dired: run shell and lisp function on file

[Fabian Braennstroem]

Hi,

I have to small problems, which I actually included already into a
former posting; now I thought it would be
better placed in a separate post with a better subject :-)
I hope those questions were not to stupid!?

        How can I run a function on a the currently highlighted file, e.g.
I would like to tail a log file using "tail.el"?
        The 'tail-file' waits for a filename in the mini-buffer, but it
would be nice, if it takes the actual file in dired...

        I know, that I run special shell commands on the current file using
'!', it works pretty nice for different programs,
       but for a certain batch job I need to call:   'PROGRAM_NAME <
CURRENT_FILE > CURRENT_FILE.log'!?

Would be nice, if anybody has an idea?
Regards!
Fabian