The startup.xpl is analogous to the well-known autoexec.bat under DOS or Windows. After reading the ini-file XploRe tries to read the startup file and to execute the XploRe code inside it before appearing on the screen.
Note that you cannot define quantlets within the startup file and therefore cannot use control flow elements like looping, branching, etc.
The standard startup file startup.xpl contains only one line
"Welcome to XploRe !"which appears immediately in the output window if you start XploRe . You might use the startup file to load some often used data sets or libraries.