Q78670: Startup Directory Option Ignored in MS-DOS Shell

Article: Q78670
Product(s): Microsoft Disk Operating System
Version(s): MS-DOS:5.x,6.0
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): 
Last Modified: 17-DEC-2000

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The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft MS-DOS operating system versions 5.0, 5.0a, 6.0 
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SUMMARY
=======

In MS-DOS 5.0 and Shell, it is possible for the startup directory option to be
ignored when a program item is started from the Active Task List.

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

The startup directory option will be ignored in the following two situations:

- The program item being started from the Active Task List was originally
  placed there as a result of a LOAD=ENABLED entry in the DOSSHELL.INI file.

- The program item being started from the Active Task List was added to the
  Active Task List by holding down the SHIFT key, and double-clicking on the
  program item (or pressing SHIFT+ENTER).

In the above cases, the effective startup directory will be the active directory
at the time Shell was started.

WORKAROUND
==========

To work around this limitation, write a batch file for the application that
first changes to the desired startup directory before starting. Then create a
program item for the batch file, not the executable. (Note: In this case, the
startup directory option is now unnecessary.)

Example
-------

To make a batch file to run Microsoft Word for MS-DOS, do the following:

1. Include the following lines in a batch file called WORD5.BAT:

     cd \word5
     word

2. Make a program item for WORD5.BAT using the procedure described on pages
  186-188 of the version 5.0 "Microsoft MS-DOS User's Guide and Reference."

Additional query words: 5.00 5.00a 6.00

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Keywords          :  
Technology        : kbMSDOSSearch kbMSDOS600 kbMSDOS500 kbMSDOS500a
Version           : MS-DOS:5.x,6.0

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