Hello Doug,

Happy Easter!
Background
----------
I am working on a Minisoft script, by which I can handle spoolfiles
easier. I have already a working version in AdvanceLink.
Its main steps:
1) Invoking the SPOOK5 program.
2) Accept USER[.ACCOUNT].
3) Logging the results of the SHOW user.account;@ command.
4) Invoking an editor with special macros, toi reformat the logged SHOW ;@
table.  The macros copy a rectangular block from the the second part,
where time and number of lines are listed to the first part where the
owners and name sof the spoolfiles are shown. So I can see all importannt
info about a spoolfile on one line.
5) If the user hits some hotkeys, the editor macros paste the  #Onnnn
spoolfile number found on the current to a temporary instruction file
where SPOOK5 commands are collected.
6) The instructions are embedded into script commands like SEND and WAIT.
7) The instruction file is sent to the HP.

Problems:
---------
My current version works fine when the SPOOK5 commands give simple
one-line results, like PURGE #Onnn or ALTER #Onnn;PRI=13.  I have
difficulties in case of HELP, which sends ">" which is the prompt of the
SPOOK5, and in case of other multi-line outputs like my standard quick job
inspection instructions:  L
IST 1/10
F "JOB FLUSHED",/LAST
LIST LAST-10/LAST

At the start of the script, I check whether the SPOOK5 could start.
I check the host output for "SPOOK5" and copyright strings.
But while the scripts checks the banner of the program, its quickly
appearing first prompt is lost.

Questions
---------
What do you recommend in such scripts? When should I use READHOST, WAIT,
WAITC, WAITS, respectively?
What is the invisible part of the ">" prompt of the SPOOK5? Is it
^J,>,space,^Q? How can I detect the nonprintable characters from a
Minisoft script?
Have you any idea to detect that SPOOK5 is already running?

                                                TIA, Regards

                                                       Frank

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