Q44880: Definition of Windows Temporary Files

Article: Q44880
Product(s): Microsoft Windows 95.x Retail Product
Version(s): WINDOWS:2.x,3.0,3.0a,3.1,3.11
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): 
Last Modified: 18-DEC-2000

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The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft Windows versions 2.03, 2.1, 2.11, 3.0, 3.0a, 3.1, 3.11 
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A Windows "temporary" file is created under these circumstances:

- Windows Desktop (Write, etc.) and MDI (multiple document interface)
  applications (such as Excel) create temporary files to handle necessary user
  editing.

  Because a Desktop application cannot have multiple documents open at once, it
  must immediately create a temporary file that allows you to "undo" any
  editing, etc. MDI applications create temporary files only when needed (for
  related editing), rather than for every worksheet that is open.

- When running an MS-DOS standard application under Windows/286, Windows/286
  creates a temporary file (for example, ~PIFCHFA.TMP) so it can swap to disk
  to make room for other applications to use memory.

- When printing from Windows or any Windows application with the spooler
  enabled, Windows creates temporary files on the hard disk. Windows spools the
  print job to the temporary file and then sends it to the appropriate printer
  as a background operation.

Microsoft recommends that there be approximately 2 MB of free disk
space available for the creation of temporary files.

Additional query words: 2.0 2.03 2.1 2.10 2.11 3.0 3.00 3.1 3.10 win31 3.11 3.00a

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Keywords          :  
Technology        : kbWin3xSearch kbZNotKeyword3 kbWin203 kbWin210 kbWin211 kbWin300 kbWin300a kbWin310 kbWin311
Version           : WINDOWS:2.x,3.0,3.0a,3.1,3.11

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