_DONTWAIT - mkilgore/QB64pe GitHub Wiki

_DONTWAIT is used with the SHELL statement in QB64 to specify that the program shouldn't wait until the external command/program is finished (which it otherwise does by default).

SHELL [_DONTWAIT] [commandLine$]

• Runs the command/program specified in commandline$ and lets the calling program continue at the same time in its current screen format.
• Especially useful when CMD /C or START is used in a SHELL command line to run another program.
• QB64 automatically uses CMD /C or COMMAND /C when using SHELL.
• QB64 program screens will not get distorted or minimized like QBasic fullscreen modes would.

SHELL _DONTWAIT "notepad " + filename$

FOR...NEXT x = 1 TO 5
    _LIMIT 1
    PRINT x
NEXT

(opens up notepad at the same time as counting to 5)

 1
 2
 3
 4
 5

• SHELL, _HIDE