shell() questions

[Alex Rice]

I'm using shell() to run the CLIPS expert system software. On Mac OS X 
I am using Dar Scott's applescript to run a shell command. On Windows2K 
the shell() command works, but the DOS window pops up for the duration 
of the shell process. How can this be hidden?

On Windows 2000 the shellCommand is "cmd.exe" by default. Maybe it 
takes some command line options? How does one find that out on Windows?

Alex Rice, Software Developer
Architectural Research Consultants, Inc.
alrice at swcp.com
alex_rice at arc.to