Creates a subprocess of the current process.   The  context  of  the
  subprocess  is  copied  from  the  current process.  You can use the
  SPAWN command to leave MAIL  temporarily,  perform  other  functions
  (such  as  displaying  a  directory listing or printing a file), and
  then return to MAIL.

   Format:

       SPAWN [command]

Additional information available:

ParametersQualifiersExamples

 command

  Specifies the DCL command string that executes in the context of the
  created  subprocess.   When  the  command  completes, the subprocess
  terminates and control is returned to the parent  process.   If  not
  specified,  a  subprocess is created transferring control to the DCL
  command level.

Additional information available:

/INPUT/LOGICAL_NAMES/OUTPUT/PROCESS/WAIT

 /INPUT=file-spec

 Specifies an input file containing one or more DCL command strings to
  be  executed  by  the  spawned subprocess.  If you specify a command
  string along with an input file, the  command  string  is  processed
  before the commands in the input file.  Once processing is complete,
  the subprocess is terminated.

 /LOGICAL_NAMES

 Specifies that the logical names of the parent process be  copied  to
  the  subprocess.   When  you  do  not want the subprocess to use the
  logical  names  of  the  parent   process,   enter   the   qualifier
  /NOLOGICAL_NAMES.  The default is /LOGICAL_NAMES.

 /OUTPUT=file-spec

 Identifies the  output  file  to  which  the  results  of  the  SPAWN
  operation  are  written.   You  should  specify an output other than
  SYS$OUTPUT whenever you specify /NOWAIT to prevent output from being
  displayed  while  you  are specifying new commands.  If you omit the
  /OUTPUT qualifier, output  is  written  to  the  current  SYS$OUTPUT
  device.

 /PROCESS=subprocess-name

 Specifies the name of the subprocess to be created.  The default name
  of the subprocess is USERNAME_n.

 /WAIT

 Controls whether the system waits until the subprocess  is  completed
  before   allowing  more  commands  to  be  specified.   The  /NOWAIT
  qualifier allows you to specify new  commands  while  the  specified
  subprocess  is running.  If you specify /NOWAIT, you should also use
  /OUTPUT to direct the output to a file rather than displaying it  on
  the screen to prevent your terminal from being used by more than one
  process simultaneously.

  1.
       MAIL> SPAWN SHOW TIME

  This example shows how to create a  subprocess  containing  the  DCL
  command SHOW TIME while you are in MAIL.

  2.
       MAIL> SPAWN /NOLOGICAL_NAMES SET HOST
       _Node: MARS
          .
          .
          .
       $ LOGOUT
       CRAMMER logged out at ...

       %REM-S-END, control returned to node _BETA::

       MAIL>

  This example shows  how  to  use  the  SPAWN  command  to  create  a
  subprocess  in which you SET HOST to another node.  When you want to
  leave node MARS and  move  back  to  node  BETA,  enter  the  LOGOUT
  command.   The /NOLOGICAL_NAMES qualifier prevents the logical names
  of the parent process from being copied to the subprocess.