Hi,
Starting/stopping Progress db is administrative activity, not involved with the environment for programmer. Progress db can be started/stopped using: 1) script/batch file; 2) Progress Explorer Tool (based on Microsoft Managmenet Console); 3) ProControl Tool (a bit deprecated in my opinion). Pehaps the first of these methods (script or batch file) offers what you are looking for. I mean that you can invoke OS command which calls your script/batch file.
Regards
Bogdan Brzozowski