WININI.WRI from Windows for Workgroups 3.11

Last reviewed: November 22, 1994
Article ID: Q109496

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Windows for Workgroups version 3.11

SUMMARY

The following information was taken from the Microsoft Windows for Workgroups version 3.11 WININI.WRI.

MORE INFORMATION

WIN.INI File Settings __________________________________________________________ Windows initialization files contain information that defines your Windows environment. Windows for Workgroups and Windows-based applications can use the information stored in these files to make their configurations meet your needs and preferences.

There are two standard Windows initialization files:

   WIN.INI, which primarily contains settings that Windows maintains
   to customize your Windows environment according to your preferences.

   SYSTEM.INI, which primarily contains settings that customize
   Windows to meet your system's hardware needs.

This document describes only a few of the settings in the WIN.INI file. You can get a more complete listing of the WIN.INI settings by purchasing the Windows for Workgroups Resource Kit. The Windows for Workgroups Resource Kit provides complete technical information about Windows for Workgroups for the support professional. It includes a technical reference manual and a disk containing helpful utilities, system-resource viewers, drivers, and accessories.

To order the Windows for Workgroups Resource Kit within the United States, dial:

1-800-642-7676

To order outside of the United States, dial the phone number for your area. You can find this number on the International Subsidiary card.

Format of the WIN.INI File

The WIN.INI file contains several sections, each of which consists of a group of related settings. The sections and settings are listed in the WIN.INI file in the following format:

  [section name]
  keyname=value

In this example, [section name] is the name of a section. The enclosing brackets ([ ]) are required, and the left bracket must be in the leftmost column on the screen.

The keyname=value statement defines the value of each setting. A keyname is the name of a setting. It can consist of any combination of letters and digits in uppercase or lowercase, and it must be followed immediately by an equal sign (=). The value can be an integer, a string, or a quoted string, depending on the setting.

You can include comments in initialization files. You must begin each line of a comment with a semicolon (;).

How to Read the Listings in This Document

In this document, WIN.INI file settings are listed alphabetically within each section. However, the settings do not appear alphabetically in the WIN.INI file. To change a setting, you need to search for it within the appropriate section of the WIN.INI file.

This document lists the syntax, default value, purpose, and recommended method for changing each setting, using the following format. ____________________________________________________________ SettingName=<value-type>

Default:     The Windows default value for this setting.
Purpose:     The function of the setting and its default value (if

applicable).

To change:     The recommended method for changing the value of this

setting.

<value-type> indicates whether the value should be an integer, a letter, a range of numbers, or something else. ____________________________________________________________

Changing Settings

When the Setup program creates the WIN.INI file, it assigns default values to the settings. Some settings that are listed in this document may not appear in your WIN.INI file.

There are two ways to change WIN.INI settings:

You can use Control Panel to change most settings. This is the safest and most recommended way because there is no need to open and edit the WIN.INI file, where it is easier to make mistakes. For more information about Control Panel, see Help for Control Panel.
You can use a text editor, such as Notepad, to edit the WIN.INI file directly. (Do not use a formatting editor, such as Write; it can corrupt your WIN.INI file.) You must use this method to change the settings that you cannot change by using Control Panel. After you have edited the WIN.INI file, you must restart Windows for Workgroups for the settings to take effect. For more information about Notepad, see Help for Notepad.

Caution: Always back up your WIN.INI file before you make changes, so that you can restore the original file in case you accidentally damage the WIN.INI file or make changes that cause problems when running Windows for Workgroups. It is recommended that you do not change any settings that are not described in this document. However, if you need to change additional settings, refer to the Windows for Workgroups Resource Kit. Be careful when using a text editor to edit the WIN.INI file. Incorrect changes to the WIN.INI file can cause unexpected results when you run Windows for Workgroups.

[windows] Section Settings

The [windows] section contains settings that affect general areas of your Windows environment, such as which applications run when you start Windows for Workgroups and how information appears on your screen.

