Q30455: Why QB/QBX Editor Options Might Revert to Default; QB.INI File

Article: Q30455
Product(s): See article
Version(s): 4.00 4.00b 4.50
Operating System(s): MS-DOS
Keyword(s): ENDUSER | B_BasicCom | mspl13_basic
Last Modified: 13-AUG-1990

In the QB.EXE environment of QuickBASIC version 4.50 or in the QBX.EXE
environment of Microsoft BASIC Professional Development System (PDS)
versions 7.00 and 7.10, the settings in the Options menu (ALT+O)
(Display, Set Paths, Right Mouse, Syntax Checking, Full Menus) are
automatically saved to the QB.INI or QBX.INI file whenever the options
are changed.

Similarly, in the QB.EXE environment of QuickBASIC versions 4.00 and
4.00b and of Microsoft BASIC Compiler versions 6.00 and 6.00b, the
color, display attributes, tab, and scroll bar options in the View
menu's Options command (ALT+V+O) are automatically saved to the QB.INI
file whenever the options are changed.

If the QB.EXE (or QBX.EXE) environment does not find a QB.INI (or
QBX.INI) file in the current working directory or in the DOS PATH, the
environment reverts to the default options. If you then change the
default options, QB.EXE (or QBX.EXE) creates a QB.INI (or QBX.INI)
file in the current directory (since a QB.INI or QBX.INI doesn't
already exist along the PATH). If the name of your current directory
is not displayed at the DOS prompt, typing CHDIR at the DOS prompt
displays the name of your current working directory.

To keep the QB.EXE (or QBX.EXE) options consistent, you should keep
one QB.INI (or QBX.INI) file in your DOS PATH; this QB.INI (or
QBX.INI) file will be updated each time you change the options.

The following steps show that if QB.EXE (or QBX.EXE) does not find a
QB.INI (or QBX.INI) file in the current working directory or in the
DOS PATH, it creates a new QB.INI (or QBX.INI) file in the current
directory:

1. Type PATH in MS-DOS to see what directories lie in the PATH.

2. Run QB.EXE (or QBX.EXE), and change one or more editor options.

3. Exit QB.EXE (or QBX.EXE).

4. Change to a different directory that is not in your PATH.

5. Run QB.EXE (or QBX.EXE), and note that the environment reverts
   to the default options and does not reflect the option(s) you
   specified in Step 2.

6. If you now change one or more editor options, a new QB.INI (or
   QBX.INI) file is created in the current directory.

In Step 5 above, QuickBASIC reverts to its default options. This could
make you incorrectly conclude that QuickBASIC forgot the changes that
you made (if any) to the options.

If QB.EXE finds QB.INI (or QBX.EXE finds QBX.INI) in the DOS PATH or
in the current directory, the options are updated in that copy of
QB.INI (or QBX.INI). To make the environment always use the same
option preferences, use only one copy of QB.INI (or QBX.INI) in your
DOS PATH.

The DOS PATH is set with the PATH command. For example, the following
DOS command sets your search path to the directory called QB.450 on
Drive C:

   PATH C:\QB.450

THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THE MICROSOFT KNOWLEDGE BASE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. MICROSOFT DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES SO THE FOREGOING LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY.

Copyright Microsoft Corporation 1986-2002.