Opening DOS with PHP commands

Does anybody know if a MS-DOS window (running a BAT file) can be opened using a PHP command? Right now, I have Windows using the Task Scheduler to open the MS-DOS window (which creates a file used later by PHP), while a PHP webpage loops every few minutes and does whatever it needs to with the file. I am trying to intergrate the MS-DOS window timing with PHP to avoid conflicts. ANy suggestions? Is this even doable? -- Tony Tzankoff http://www.tzankoff.com =========================