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The START command: OS/2 features

Use the START command to start another OS/2 program in a separate session.

START was primarily meant to start programs at system boot time, using OS/2's special batch file STARTUP.CMD.

Syntax:

START [ "program title" ] [ /K | /C | /N ] [ /F | /B ]  [ /PGM ] [ /FS | /WIN | /PM | /DOS ] [ /MAX | /MIN ] [ /I ] [ commandparameters ] ]
"program title" the title that will be displayed in the task list and, for windowed sessions, in the tile bar of the newly started session.
If no program title is specified, the executable's program name will be used.
The maximum length for the program title is 60 characters.
/K start a new session with CMD.EXE as the command processor, and do not close this session after execution of the specified command.
This parameter is the default for non-PM programs.
/C start a new session with CMD.EXE as the command processor, and close this session after execution of the specified command.
/N start a new session without using CMD.EXE.
Do not enclose the command and its parameters in quotes.
Do not use redirection.
This parameter is the default for PM programs.
/F start the new session in the foreground.
This parameter is the default if /WIN, /FS or /PM are specified, otherwise /B is the default.
/B start the new session in the background.
This parameter is the default if neither /WIN, /FS nor /PM are specified. If one of these is specified, /F will be the default.
/PGM interpret the following quoted string as the program name (command) instead of the program title.
/FS start a full screen OS/2 or DOS session.
/WIN start a windowed OS/2 or DOS session.
/PM specify command as a Program Manager type program.
START will usually determine the program type by itself; you may use the /PM parameter to execute a text mode executable in PM mode, though.
Batch files and Rexx programs (*.CMD) cannot be run as PM type programs; use
START /PM CMD.EXE /C batchfile
if you need to run *.CMD files in PM mode.
/DOS start command as a DOS program.
In most cases, START will determine the program type all by itself. Use this parameter if you want to execute FAPI or BOUND executables in DOS mode, or if you encounter problems trying to start DOS programs. Another way to avoid problems with FAPI or BOUND executables is starting them from DOS batch files (*.BAT).
/MAX start a windowed or PM session maximized.
This parameter may be invalid with some PM type programs (e.g. PM type programs that don't have a "Maximize" button).
/MIN start a windowed or PM session minimized.
This parameter may be invalid with some PM type programs (e.g. PM type programs that don't have a "Minimize" button).
/I start a new session with the original environment settings as set in CONFIG.SYS, instead of inheriting the current session's environment.
command the program or executable to be started in a new session.
parameters the parameters for the program or executable specified by command.

Using START without parameters will start a new OS/2 command prompt.

By specifying either /WIN, /FS or /PM, the specified command will be started in a foreground session. Use /F to start command in a foreground session if neither /WIN, /FS nor /PM is specified.

If you want to redirect a sessions standard input or output, the command and its parameters should be typed between quotes.


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