"Break on" slows performance of built-in applications

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Certain DOS programs enable the BREAK function when they execute and don't return it to it's original state when they terminate.

With BREAK turned on, every time an application checks to see if a key has been pressed (and none HAS been pressed) the machine drops into "light sleep" for a little while. This slows down the running application significantly.

To test your DOS application, type BREAK OFF at the DOS prompt, run your DOS application, then type BREAK at the DOS prompt. If your DOS application turned BREAK on and left it on, DOS will echo BREAK ON, otherwise it will echo BREAK OFF. With BREAK ON, built-in Applications run slower.

The solution is to start your program from a batch file, and add BREAK OFF to the end of your batch file, just after the line that runs the DOS application.

Andy Gryc Internet ID: andyg@hp.cv.com