Here's the situation. In Windows 98 I'd like to run the following programs. (1) AutoCAD R14 (Windows Version) and (2) A DOS based program called HPGL. This HPGL program takes *.plt files from AutoCAD, converts them to *.hex, and then sends them to a Techno engraver. I'd like to be able to have the DOS HPGL program run in the background, constantly feeding the Techno engraver instructions, AND be able to use AutoCAD. Right now, as soon and I minimize the HPGL, the engraver stops working until HPGL is maximized again. A colleague suggested that I set the amount of memory that this DOS program reserves for itself, rather than having it automatically select this quantity. Is it possible that when HPGL minimizes, it gives back too much memory for Windows? Any and all suggestions would be greatly appreciated, for I have several people pressing me for a solution. Thank you for reviewing my question, and I hope to hear from you soon. Nathan

Try clearing (unchecking) the "Always suspend" box in the Misc tab of the shortcut. From Windows '98 Secrets Gold: Background refers to the time when an application doesn’t have the focus. If the DOS application is running in full-screen mode and you can see it, it has the focus. If it is running in a window and its title bar is highlighted, it has the focus. If your program is a DOS communications application that runs in the background, clear the Always Suspend check box so that it can download files and do other tasks for you as you’re working in another application in the foreground. You don’t want to suspend communications programs when they are in the background, because they are productive even when they don’t have the focus. Other DOS applications don’t do anything if they don’t have the focus, so for these programs, you might as well mark the Always Suspend check box to give all the computer’s resources to the foreground task. Copyright © 1995-98 Brian Livingston and Davis Straub