INF: Appropriate Uses of WINMEM32

ID Number: Q73679

3.00 3.10

WINDOWS

Summary:

WINMEM32 is a dynamic-link library (DLL) that supports 32-bit flat

memory under the Microsoft Windows graphical environment. WINMEM32

provides a flat model computing environment for applications ported

from another operating system to Windows. New applications should not

be designed using WINMEM32.

More Information:

WINMEM32 is designed for an application structured as follows:

+------------------------+

| Front End |

| Performs all |

| interaction with I/O |

| devices, the user, and |

| the operating system. |

+------------------------+

/\

||

||

\/

+-----------------------+

| Computation Engine |

+-----------------------+

The front end application that provides the user interface is a

standard application for the 16-bit Windows environment. WINMEM32

supports the 32-bit "computation engine" that has no user interface

and does not interact with any peripheral devices or the operating

system.

Windows is not designed to support 32-bit applications; WINMEM32 is a

temporary measure to support an independent software vendors (ISV)

with a substantial investment in 32-bit code developed for another

operating system. Even with WINMEM32, porting an application to

Windows involves many complex issues that an ISV must carefully

address for the application to work properly.

Future versions of Windows will address the 32-bit application issues

better than WINMEM32 does. Future versions of Windows will support

WINMEM32 applications even though WINMEM32 is not developed any

further.

Additional reference words: 3.00 3.10