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Q32103: "Too Many Files" When Using Make EXE Option in QB.EXE Editor

Article: Q32103
Product(s): See article
Version(s): 4.00 4.00b
Operating System(s): MS-DOS
Keyword(s): ENDUSER | buglist4.00 buglist4.00b fixlist4.50 B_BasicCom | mspl13_basic
Last Modified: 8-DEC-1989

A "Too Many Files" error may occur when using the Make EXE File option
from the Run menu to compile a multimodule program and a Quick library
from the QB.EXE editor. The error message occurs immediately after you
choose Make EXE File (or Make EXE And Exit) from the Run menu. The
program can run successfully within the editor or can be compiled and
linked successfully on the DOS level.

The problem is caused by an overflow of the buffer containing the
names and directories of the modules and the Quick library. The
program will compile successfully if one or more of the module names
are shortened, or if the directory names are shortened as shown in the
formula below.

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in QuickBASIC Versions
4.00 and 4.00b and in the version of QuickBASIC provided with the
Microsoft BASIC Compiler Versions 6.00 and 6.00b for MS-DOS and MS
OS/2 (buglist6.00, buglist6.00b). This problem was corrected in
QuickBASIC Version 4.50 and in QBX.EXE of the Microsoft BASIC Compiler
Version 7.00 (fixlist7.00).

The formula below can be used to determine if the buffer is full. You
can successfully use Make EXE from the editor if the following holds
true:

   A + B + C + D + E < 80

In the formula above, the following is true:

A = The total number of characters in all the module names loaded
    into the QuickBASIC editor. Do not count .BAS.

B = The number of modules loaded into QuickBASIC.

C = The total number of characters in the path QuickBASIC is
    invoked from. (Add up all the characters in all the directories
    and subdirectories.) For example, "C:\QUICK\SUBDIR" has 15
    characters in it.

D = The number of directories and subdirectories in the path
    QuickBASIC is invoked from. For "C:\QUICK\SUBDIR", there is
    one root directory and two subdirectories, so D=3.

E = The number of characters used to list the Quick library when
    QuickBASIC was invoked, e.g. in "QB /L foo" E = 3, and in "QB
    /L /testdir/roo/foo" E = 16. Please note that if the drive is
    also included, do not count the colon, therefore, for "QB /L
    a:foo" E = 4.

The following steps demonstrate the "Too Many Files" problem:

1. Create the following files:

      BASFILE1.BAS
      BASFILE2.BAS            (The code is not important. Each module
      BASFILE3.BAS             can just say PRINT "Hello".)
      BASFILE4.BAS
      BASFILE5.BAS
      BASFILE6.BAS
      BASFILE7.BAS
      B.BAS
      BA.BAS
      BAS.BAS
      BASF.BAS
      BASFI.BAS
      BASFIL.BAS

2. Make B into a Quick library.

3. Make an eight-character directory as follows:

      mkdir TESTDIR1

4. Invoke QuickBASIC (QB.EXE) with the following command:

      C:\TESTDIR1>  QB /L B

5. Load the seven BASFILEx.BAS files plus either [BASFIL.BAS, BAS.BAS,
   and BA.BAS] or [BASF.BAS and C.BAS].

6. Choose Make EXE File... (or Make EXE And Exit) from the Run menu.

7. A "Too Many Files" error may now appear.

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