Command line help for a newb.

[MutantJohn]

Hello All,

Back in my days of learning the Interactive Data Language, I was unwittingly using emacs and IDL at the same time and I'd very much like to do so again.

From the terminal we were supposed to type something like $emacs and that would open emacs without stripping my ability to input more commands so that I could in turn give the IDL command. So I've tried messing around with a bunch of different characters and so far nothing's worked.

So I was wondering, anyone know the magical syntax I'm missing here?

[gardnan]

If you want to detach a process from your terminal, add the '&' character at the end of the command. For example:

$emacs &

Should start Emacs as a process separate from the terminal client you are using.

[sisco311]

Not sure if you are looking for: http://mywiki.wooledge.org/ProcessManagement or http://aperiodic.net/screen/ perhaps both.

[MutantJohn]

Thank you so much. I completely forgot. I remembered that it was teh & key but I forgot you were supposed to put it at the end. Thank you both for your quick replies.