Use the ZIP command to execute external programs without closing a database or leaving R:BASE.
Options
progname
Specifies the name of the external program to execute.
ROLLOUT
Executes programs that are too large to fit into the memory remaining after starting R:BASE. This option exits from R:BASE saving the current variables and environment before executing the external program. When the external program is exited, R:BASE restarts and the variables and environment are renewed. Under Windows this will also force R:BASE to release all "accumlated" memory that may not otherwise be released.
RETURN
DOS only. Causes R:BASE to return to the line in the application following the line containing the ZIP RETURN command.
C:\COMMAND.COM
DOS only. Starts the DOS COMMAND shell. It is best to specify the path to your COMMAND.COM. In Windows 95 and 98 this should exist in the C:\ directory. On Windows NT this may exist in a different location. On Windows NT you may expirence better results using the CMD.EXE program which is located by default in the C:\WINNT\SYSTEM32 directory.
/C 'batchfile'
Specifies a DOS Batch File to be executed by the command shell.
About ZIP
Zip allows you to call an external program from within R:BASE. ZIP operates slightly differently in DOS R:BASE or Windows R:BASE as noted above. In R:BASE Turbo V-8 if you are running the Windows version of R:BASE you can specify a Windows program to be executed.
In either Windows or DOS you can call a batch file that uses the Windows Command START to launch a Windows program. For example START /WAIT NOTEPAD in a Batch File will start the Notepad Program and wait for Notepad to close before returning control to R:BASE. If you do not use the /WAIT option then as soon as Start had spawned the Notepad program IT would finish and control would pass back to R:BASE. This is simply because R:BASE is only watching START. Use START /? at a Command Prompt to see the other options available.
Example
The following command runs an external program named SmallEd. When you exit from SmallEd, R:BASE continues at the point where you ran the ZIP command.
ZIP smalled
The following command, when run in R:BASE Windows, runs Notepad and specifies that the ABC.TXT file be opened.
ZIP Notepad ABC.TXT
