Path: utzoo!mnetor!uunet!husc6!bbn!gatech!mcnc!ecsvax!dmkdmk
From: dmkdmk@ecsvax.UUCP (David M. Kurtiak)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc
Subject: DOS 'sleep/pause/wait' command
Message-ID: <4313@ecsvax.UUCP>
Date: 15 Dec 87 15:02:02 GMT
Organization: University of North Carolina at Greensboro
Lines: 25
Keywords: Any ideas?


I'm looking for some additional information about pausing a process on a
PC, as many larger systems have this ability.  For those of you that are
familiar with VAX/VMS - equivalent to the $WAIT command....  Let me explain:

I'm using a PC compatible running DOS 3.1 on a dual-floppy system with a
multi-tasking package (DoubleDOS).  What I'd like to do is have a batch
file running on one side that "wakes up" every five minutes or thereabouts,
and does some small tasks.  The DOS Pause command is not an option, as a
key needs to be hit to continue processing.  I thought that a small program
that ran in a tight loop would do the trick, well, it does, but eats CPU
and slows down the other side.  I suppose that a "timed pause" would be
what I'm looking for.  One that requires no intervention, and is timed by
the clock (actual time) instead of by number of cycles (looping).  Perhaps
someone has already developed such a tool, and there is reason to re-invent
the wheel...  Or, maybe there is a simple way of achieving this through DOS
but is not documented (at least in my manual).

Please e-mail replies, I'll post a follow-up if enough interest.  *Any* ideas
are welcome!  Thanks,
---
David M. Kurtiak
UNC - Greensboro
UUCP: dmkdmk@ecsvax.UUCP  [{mcnc}!ecsgate!ecsvax!dmkdmk]
BITNET: DMKDMK@ECSVAX.BITNET (mail ONLY)