Index: function.c
==================================================================
--- function.c
+++ function.c
@@ -302,10 +302,49 @@
 }
 
 static void fn_picture_size(sqlite3_context*cxt,int argc,sqlite3_value**argv) {
   sqlite3_result_int(cxt,picture_size);
 }
+
+static void fn_pipe(sqlite3_context*cxt,int argc,sqlite3_value**argv) {
+  const char*name=sqlite3_value_text(*argv);
+  FILE*fp;
+  int i;
+  char buf[512];
+  sqlite3_str*str;
+  if(!name) return;
+  fp=popen(name,"r");
+  if(!fp) {
+    sqlite3_result_error(cxt,"Cannot open pipe",-1);
+    return;
+  }
+  str=sqlite3_str_new(userdb);
+  for(;;) {
+    i=fread(buf,1,512,fp);
+    if(i<=0) break;
+    sqlite3_str_append(str,buf,i);
+  }
+  pclose(fp);
+  i=sqlite3_str_errcode(str);
+  if(i==SQLITE_NOMEM) {
+    sqlite3_result_error_nomem(cxt);
+  } else if(i==SQLITE_TOOBIG) {
+    sqlite3_result_error_toobig(cxt);
+  } else if(i) {
+    sqlite3_result_error(cxt,"Unknown error",-1);
+  }
+  if(i) {
+    sqlite3_free(sqlite3_str_finish(str));
+    return;
+  }
+  if(i=sqlite3_str_length(str)) {
+    sqlite3_result_blob(cxt,sqlite3_str_finish(str),i,sqlite3_free);
+  } else {
+    sqlite3_free(sqlite3_str_finish(str));
+    sqlite3_result_zeroblob(cxt,0);
+  }
+}
 
 static void fn_read_lump_at(sqlite3_context*cxt,int argc,sqlite3_value**argv) {
   sqlite3_int64 of=sqlite3_value_int64(argv[0]);
   FILE*fp=sqlite3_value_pointer(argv[1],"http://zzo38computer.org/fossil/heromesh.ui#FILE_ptr");
   long sz;
@@ -1059,10 +1098,11 @@
   sqlite3_create_function(userdb,"NVALUE",1,SQLITE_UTF8|SQLITE_DETERMINISTIC,0,fn_zero_extend,0,0);
   sqlite3_create_function(userdb,"OVALUE",1,SQLITE_UTF8,0,fn_ovalue,0,0);
   sqlite3_create_function(userdb,"PFHEIGHT",0,SQLITE_UTF8,&pfheight,fn_pfsize,0,0);
   sqlite3_create_function(userdb,"PFWIDTH",0,SQLITE_UTF8,&pfwidth,fn_pfsize,0,0);
   sqlite3_create_function(userdb,"PICTURE_SIZE",0,SQLITE_UTF8|SQLITE_DETERMINISTIC,0,fn_picture_size,0,0);
+  sqlite3_create_function(userdb,"PIPE",1,SQLITE_UTF8,0,fn_pipe,0,0);
   sqlite3_create_function(userdb,"READ_LUMP_AT",2,SQLITE_UTF8,0,fn_read_lump_at,0,0);
   sqlite3_create_function(userdb,"RESOURCE",-1,SQLITE_UTF8|SQLITE_DETERMINISTIC,0,fn_resource,0,0);
   sqlite3_create_function(userdb,"SIGN_EXTEND",1,SQLITE_UTF8|SQLITE_DETERMINISTIC,0,fn_sign_extend,0,0);
   sqlite3_create_function(userdb,"SOLUTION_CACHEID",0,SQLITE_UTF8|SQLITE_DETERMINISTIC,ptr1,fn_cacheid,0,0);
   sqlite3_create_function(userdb,"TRACE_OFF",0,SQLITE_UTF8,"",fn_trace_on,0,0);

Index: picture.c
==================================================================
--- picture.c
+++ picture.c
@@ -1178,17 +1178,10 @@
   SDL_UnlockSurface(screen);
 }
 
 int modal_draw_popup(const unsigned char*txt) {
   SDL_Event ev;
-#if 0
-  SDL_Rect r;
-  r.x=r.y=0;
-  r.w=screen->w;
-  r.h=4;
-  SDL_FillRect(screen,&r,0xFE);
-#endif
   set_cursor(XC_iron_cross);
   redraw:
   draw_popup(txt);
   SDL_Flip(screen);
   while(SDL_WaitEvent(&ev)) switch(ev.type) {

Index: sql.doc
==================================================================
--- sql.doc
+++ sql.doc
@@ -97,10 +97,14 @@
   the object in the OBJECTS table.
 
 PICTURE_SIZE()
   Tell you the picture size.
 
+PIPE(command)
+  Execute a operating system shell command and return the output of that
+  command as a blob.
+
 READ_LUMP_AT(offset,ptr)
   Used internally; there is no way to use this in user SQL codes.
 
 RESOURCE(...)
   Given the list of resource names, read a value from the X resource