Q84419: Multiple PIFs for Same MS-DOS Applications in Windows
Article: Q84419
Product(s): Microsoft Windows 95.x Retail Product
Version(s): WINDOWS:3.0,3.0a,3.1,3.11
Operating System(s):
Keyword(s):
Last Modified: 12-OCT-1999
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The information in this article applies to:
- Microsoft Windows versions 3.0, 3.0a, 3.1, 3.11
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SUMMARY
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In Microsoft Windows operating system version 3.1, if a program information file
(PIF) for an MS-DOS application already exists, a dialog box will appear and
provide an option to create a new PIF, replace an existing PIF, or cancel the
request.
In Windows 3.0, running the Set Up Applications command from the Windows Setup
icon creates a new PIF for each MS-DOS application that it recognizes from the
[PIF] section of the SETUP.INF file.
MORE INFORMATION
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To set up MS-DOS applications to run in Windows 3.0 or 3.1, do the following:
1. From the Program Manager, choose the Windows Setup icon.
2. From the Options menu, choose Set Up Applications.
Windows searches the [PIF] section of the SETUP.INF for Windows 3.0 or the
APPS.INF file for Windows 3.1 for MS-DOS applications and uses the related
information to create the PIF.
The PIF filename conventions are as follows:
For Windows 3.1, the Set Up Applications program displays the following message
when it encounters an existing PIF for an MS-DOS application:
A program information file (PIF) for <name of MS-DOS application>
already exists: <PIF name>. The existing PIF may provide Windows with
special instructions about running <name of DOS application>.
To preserve the existing PIF and set up an additional PIF for <name of DOS
application>, choose Create. This also creates a new Program Manager icon
for <name of DOS application> so you can run <name of DOS
application> using the new PIF.
To replace <PIF name> with a new PIF, choose Replace. This creates a new
Program Manager icon for <name of DOS application> and any existing
Program Manager icons that refer to <PIF name> will use this new PIF.
To preserve the existing PIF without creating a new Program Manager icon,
choose Cancel.
If you choose Create, Windows creates a new PIF and adds sequential numbers to
the new filename. The list of PIFs will then look as follows:
WORD5.PIF
WORD500.PIF
WORD501.PIF
In Windows 3.0, a number is substituted for the last letter of the filename (not
the extension). For example, several PIFs for WORD for MS-DOS would be created
as follows:
WORD5.PIF
WORD0.PIF
WORD1.PIF
WORD2.PIF
In this example, Set Up Applications was invoked three times with the original
PIF being WORD5.PIF. Windows also creates a new icon using the last PIF created.
The original icons are not replaced. However, if the previous icon is deleted,
it is also safe to delete the previous PIF.
Additional query words: 3.00 3.00a 3.10 3.11 files option options
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Keywords :
Technology : kbWin3xSearch kbZNotKeyword3 kbWin300 kbWin300a kbWin310 kbWin311
Version : WINDOWS:3.0,3.0a,3.1,3.11
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