Lance:

Since I haven't see others reply, I'll take a few guesses.  First, I am not
running max under Windows XP and I only run a couple of external commands
in an OS/2 environment.

Older versions of 32 bit windows were closing the com port if you opened a
DOS shell.  By running a .bat file as the external command, I believe you
are loading command.com to execute the .bat file.  Instead of using a .bat
file, can you load something else - either cmd.exe (I think that's the 32
bit program) directly and then give it the .bat file as the command to
execute?  Can you run Lord straight without going through the .bat file?

Best wishes.....

Bob Jones, 1:343/41


 LL> Hi ppl's,

 LL> Need a little help with getting Max (DOS version under 
 LL> XP) to run external doors.

 LL> For example, this is the menu line I have to run LORD :
 LL>  
 LL> Xtern_DOS       d:\max\doors\lord\start.bat_/%k Demoted "L.O.R.D."

 LL> When executed, the door does not start, the log entry reads :

 LL> : 28 Mar 09:42:50 MAX  Return from:
"C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\COMMAND.COM" (1)

 LL> So I'm doing something wrong, but what ?

 LL> cheers,

 LL> Lance

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