=== DISCLAIMER ===


I allow you to use and distribute HSTART freely under the condition that 
I am in no way responsible for any damage or loss you may suffer. 


Henk Kelder, 2:280/801.339@fidonet.org


Notes on HSTART
===============

HSTART.EXE is an alternative program for the START command embedded in
OS/2. HSTART will however only work on OS/2 2.1.

Compared with the START command it has two advantages:

-       HSTART can be used from DOS sessions 
        From  OS/2's own DOS, called a Virtual Dos Machine (VDM), as
        an other version of DOS started from an boot diskette or an
        image file, called a Virtual Machine Boot (VMB).

-       HSTART allows DOS Settings for a DOS session to be specified in a 
        text file.


USING HSTART
============

The syntax of HSTART is mainly the same as the syntax of the START command:
(type 'HELP START' on a command line for more details on the various 
parameters)

  HSTART ["Title"] [options] [program] [parameters]

  Valid options are:

  /DOS    - start a dos session
  /PM     - start a presentation manager session

  /FS     - start a fullscreen session
  /WIN    - start a windowed session

  /F      - start session in the foreground
            (This is default when /PM, /FS, /DOS or /WIN is specified)
  /B      - start session in the background
            (This is default when /PM, /FS, /DOS and /WIN are not specified)

  /MAX    - starts session maximized (if windowed)
  /MIN    - starts session minimized (if windowed)

  /C      - start via command processor. Terminate session when program ends
  /K      - start via command processor. Keep session when program ends
            (This is the default for non-PM programs)
  /N      - start program directly (bypass command processor)
            (This is the default for PM programs)

  /S:file - Specify File containing settings for DOS sessions
            See SETTINGS.TXT for more details on DOS settings.

  Remarks:

  -     The /I parameter is not implemented in HSTART. Is doesn't seem to
        work properly for the START command anyway.

  -     You cannot combine the /DOS parameter with the /N parameter.

  -     When you specify /DOS and do not specify a /S:file parameter
        a default setting file is used. This default file is searched for in
        the same directory as HSTART is located. The name of this default
        file is HSTART.CFG.

  -     You cannot specify a /S:file parameter if no /DOS parameter is 
        specified. 


KNOWN PROBLEMS/RESTRICTIONS:
============================

-       When HSTART is used from DOS, the new session does not have the
        same current directory as the session HSTART was issued from.
        Instead the new session starts from the root directory of drive
        OS/2 boots from.

-       When a DOS session is started in the background switching to this
        new session and then switching back to the desktop seems to distore
        the graphical display.

-       On some SVGA systems, starting a DOS session in the background, and
        switching to it shows a complete black screen. The DOS session seems 
        to hang. 
        Should this occur, switch back to the desktop and close the DOS 
        session using the tasklist.

-       When started from a DOS session, no errors are reported.

-       When the /N paramter is used, please specify the full program name,
        including the extension.

HISTORY
=======

Version 0.8: Initial release.