The Windows NT Start command can set the priority of a program it initiates. The syntax is:
start \["title"\] \[/dpath\] \[/i\] \[/min\] \[/max\] \[/separate\] \[/low\] \[/normal\] \[/high\] \[/realtime\] \[/wait\] \[/b\] \[filename\] \[parameters\]
| Parameter | D e s c r i p t i o n |
| none | Without any parameters, START opens an additional CMD prompt. |
| "title" | Title to display in the title bar. |
| /dpath | The startup directory. |
| /i | Passes the CMD.EXE startup environment to the new window. |
| /min | Starts minimized. |
| /max | Starts maximized. |
| /separate | Starts 16-bit Windows programs in a separate memory space. |
| /low | Starts the application in the idle priority class. |
| /normal | Starts the application in the normal priority class. |
| /high | Starts the application in the high priority class. |
| /realtime | Starts the application in the realtime priority class. |
| /wait | Starts the application and waits for it to terminate. |
| /b | Does not create a new window. CTRL+C handling is ignored unless the application enables CTRL+C processing. Use CTRL+BREAK to interrupt the application. |
| filename | Specifies the command or program to start. |
| parameters | Any parameters to pass to the program or command. |
Using this functionality, we can modify a shortcut to start an application in high priority. To start Microsoft Word in high priority, modify the Target:
CMD.EXE /C "Start /High /B /DC:\MSOFFICE\Winword\ C:\MSOFFICE\Winword\WINWORD.EXE"
Set it's icon back to WinWord.
To modify .doc file associations to open at high priority:
assoc .doc
ftype <string returned from assoc>=CMD.EXE /C
"Start /High /B /DC:\MSOFFICE\Winword\ C:\MSOFFICE\Winword\WINWORD.EXE %1"
where the above command is on one line.
