how do I close a cmd.exe window automatically?

[Rich Mooney]

I have a button which uses the following command:
get shell("notepad displayalarm.txt")

I'm using it to open a file generated with my software in Notepad on Win2k
Pro.
This works fine but my stack is frozen until I close the cmd.exe window.
Closing Notepad also unfreezes the stack but, I want the user to be able to
view this file while the application continues to run automatically and I
don't want them to have to remember to close the command window.  Otherwise,
they will eventually forget and walk away from the computer leaving all
automated functions suspended.  I tried adding the line get shell("exit")
but, the stack freezes on the previous line and never sees that exit command
until after I close the window manually.  Any ideas?

Rich Mooney
Payne Sparkman Mfg.
shop at paynesparkman.com