SLEEP Command

The SLEEP command puts a process on hold for a specified time. This command is useful for conserving system resources for other operations, or for executing a command at a later time.

Format

SLEEP {x | hh:mm:ss}

Parameter(s)

{x}

Number of seconds.

{hh:mm:ss}

Time the process returns to active status. The system clock runs on 24-hour time; a process can be suspended for up to 23 hours, 59 minutes, and 59 seconds.

Description

After the user enters the SLEEP command, the process is suspended. When the specified period has elapsed, the TCL prompt returns.

You can also awaken a sleeping process by pressing the CTRL+BREAK keys on the process’s terminal keyboard.

Suspending a Process

The following example puts the current process on hold until 10:30 P.M.:

>SLEEP 22:30:00

The next example puts the current process on hold for 30 minutes (1800 seconds):

>SLEEP 1800