KnowledgeBase Archive

An Archive of Early Microsoft KnowledgeBase Articles

View on GitHub

Q72158: Using run= and load= with Command Line Parameters in Windows

Article: Q72158
Product(s): Microsoft Windows 95.x Retail Product
Version(s): WINDOWS:3.0,3.0a
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): 
Last Modified: 03-OCT-1999

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft Windows versions 3.0, 3.0a 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY
=======

The run= and the load= lines of the WIN.INI file do not allow programs that
accept command line parameters. A workaround is to set up a file association for
the data file, causing Windows to load the application with the data file and
run the other parameters.

MORE INFORMATION
================

A file association is an entry in the [Extensions] section of the WIN.INI file
that tells Windows what data file extensions an application uses. This allows
you to double-click a data file in File Manager and have Windows start the
application with the data file loaded.

Windows Applications
--------------------

Let's say you have a program called ONE.EXE that accepts a filename, and has
keystrokes to start macros as command line parameters. At the DOS prompt you
could use the following command to load this file in the application during
startup.

  win one testfile.one a

If you want to do this with the run= or load= statements in the WIN.INI file, you
will need to make the following changes:

1. Create a file association:

  a. Start File Manager from Windows.

  b. Highlight TESTFILE.ONE.

  c. From the File menu, choose Associate.

  d. Type "c:\one\one.exe a" (without the quotation marks) and choose OK.

2. Add the following to the run= line in the [windows] section of the WIN.INI
  file:

  run=c:\one\myfiles\testfile.one

When Windows recognizing the association of ".ONE" to be ONE.EXE, Windows will
load ONE.EXE with the document and run the macro assigned to the A keystroke.

MS-DOS Applications
-------------------

MS-DOS applications allow for a more extensive use of command line parameters
through the use of a PIF file. To start a MS-DOS application with command line
parameters, use the following procedure:

1. Create a PIF file for the MS-DOS program. For more information about this
  procedure, see the "Microsoft Windows User's Guide," beginning on page 440.

2. On the Optional Parameters line of the PIF, add the appropriate command line
  parameters for the MS-DOS application.

3. Add the name of the PIF file to the WIN.INI file:

  run=c:\one\one.pif

The run= line causes the PIF file to be invoked, starting the MS-DOS application
with the command line parameters.

Additional query words: 3.00 win30 3.00a

======================================================================
Keywords          :  
Technology        : kbWin3xSearch kbZNotKeyword3 kbWin300 kbWin300a
Version           : WINDOWS:3.0,3.0a

=============================================================================

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.