Even though programs are normally written to run under a specific operating system, &os2; has built-in support to be able to execute programs for other operating systems too. &os2; supports the following session types:
PM programs always run in the one and only PM session that is started when the system starts up. You cannot start a second PM session. However, you can extend your screen space with the use of the &pgr;, which allows you to switch between several virtual desktops.
.CMD extension), will be started in a separate
session that can either be a windowed or full-screen.
Windowed command prompts
are visible on
your Desktop as well as if they were part of the PM session, so you can
still see all other windows that are open.
By contrast, an full-screen session
will occupy the entire screen. Your other windows are still open and the
other programs keep running, but in order to see them, you have to switch
back to the PM session using the Alt+Esc or Ctrl+Esc
system hotkeys.
.BAT extension),
usually run in text-mode and can run windowed or full-screen as well.
are visible on
your Desktop as well.
will occupy the entire screen, similarly to other full-screen sessions.
which can be windowed or full-screen
as well. If a &winos2; program is started as a window, it runs seamlessly
on the &os2; Desktop as if it was a PM program, even it will have
a slightly different appearance. However, you can also select to
run a &winos2; program in a separate full-screen session.