1  SPAWN
   PCA Command

   Spawns a subprocess so you can temporarily suspend the PCA
   session to run another program or to execute DCL commands.

   Format

     SPAWN  [dcl-command]
 

2  Parameters
 

dcl-command

   Specifies a DCL command. If you specify the dcl-command
   parameter, a subprocess is created which executes the specified
   DCL command. Control is returned to the PCA session when the DCL
   command terminates.

   If you omit the dcl-command parameter, the SPAWN command creates
   a subprocess and attaches the terminal to that process. You can
   then enter DCL commands at the terminal. When you log out of the
   subprocess or attach back to the parent process, you can continue
   your PCA session.

   If the DCL command you specify includes a semicolon, you must
   enclose the command in quotation marks. Otherwise, the semicolon
   can be mistaken for a PCA command separator. To include a
   quotation mark inside the string, enter two consecutive quotation
   marks.
 

2  Description
   The SPAWN command acts the same as the DCL SPAWN command. You
   can use it to break out of the PCA session to edit files, to
   read mail, or to do any other tasks you would normally do at DCL
   level, all without ending your PCA session.
 

2  Qualifiers
 

/NOWAIT

   Specifies that PCA should not wait for the subprocess to finish.
   You can then enter additional PCA commands while the subprocess
   is running. When the subprocess eventually completes, a message
   is displayed on your terminal. In general, you should not use the
   /NOWAIT qualifier if the spawned subprocess prompts for input or
   displays much output on the terminal.
 

2  Examples

 PCAC> SPAWN MAIL
 You have 1 new message.
 MAIL> READ\NEW
  . . .
 MAIL> EXIT
 %PCA-I-RETURNED, control returned to process CARRELL
 PCAC>

     This command spawns a subprocess that runs the MAIL program.
     When you exit from MAIL, you return to the original PCA
     session.

 PCAC> SPAWN
 $ TYPE MUMBLE.DAT
  . . .
 $ LOGOUT
        Process CARRELL_1 logged out at 29-FEB-1985 14:10:43.55
 %PCA-I-RETURNED, control returned to process CARRELL
 PCAC>

     This command spawns a subprocess. Since you did not specify a
     DCL command on the SPAWN command, the subprocess prompts for
     DCL commands. When you log out of the subprocess, you return to
     the PCA session.