Xdialog scripting question - progress bar

[ACRizona]

...not beer or gold bar.  This a thermometer, speedometer bar showing the progress of something.   Keeps one entertained while BigSlowProgram loads.

How do I make it the "front-end" while BigSlowProgram loads ?
There is no RUN command in BASH.   I tried the background ampersand ruse, but Opera (as example) will not run (pun) in background 'mode'.

Any Guroo solutions ?         ( Please - only TinyCore capable.  No PHP etc. )

[gerald_clark]

opera &
absolutely works.

[tinypoodle]

There is no RUN command in BASH.

There is 'exec', but don't use it indiscriminately.

[ACRizona]

BASH:
Xdialog --progressbar.....10...9...8...7....6...5
exec BigSlowProgram

Results: 
Xdialog completes countdown from 10 to zero.
BigSlowProgram loads ( you are watching a blank screen) and runs.

Desired:
BigSlowProgram loads WHILE you watch Xdialog count down.

[curaga]

Bigslowapp &
Xdialog --progressbar...

[^thehatsrule^]

exec is not exactly a "run in background command" but is for replacing the current process with another.

[ACRizona]

hmmmm...  I guess I'm in deep water.  I hoped for something simple that could be added to the wbar exec command line.  

Using Opera as my BigSlowExample, It seems I need another script to SET all values in background (matching user TC's foreground) so that Opera will run.  
Opera attempts it's first-time-run processes ( like a new user ).

Thanks for your help.

[gerald_clark]

Opera is an X client, and cannot run outside of a logged-in X server with proper authentication..
Any logged in X user should be able to 'opera &'.

[tinypoodle]

Opera attempts it's first-time-run processes ( like a new user ).

One reason why this could happen is when no preexisting profile dir is used.

[ACRizona]

Got it !

script1 appears:
/usr/local/bin/opera -nomail -nolirc -personaldir /home/tc/.opera/
exit
# tinypoodle was right-on to -personaldir
# Opera documentation     no comment!

script2 appears:
script1 &       #launch Opera
xdialog progress bar... 10.. 9... 8...
exit

wbar
Changed Opera entry to read exec /user/tc/script2

Later I'll add a 'single-instance' check to allow only 1 Opera.

[tinypoodle]

Not sure if '-personaldir' would work, but '-pd' certainly does