Level Pushing

Level pushing is a term used to describe the ability to interrupt a process, invoke a new TCL prompt, and execute any valid TCL command.

The execution of any command or program can be interrupted by pressing the BREAK key. When a command or program is interrupted, the system stops execution and saves all parameters so that execution can be resumed exactly where it was interrupted. When a process is interrupted at the normal system level, the system prompts with ::. At this point, the command or program is said to be pushed one level. Up to 16 levels can be pushed. The number of colons in the prompt indicates the number of levels pushed. The normal system level is 1.

If ENTER is pressed at the new level TCL prompt, control returns to the previous level, exactly where it left off.

It is possible to logto another account while at a pushed level. When a carriage return is entered at the TCL prompt, the process automatically returns to the original account.

Any tape or peripheral storage devices attached to the process when logging to another account at another level remain attached in the new account.

To return to the previous level and continue execution of the process at that level, press CTRL+M. To abort the process at the next lower level, use the end command.