Q43139: LINK: Renaming Overlayed Executables Will Cause Problems

Article: Q43139
Product(s): See article
Version(s): 5.01.21
Operating System(s): DOS
Keyword(s): ENDUSER | s_C s_Pascal h_FORTRAN | mspl13_basic
Last Modified: 6-APR-1989

When the Microsoft linker creates an executable file with overlays,
the name of that EXE is hard coded into the file for use by the overlay
manager. The Microsoft linker only creates internal overlays, i.e.,
rather than producing FOO.EXE, FOO1.OVL, and FOO2.OVL, the two
overlays are contained in FOO.EXE.

If the executable is renamed at any point after linking, the overlay
manager will still use the hard-coded name found in the EXE to locate
the overlays, and will fail with the following prompt:

   Cannot find <oldname>
   Please enter new program spec:

In order to change the name of the executable without receiving this
error, it must be relinked and given the new name at that time.

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.