ID Number: Q11988
2.00 2.03 2.10 3.00 3.10
WINDOWS
Summary:
In Windows, the OpenFile function creates an MS-DOS file handle
through which an application can access Windows-specific files.
OpenFile initially opens the file in binary raw mode by performing an
MS-DOS Interrupt 21h Function 3Dh. If the lpFileName parameter
specifies only a filename and an extension, OpenFile searches for a
matching file in the following directories:
- The current directory.
- The Windows directory. The GetWindowsDirectory function returns the
path to this directory.
- The Windows system directory . The GetSystemDirectory function
returns the path to this directory.
- The directories listed in the PATH environment variable.
The open, fopen, and sopen functions provided by the Microsoft C run-
time libraries and the _lopen function provided by Windows can be used
to access any file. The open functions do not necessarily open a file
in binary raw mode; the application is required to set the binary
attribute explicitly. The OpenFile function automatically performs
this step.
If the filename parameter specifies only a filename and extension,
the open functions search for a matching file only in the current
directory.
An application should use the OpenFile function any time an MS-DOS
file handle is required.
Additional reference words: 2.x TAR56861