"Capture Output" Problem Running Perl Inside Textp

[James E Keenan]

I've been experiencing a problem running Perl scripts requiring keyboard input via STDIN inside Textpad's Tools/Run feature. Can anyone let me know whether the following description and diagnosis of the problem is correct?

When I run a Perl script from inside Textpad and leave the "Capture Output" window UNchecked, a DOS screen appears and the script pauses appropriately whenever it needs input from the keyboard, i.e., STDIN. I give it the input it wants and it proceeds on its merry way, printing results to STDOUT as dictated by the script. (Whether I have the "DOS command" box on the Tools/Run... menu checked or unchecked does not appear to make a difference.)

However, when I run a script from inside Textpad and CHECK the "Capture Output" window, a Textpad "Command Results" window appears as soon as the script begins. No DOS screen appears. Hence, there is no way to get to STDIN. In this case, the Windows hourglass keeps on ticking. True, I can do a Textpad Tools/Stop command which will enable me to get out of that particular script. But it appears that a Perl process keeps running in the background. When I go to shut down my system or reboot, I get a Windows error message that says the program "Perl" is still running and that I should exit it before closing Windows. If I attempt to do so at this point, I then get one of those Windows messages that prompts me to choose between "Wait" and "End Task." "End Task" does clear the problem -- but I'd rather not have the problem in the first place!

The moral appears to be: Leave the Capture Output box unchecked if my script requires STDIN. Is my diagnosis of the problem correct? Thanks in advance. jkeen@concentric.net

[Andreas]

Have you tried checking the "Suppress output until completed" box in addition to the "Capture Output" box?

From Help file:
This can speed up tools that create a lot of output. This option should also be checked, if the tool never completes when it is not checked.

[Jeff Epstein]

Also, there's a "close DOS window on exit" option that you can UN check, for you're perl tool.