Exec

Command: exec [[fdpat] newcommand [args ... ]]

(none)
Run a unix subprocess (specified by an executable path newcommand and its optional arguments) in the current window. The flow of data between newcommand's stdin/stdout/stderr, the process already running (shell) and screen itself (window) is controlled by the filedescriptor pattern fdpat. This pattern is basically a three character sequence representing stdin, stdout and stderr of newcommand. A dot (.) connects the file descriptor to screen. An exclamation mark (!) causes the file descriptor to be connected to the already running process. A colon (:) combines both.
User input will go to newcommand unless newcommand requests the old process' output (fdpats first character is `!' or `:') or a pipe symbol (`|') is added to the end of fdpat.
Invoking exec without arguments shows name and arguments of the currently running subprocess in this window.
When a subprocess is running the kill command will affect it instead of the window's process.
Refer to the postscript file `doc/fdpat.ps' for a confusing illustration of all 21 possible combinations. Each drawing shows the digits 2, 1, 0 representing the three file descriptors of newcommand. The box marked `W' is usual pty that has the application-process on its slave side. The box marked `P' is the secondary pty that now has screen at its master side.

Go to the first, previous, next, last section, table of contents.