say "Couldn't SysSetObjectData"


etc.  See PM Prog Ref Vol II, wpSetup() and the like for key/value combinations.

regards,
         hugo