dos#

Purpose#

Provides access to the operating system from within GAUSS.

Format#

dos commd

Parameters:: commd (literal or ^string) – the OS command to be executed.

Examples#

cmdstr = "atog mycfile";
dos ^cmdstr;

This will run the ATOG utility, using mycfile.cmd as the ATOG command file. For more information, see ATOG.

> dir *.prg;

This will use the DOS dir command to print a directory listing of all files with a .prg extension on Windows. When the listing is finished, control will be returned to GAUSS.

> ls *.prg

This will perform the same operation on Linux.

dos;

This will cause a second level OS shell to be entered. The OS prompt will appear and OS commands or other programs can be executed. To return to GAUSS, type exit.

Remarks#

This allows all operating system commands to be used from within GAUSS. It allows other programs to be run even though GAUSS is still resident in memory.

If no operating system command (for instance, dir or copy) or program name is specified, then a shell of the operating system will be entered which can be used just like the base level OS. The exit command must be given from the shell to get back into GAUSS. If a command or program name is included, the return to GAUSS is automatic after the OS command has been executed.

All matrices are retained in memory when the OS is accessed in this way. This command allows the use of word processing, communications, and other programs from within GAUSS.

Do not execute programs that terminate and remain resident because they will be left resident inside of GAUSS’s workspace. Some examples are programs that create RAM disks or print spoolers.

If the command is to be taken from a string variable, the ^ (caret) must precede the string.

The shorthand “>” can be used in place of “dos”.