Topic       : The ATARI Compendium
Author      : Scott Sanders / JAY Software
Version     : 1.25 (20/6/2003)
Subject     : Documentation
Nodes       : 1117
Index Size  : 32614
HCP-Version : 6
Compiled on : Atari
@charset    : UTF-8
@lang       : en
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@help       : %About
@options    : +g -i -t4 +y +z
@width      : 100
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                              Process Handling


The AES manages two types of user programs. Normal GEM applications have
file extensions of '.PRG', '.APP', or '.GTP'. Desk Accessories have file
extensions of '.ACC'.

Without MultiTOS, the AES can have a maximum of one application and six
desk accessories executing concurrently. The currently running application
(or the Desktop if no application is running) is given primary control over
the system. Desk accessories are allocated processor time only when the
foreground application releases control by calling one of the event library
functions. An application which does not have a standard loop (as illustrated
below) will cause desk accessories to stop functioning while it is being
executed.

Under MultiTOS, an unlimited amount of applications and desk accessories
may be loaded concurrently∙Some MultiTOS versions limit this
base upon the available space in
the leftmost menu.
. MultiTOS is a pre-emptive system where all
system processes are given time regardless of other applications.