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### 5.3 Commands Sent to the Shell

The IDLWAVE buffers and shell interact very closely. In addition to the normal commands you enter at the `IDL>` prompt, many other special commands are sent to the shell, sometimes as a direct result of invoking a key command, menu item, or toolbar button, but also automatically, as part of the normal flow of information updates between the buffer and shell.

The commands sent include `breakpoint`, `.step` and other debug commands (see Debugging IDL Programs), `.run` and other compilation statements (see Compiling Programs), examination commands like `print` and `help` (see Examining Variables), and other special purpose commands designed to keep information on the running shell current.

By default, much of this background shell input and output is hidden from the user, but this is configurable. The custom variable `idlwave-abbrev-show-commands` allows you to configure which commands sent to the shell are shown there. For a related customization for separating the output of examine commands, see Examining Variables.

User Option: idlwave-shell-show-commands (`'(run misc breakpoint)`)

  A list of command types to echo in the shell when sent. Possible values are `run` for `.run`, `.compile` and other run commands, `misc` for lesser used commands like `window`, `retall`,`close`, etc., `breakpoint` for breakpoint setting and clearing commands, and `debug` for other debug, stepping, and continue commands. In addition, if the variable is set to the single symbol `'everything`, all the copious shell input is displayed (which is probably only useful for debugging purposes). N.B. For hidden commands which produce output by side-effect, that output remains hidden (e.g., stepping through a `print` command). As a special case, any error message in the output will be displayed (e.g., stepping to an error).

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