# $EPIC: pause,v 1.2 2005/03/11 04:55:04 jnelson Exp $
Synopsis:
   pause <seconds>

Description:
   PAUSE performs a nonblocking sleep for <seconds> seconds.  During the
   nonblocking sleep, the client performs all actions as normal, except that
   PAUSE will not return until <seconds> seconds have elapsed.  Because
   things might have occurred during the nonblocking sleep, it not guaranteed
   that everything is as it was when the PAUSE started.  Servers may have
   closed, the input line may have changed, dccs may have finished, etc.
   PAUSE does not guarantee to return promptly -- in fact, it might not 
   return at all (if the user does QUIT during the interval).  If the
   user performs some blocking or recursive command during the interval, 
   PAUSE will not return until all blocking/recursive commands complete.
   This could be substantially longer than <seconds> seconds.

   You don't want to use ^_PAUSE^_ to stall for a certain amount of time 
   before running a command if you need any sort of precision, because 
   ^_PAUSE^_ offers no guarantees when it will return.  For running a 
   command after a precise interval, use the ^_TIMER^_ command.  Do not 
   use ^_PAUSE^_ as a substitute for ^_WAIT^_ because server requests offer 
   absolutely no guarantees how long they might take.  I have seen ^_WHOIS^_ 
   requests take well in excess of 900 seconds to come back.

   <Seconds> must be a whole integer in EPIC4-1.1.1 and earlier.
   <Seconds> may be a decimal number in EPIC4-1.1.2 and later.

See Also:
   timer(5); wait(5); usleep(5)

History:
   The PAUSE command first appeared in EPIC3.003.
   Support for sub-second resolution first appeared in EPIC4-1.1.2.