The [windows] section can contain the following settings: ____________________________________________________________ DoubleClickHeight=<pixels>

Default:     4
Purpose:     Specifies the height (in pixels) that the mouse

pointer can move between clicks when you double-click. If the mouse pointer is moved further up or down, the two clicks are treated as separate single clicks. For example, if DoubleClickHeight=10, the mouse pointer cannot move vertically more than 5 pixels between clicks in order for the two clicks to be recognized as a double-click. If you use an odd number, it is rounded up to the nearest even number. This setting is helpful if you are using a pen-tablet pointing device.

To change:     Use Notepad to edit the WIN.INI file.

____________________________________________________________ DoubleClickWidth=<pixels>

Default:     4
Purpose:     Specifies the width (in pixels) that the mouse

pointer can move between clicks when you double-click. If the mouse pointer is moved further right or left, the two clicks are treated as separate single clicks. For example, if DoubleClickWidth=10, the mouse pointer cannot move horizontally more than 5 pixels between clicks in order for the two clicks to be recognized as a double-click. If you use an odd number, it is rounded up to the nearest even number. This setting is helpful if you are using a pen-tablet pointing device.

To change:      Use Notepad to edit the WIN.INI file.

____________________________________________________________ Load=<filename(s)>

Default:     None
Purpose:     Specifies one or more applications to run as icons

when Windows for Workgroups is started. This value is a list of one or more filenames of applications, or documents that are associated with an application, each separated by a space. Specify the complete path if the application or document is not located in the Windows directory. This setting works like the StartUp group in Program Manager, but adding an icon to the StartUp group does not change this setting.

To change:      Use Notepad to edit the WIN.INI file.

____________________________________________________________ MenuDropAlignment=<0-or-1>

Default:     0
Purpose:     Specifies whether menus open right-aligned or

left-aligned with the menu title. If this setting is 0, menus open so that they are left-aligned. If it is 1, menus open so that they are right-aligned.

To change:     Use Notepad to edit the WIN.INI file.

____________________________________________________________ MenuShowDelay=<milliseconds>

Default:     0 for 80386 computers; 400 for 80286 computers
Purpose:     Specifies how long Windows waits before displaying a

cascading menu.

To change:     Use Notepad to edit the WIN.INI file.

____________________________________________________________ Programs=<extensions>

Default:     com exe bat pif
Purpose:     Defines which files Windows considers applications. A

filename extension is separated by a space and does not include the preceding period.

To change:     Use Notepad to edit the WIN.INI file.

____________________________________________________________ Run=<filename(s)>

Default:     None
Purpose:     Causes Windows for Workgroups to run one or more

specified applications when it is started. The value is a list of one or more filenames of applications, or documents associated with applications, each separated by a space. Specify the complete path if the application or document is not located in the Windows directory. This setting works like the StartUp group in Program Manager, but adding an icon to the StartUp group does not change this setting.

To change:     Use Notepad to edit the WIN.INI file.

____________________________________________________________

[desktop] Section Settings

The [desktop] section contains optional settings that control the appearance of the screen background (desktop) and the positioning of windows and icons on the screen. Most of these settings (which are not listed in this document) can be changed by using Control Panel, except the following setting: ____________________________________________________________ IconVerticalSpacing=<pixels>

Default:     Windows determines the default value based on the

icon title font and the display adapter you are using.

Purpose:     Specifies the number of pixels that appear vertically

between icons. Increasing this number increases the amount of vertical space between icons.

To change:   Use Notepad to edit the WIN.INI file.

____________________________________________________________

[fonts] Section Settings

The [fonts] section describes one or more font files that are loaded when Windows for Workgroups is started.

The [fonts] section can contain one or more occurrences of the following setting: ____________________________________________________________ <font-name>=<font-file>

Default:

Purpose:     Specifies a font file. The <font-name> keyname is the

descriptive name of a font. The <font-file> value is the filename of a file that contains font resources.

 To change:     From Control Panel, choose the Fonts icon.

