Subj : Calling OS/2 CMD from DOS BAT
To   : Mike Powell
From : Peter Knapper
Date : Mon Apr 11 2005 08:45 pm

Hi Mike,

 MP> Is it possible to call an OS/2 CMD file from a DOS batch file?

Well... it all depends, but first I must ask, is it absolutely necessary to run 
a .BAT file or a DOS app?. No, a DOS .BAT file cannot NATIVELY start a 
..CMD file, BUT there are ways to actually do this as long as the methodologies 
don't cause issues. As I see it, your options are -
  1. Turn your .BAT files into .CMD files and run them anyway. A Dos executable 
within the .CMD file will cause a DOS windwo to open and run the DOS app, which 
ends  and control returns to the OS/2 .CMD file, BUT passing return values can 
prevent this from being much use.
  2. Use a 3rd party utility called HSTART. I have never used this because 
everything I use has a native OS/2 version.
  3. Be a bit inventive and manage the activity from an OS/2 .CMD file... By 
this I mean that you use a master control script that uses FLAG files to 
control the processing sequence. That way you can start DOS sessions as and 
when desired, and as long as the FLAG files are managed correctly, everything 
should flow as expected. I have been using this type of methodology for running 
all the Background BBS tasks completely external to all Mailer and BBS events, 
since OS/2 v2.0 hit the streets. It the BBS had been running under OS/2 v1.3 
then I would have done it there, it has worked extremely well for me. I can go 
away for weeks and everything runs automatically, even through power failures 
(baring major issues).

 MP> I have moved my board over to the OS/2 system.  The one 
 MP> problem I am having is that I cannot run the os/2 version 
 MP> of IREX, unless I do it manually.  

Ok, I will bite, WHY can this not be done? Any .BAT or .CMD fie can be started 
in AUTOEXEC.BAT or in the Startup folder, so I fail to see why it has to be 
manual...


 MP> I can't call it from the BAT file, and I can't call the CMD 
 MP> file from the BAT file.

I am still puzzeled why you need a DOS .BAT file???

 MP> I tried START, but that obviously only works in an OS/2 window.  ;-)

It also work in an OS/2 Full screen session.....;-) However we need to 
understand WHY you have to run a .BAT file and connot start a .CMD file...

Cheers.................pk.


--- Maximus/2 3.01
 * Origin: Another Good Point About OS/2 (3:772/1.10)

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