milne@Q2.ICS.UCI.EDU (Alastair Milne) (10/17/87)
There have been a few patches now posted to the list for "installing exit to dos", one of them at least very long. What I don't quite follow is this: the Turbo environment has a Q)uit command (which politely checks for you whether your text and code have been saved), and Turbo Pascal has a HALT call. What, therefore, is this exit? Now, if somebody could provide a way of enabling the command eX)ecute in the Turbo environment, as it's described in the manual, that would interest me quite a bit -- unless, of course, it's provided in Turbo 4.0, in which case the features and problems of 3.0 will no longer concern me. Thank you, Alastair Milne
Randomizer@cup.portal.com (10/19/87)
>Alastair Milne writes: > > There have been a few patches now posted to the list for "installing exit to > dos", one of them at least very long. What I don't quite follow is this: > the Turbo environment has a Q)uit command (which politely checks for you > whether your text and code have been saved), and Turbo Pascal has a HALT > call. What, therefore, is this exit? > > Now, if somebody could provide a way of enabling the command eX)ecute > in the Turbo environment, as it's described in the manual, that would > interest me quite a bit -- unless, of course, it's provided in Turbo 4.0, > in which case the features and problems of 3.0 will no longer concern me. > > > Thank you, > > Alastair Milne Alastair, The patch that I put on the NET for eXit to dos creates a second command.com -- This allows you to 'exit' to dos - i.e. create a second DOS and perform functions that you would normally do in the primary DOS partition while the Turbo Compiler waits patiently in the Background suspended. When you are finished with your second command.com simply type 'exit'. This will exit the second command.com and place you back exactly where you were in the first primary command.com. example: You're editing a file and remember that you need to have prokey installed -- well just ^kd type X for exit to dos-- 'pkload' 'exit' and you're back in turbo. ---------------------------------------------- or use a different EDITOR for your files while in the second command.com -- when finished type 'exit' and your back in turbo. Most new programs have the 'exit to dos' function-- sometimes called 'gateway to dos' or Run a program-- etc. You can execute command.com yourself by simple typing 'command.om' at the DOS prompt -- You'll see the DOS message --etc.. when finished type 'exit' and you're back in the first command.com. The halt function in turbo pascal immediately terminates the current turbo program when it is invoked. In comp.lang.pascal I also posted a routine that allows your turbo program to execute command.com or any program directly -- this is not provided in turbo pascal 3.0 or earlier. The exec command that is provided in turbo pascal 3.0 and earlier only executes TURBO PASCAL .COM files -- the routine that I posted executes ANY .COM or .EXE file. This will allow you to write a program that has the capabilities to clone a second command.com --- or call other programs etc... all without exiting your program. (very powerful and useful ) Hope this helped. write me if you have more questions. Randomizer@cup.portal.com p.s. the exec function of turbo 3.0 was only meant to execute Turbo .com files.