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Q154042: Intermediate File Error During Pipe Command

Article: Q154042
Product(s): Microsoft Windows NT
Version(s): 3.5,3.51
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): 
Last Modified: 21-FEB-2002

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The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft Windows NT Workstation versions 3.5, 3.51 
- Microsoft Windows NT Server versions 3.5, 3.51 
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SYMPTOMS
========

Under certain conditions, the pipe command sometimes fails. This error occurs
when you use the pipe command with a .pif file, but may occur under other
circumstances. You can test for this problem by building a test.bat file as
follows and running it under the environment that is producing the error:

  test.bat ::
  dir c:\winnt35 > output.msg
  type output.msg |more

CAUSE
=====

Under certain conditions, Windows NT has difficulty creating a unique file name
for the intermediate file used with the pipe.


RESOLUTION
==========

To correct this problem, do either of the following:

- Instead of "{command 1} | {command 2}", use the MS-DOS redirect command
  ">" to explicitly create an intermediate file name; for example, "{command
  1} > {filename}" then "{command 2} < {filename}".

  -or-

- Upgrade to Windows NT version 4.0.

STATUS
======

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Windows NT version 3.5 and 3.51.
This problem was corrected in Windows NT version 4.0.

Additional query words: prodnt vdm dos console app

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Keywords          :  
Technology        : kbWinNTsearch kbWinNTWsearch kbWinNT351search kbWinNT350search kbWinNTW350 kbWinNTW350search kbWinNTW351search kbWinNTW351 kbWinNTSsearch kbWinNTS351 kbWinNTS350 kbWinNTS351search kbWinNTS350search
Version           : :3.5,3.51

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