I don't have any trouble doing MPE commands.
May be you are not on MPE 5.5.
Try the break key, that always works.

Michael

example:

/dbutil
HP30391C.07.04 TurboIMAGE/XL:  DBUTIL (C) COPYRIGHT HEWLETT-PACKARD COMPANY
1987

>>:file a = b
>>
>>:reset a
>>:run qedit.pub.robelle

Qedit/iX. Copyright Robelle Consulting Ltd. 1977-1998.  Type ? for help.
(Version 4.6.51)

Today's Hint. JUSTIFY FORMAT 55 formats a paragraph that starts at line 55
and ends with a blank line.
/exit

END OF PROGRAM
>>exit
/

Leonard writes :

1. No way to enter MPE commands within DBUTIL

2. Cannot tolerate :FILE commands. Need to exit DBUTIL; RESET the offending
file command; invovke DBUTIL again (see #1 above)

3. DETACH database returns an error that it cannot execute the command, but
that's worth of Pinnochio.

Leonard S. Berkowitz
Tufts Health Plan - Waltham Ma. 02154