The pmrun tool provides a graphical user interface, in the form of the Performance Co-Pilot Launch dialog, for launching Performance Co-Pilot (PCP) applications (see the PCPIntro(1) manual page) from the Indigo Magic desktop. pmrun is not normally invoked directly by users. Rather, it is used indirectly through the PCP file type rules which are incorporated into the desktop.

Most PCP applications have a list of common command line arguments which provide a consistent interface to the many PCP command invocations. pmrun has some knowledge of a number of the frequently used arguments, and if Alt-double click is pressed, it will launch a customized Performance Co-Pilot Launch dialog, according to which arguments are accepted by a given application. The most complex version of the Performance Co-Pilot Launch dialog is shown in Figure 1-1.

The radio buttons at the top of the dialog define the metrics source - metrics can be fetched either from a host, or from an archive. When the Host radio button is chosen, a host name can by typed or a host icon may be `dropped' into the chooser below the radio button. When the Archive radio button is chosen, a valid PCP archive filename can be entered or a PCP archive icon may be dropped into the chooser. The radio buttons and chooser are only displayed if the PCP application in question can fetch metrics from either an archive and a host.

The Start Time and End Time text boxes below the chooser can only be edited when an archive is the metrics source. The Start Time text box accepts a time at which to start fetching metrics from the archive, and the End Time text box accepts the time at which to finish fetching metrics from the archive. The syntax for specifying the time is described in the PCPIntro(1) manual page. The two text boxes are only displayed if the radio buttons and chooser (mentioned above) are displayed, and the PCP application in question accepts the -S and -T flags as command line arguments (see the PCPIntro(1) manual page).

The Command text box contains the path and name of the PCP application being launched. This text box is not editable, and is present in all dialogs launched by pmrun.

The Arguments text box may be used to propagate command line arguments to the PCP application being launched. This text box is editable, and is present in all dialogs launched by pmrun.

The command, with all the selected options is invoked when either the OK or the Apply button is pressed. When the Apply button is clicked, the command is launched, but the dialog is not dismissed.