!InAWindow

Single-tasking command-line programs in Absolute (&FF8) and BASIC (&FFB) form suspend multi-tasking when run from the Desktop. It is often better to run them in a TaskWindow. TaskApp (&AA6) and TskBasic (&AA5) automatically open a TaskWindow when they are double-clicked.

However, when these filetypes are run from outside the desktop (F12) or from inside an existing TaskWindow (Ctrl-F12) they run normally, without attempting to open another TaskWindow.

This makes these filetypes ideal for library functions, small utilities and ported command-line programs.

The existing filetypes TaskObey (&FD7) and TaskExec (&FD6) are enhanced to work the same way, and a new *Command is provided – *InAWindow – which can be used to launch any file or *Command, opening a TaskWindow only if necessary.

Installation

The application directory should be placed in <Boot$ToBeTasks>.

TskBASIC (&AA5)

Setting the filetype of a BASIC (&FFB) program to TskBASIC (&AA5) will cause it to open a TaskWindow when necessary. You may want to add this filetype to your text editor if it doesn’t recognise the contents. For Zap, add this line to the FileTypes (low) configuration file:

TskBASIC   &AA5   BASIC

TaskApp (&AA6)

Setting the filetype of an Absolute (&FF8) program to TaskApp (&AA6) will cause it to open a TaskWindow when necessary.

TaskObey (&FD7)

Setting the filetype of an Obey (&FEB) file to TaskObey (&FD7) will cause it to open a TaskWindow when necessary.

TaskExec (&FD6)

Command (or Exec) files are not much used these days. However, setting the filetype of a Command (&FFE) file to TaskExec (&FD6) will cause it to open a TaskWindow when necessary.