[Tutor] (no subject)

[Alan Gauld]

> > question: How can I run a program in the background? As far as I
> > know DOS is a single task environment, 

DOS is but Windows isn't. (although support in early Windows was 
a bit half hearted!). However even in DOS there were things called 
TSRs that gave the illusion of running in the background, but they 
are a wee bit tricky to write. But if you use DR DOS(Or Novell DOS) 
that had full pre-emptive multi tasking and you could run multiple 
command shells.

Windows 9x also runs things preemptively but the implementation is 
a wee bit flaky, Windows NT/2K/XP all do much better.

> > in the background? If not how can it be done in UNIX? 

Unix is multi tasking from the ground up. To run a command in the 
background just put an ampersand at the end of the command.

HTH,

Alan G.