KnowledgeBase Archive

An Archive of Early Microsoft KnowledgeBase Articles

View on GitHub

Q77855: Lotus 1-2-3 Versions 3.x and EMM386.EXE

Article: Q77855
Product(s): Microsoft Disk Operating System
Version(s): MS-DOS:5.0,5.0a,6.0,6.2,6.21,6.22
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): 
Last Modified: 22-NOV-1999

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

- Microsoft MS-DOS operating system versions 5.0, 5.0a, 6.0, 6.2, 6.21, 6.22 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY
=======

Lotus 1-2-3 for DOS is a virtual control program interface (VCPI) compliant
application. VCPI is an extension to the Expanded Memory Services (EMS)
specification that allows MS-DOS-based applications to directly access extended
memory on an 80386 or higher processor.

To use Lotus 1-2-3 in combination with EMM386.EXE, you must configure EMM386.EXE
to provide VCPI services and some VCPI memory. If you try to run Lotus 1-2-3
without providing VCPI services, Lotus 1-2-3 displays an error message and fails
to start.

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

To configure EMM386.EXE to provide VCPI services and VCPI memory, use the RAM
parameter on the EMM386 command line. For example:

  DEVICE=C:\DOS\EMM386.EXE RAM

Keep in mind that the above line creates a 64-kilobyte (K) page frame in the
upper memory area (UMA). This reduces the amount of memory that is available for
loading programs in upper memory (high). If your program ONLY needs LIM 4.0
expanded memory, you can specify the P switch as shown below. This creates a 16K
page frame in the UMA.

  DEVICE=C:\DOS\EMM386.EXE RAM P0=D000

NOTE: This works only if your programs do NOT need LIM 3.2 expanded memory. D000
is the starting address of a 16K page frame and can be replaced by any upper
memory address that is available.

Providing VCPI Without an EMS Page Frame
----------------------------------------

If you are using EMM386.EXE version 4.45 (the version included with MS-DOS 6.0)
or later, you can provide VCPI services and VCPI memory without dedicating UMA
space to an EMS page frame. To do this, specify the NOEMS switch along with a
number that indicates the amount of VCPI memory to provide in kilobytes. For
example:

  DEVICE=C:\DOS\EMM386.EXE NOEMS 256

The 256 on this command tells EMM386 to provide 256K of VCPI memory.

If you are using a version of EMM386.EXE earlier than 4.45, you may be able to
provide sufficient VCPI services without dedicating UMA space to an EMS page
frame. To do this, specify both the RAM and the FRAME=NONE switches on EMM386.
For example:

  DEVICE=C:\DOS\EMM386.EXE RAM FRAME=NONE

REFERENCES
==========

For more information about EMM386.EXE, refer to the your printed MS-DOS
documentation, or if you are using MS-DOS 6.0, 6.2, 6.21, or 6.22, type "help
emm386.exe" (without the quotation marks) at the MS-DOS command prompt and press
ENTER.

For more information about VCPI-compliant applications and EMM386.EXE, query on
the following words in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

  "vcpi" (without the quotation marks) and "emm386" (without the quotation
  marks)

Lotus 1-2-3 is manufactured by Lotus Development Corporation, a vendor
independent of Microsoft; we make no warranty, implied or otherwise, regarding
this product's performance or reliability.


Additional query words: 5.00 5.00a 6.00 6.20 123 3rdparty one two three spreadsheet dos/16m error: specifications

======================================================================
Keywords          :  
Technology        : kbMSDOSSearch kbMSDOS621 kbMSDOS622 kbMSDOS620 kbMSDOS600 kbMSDOS500 kbMSDOS500a
Version           : MS-DOS:5.0,5.0a,6.0,6.2,6.21,6.22

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

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.