Q37418: LINK "Cannot Open Response File" When Make EXE File in 4.50

Article: Q37418
Product(s): See article
Version(s): 4.50
Operating System(s): MS-DOS
Keyword(s): ENDUSER | buglist4.50 | mspl13_basic
Last Modified: 12-JAN-1990

The error "Cannot open response file" can occur if "Make EXE File..."
in QB.EXE Version 4.50 invokes the Segmented-Executable linker (which
does not come with QuickBASIC). QuickBASIC versions earlier than 4.50
do not create a response file for the linker, and link successfully
without giving this error message. (Note that QuickBASIC Versions 4.00
and later require at least Version 3.61 of the linker to handle the
/EX (EXEPACK) option.)

To properly create an .EXE file from within the QuickBASIC Version
4.50 environment, you must first make sure that the linker found by
QuickBASIC (either in your search path, or in the executable file path
specified in QuickBASIC) is the Overlay Linker Version 3.6x.

If the linker found is a version earlier than 3.61, or a Segmented-
Executable linker such as the one supplied with Microsoft BASIC
Compiler Versions 6.00 and 6.00b or with Microsoft BASIC PDS Version
7.00, there may be complications in using "Make EXE File..." from
within the QuickBASIC Version 4.50 environment. BASIC PDS 7.00 comes
with the QBX.EXE environment, which contains all of the functionality
of the QuickBASIC 4.50 environment. Microsoft does not recommend using
QB.EXE 4.50 or earlier with BASIC PDS 7.00.

In QuickBASIC Version 4.50, the link step of the .EXE file creation is
performed with the use of a response file. (A response file can be
used to supply the input to the linker, such as object modules, output
file name, extra libraries, etc.) QuickBASIC creates a temporary file
(~QBLNK.TMP) that contains all of the information required by the four
prompts of the linker (object files, .EXE file name, list file, and
libraries), then tells the linker to use this file for a response
file.

This causes a problem with the Segmented-Executable linkers, because
these linkers have a fifth input prompt (definitions file). Since the
response file does not satisfy this prompt, the linker waits for you
to enter a definitions file. You can press ENTER at this prompt, and
the linker will complete its task.

In addition to asking for a definitions file, the Segmented-Executable
linker has another difference from the Overlay linker. If a response
file is inadvertently supplied with a four-character extension (for
example, RESPONSE.ABCD), the Segmented-Executable linker stops with a
"Cannot open response file" error message. However, the Overlay linker
truncates the filename to a three-character extension (for example,
RESPONSE.ABCD becomes RESPONSE.ABC), and then looks for that file.

Under some circumstances, QuickBASIC Version 4.50 generates an invalid
file specification for the response file (specifically "~QBLNK.TMPD",
which has an illegal fourth letter, D, on the name extension). Because
of the differences between the two linkers, the Overlay linker ignores
the appended "D" on the response file, and correctly produces an .EXE
file. However, the Segmented-Executable linker gives a fatal error,
"Cannot open response file", and aborts.

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Version 4.50. We are
researching this problem and will post new information here as it
becomes available.

The following is a summary of workarounds for this problem:

1. Use the Overlay Linker Version 3.6x.

2. If the response file is found, the .EXE file can be produced by
   pressing ENTER at the "Definitions file:" prompt. If the response
   file is NOT found, try renaming your BASIC source file, changing it
   by a factor of 1 in length (that is, if your source file is an even
   number of characters long, make it odd, and vice-versa).

3. Compile and link your program from the DOS command line.

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