PRB: OpenFile API returns ERROR_BUFFER_OVERFLOW Error

Last reviewed: September 27, 1995
Article ID: Q137233

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Win32 Software Development Kit (SDK) version 4.0

SYMPTOMS

If the OpenFile API is passed a path that is longer than MAXPATHNAME, OpenFile returns ERROR_BUFFER_OVERFLOW.

One of the parameters to OpenFile is a pointer to the pathname to open. Another parameter is a pointer to an OFSTRUCT structure that will receive information. OFSTRUCT contains a fixed size buffer, szPathName that holds MAXPATHNAME bytes. A path longer than that is not valid.

RESOLUTION

Consider using CreateFile instead of OpenFile.

STATUS

This behavior is by design.

Additional reference words: 4.00 Windows 95
KBCategory: kbprg kbprb
KBSubcategory: BseFileio

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Last reviewed: September 27, 1995
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