Executive Commands

IDL executive commands compile programs, continue stopped programs, and start previously compiled programs. All of these commands begin with a period and must be entered in response to the IDL prompt. Commands can be entered in either uppercase or lowercase and can be abbreviated. Under UNIX, filenames are case sensitive; under Microsoft Windows, filenames can be specified in any case.

Executive commands are summarized in the table below. See the IDL Reference Guide for in-depth descriptions of these commands.


Command	Action
.COMPILE	Compiles text from files or keyboard without executing.
.CONTINUE	Continues execution of a stopped program.
.EDIT	Opens files in editor windows of the IDLDE.
.FULL_RESET_SESSION	Does everything .RESET_SESSION does, plus additional reset tasks such as unloading sharable libraries.
.GO	Executes previously compiled main program from beginning.
.OUT	Continues program execution until the current routine returns.
.RESET_SESSION	Resets much of the state of an IDL session without requiring the user to exit and restart the IDL session.
.RETURN	Continues execution until encountering a RETURN statement.
.RNEW	Erases main program variables and then executes .RUN
.RUN	Compiles and possibly executes text from files or keyboard
.SKIP	Skips over the next statement and then single steps
.STEP	Executes a single statement (abbreviated as .S)
.STEPOVER	Executes a single statement if the statement does not call a routine (abbreviated as .SO)
.TRACE	Similar to .CONTINUE, but displays each line of code before execution