____________________________________________________________

[mci extensions] Section Settings

The [mci extensions] section contains settings that associate different types of media files with different Media Control Interface (MCI) device drivers. Whenever a media file is selected, Windows uses the associated driver to play it.

The [mci extensions] section can contain one or more occurrences of the following setting: ____________________________________________________________ <extension>=<mci-device-type>

Purpose:     Associates files that have the specified extension

with the specified MCI device driver. Windows uses the specified driver to play the media file associated with it.

To change:     Use Notepad to edit the WIN.INI file.

____________________________________________________________

[WinPopup] Section Settings

The [WinPopup] section includes settings that specify the characteristics of a popup message.

The [WinPopup] section can include the following settings: ____________________________________________________________ Sound=<0-or-1>

Default:1 Purpose:Specifies whether a sound is played when a new message arrives.

To change:     From the Messages menu in WinPopup, choose Options.

____________________________________________________________ AlwaysOnTop=<0-or-1>

Default:0 Purpose:Specifies whether a message always appears on top of all open windows.

To change:     From the Messages menu in WinPopup, choose Options.

____________________________________________________________ MaxOnMsgRcv=<0-or-1>

Default:0 Purpose:Specifies whether the WinPopup dialog box opens to display a new message when the message arrives.

To change:     From the Messages menu in WinPopup, choose Options.

____________________________________________________________ MultiUserWarn=<0-or-1>

Default:     1

Purpose:Specifies whether WinPopup displays a warning message if you try to log on to more than one machine with the same logon name. If this setting is 1, then when you log on to a second machine with the same username, WinPopup displays a warning on the second machine.

To change:     Use Notepad to edit the WIN.INI file.

____________________________________________________________

[Windows Help] Section Settings

The [Windows Help] section includes settings that specify the size and placement of the Help window and dialog boxes, in addition to the color of text that, when chosen, displays a macro, pop-up window, or new Help window.

The [Windows Help] section can include the following settings: ____________________________________________________________ JumpColor=<red-value> <green-value> <blue-value>

Default:     0,128,0
Purpose:     Specifies the color of text that, when chosen, leads

to a new window of Help information. For example, specifying 000 000 000 as values results in black text on a white background.

To change:     Use Notepad to edit the WIN.INI file.

Note: If no PopupColor value is specified, the JumpColor setting also applies to text that, when chosen, displays a pop-up window. ____________________________________________________________ PopupColor=<red-value> <green-value> <blue-value>

Default:     JumpColor
Purpose:     Specifies the color of text that, when chosen,

displays a pop-up window (the type of window used for glossary definitions). For example, specifying 000 000 000 as values results in black text on a white background.

To change:     Use Notepad to edit the WIN.INI file.

___________________________________________________________ MacroColor=<red-value> <green-value> <blue-value>

Default:     JumpColor
Purpose:     Specifies the color of text that, when chosen, runs a

Help macro.

To change:     Use Notepad to edit the WIN.INI file.

____________________________________________________________ IFJumpColor=<red-value> <green-value> <blue-value>

Default:     JumpColor
Purpose:     Specifies the color of text that, when chosen, leads

to a new window of Help information, located in a different Help file.

To change:     Use Notepad to edit the WIN.INI file.

____________________________________________________________ IFPopupColor=<red-value> <green-value> <blue-value>

Default:     PopupColor
Purpose:     Specifies the color of text that, when chosen,

displays a pop-up window (the type of window used for glossary definitions), located in a different Help file.

To change:     Use Notepad to edit the WIN.INI file.

____________________________________________________________

[WinSetup] Section Settings

The [WinSetup] section includes settings used by Windows Setup.

The [WinSetup] section can include the following setting: ____________________________________________________________ Source_Disk_Path=<path>

Default:     A:\
Purpose:     Specifies the path where Windows for Workgroups files

were located when you installed Windows for Workgroups.

To change:     Use Notepad to edit the WIN.INI file.

____________________________________________________________

KBCategory: kbref kbdisplay kbsound
KBSubcategory:
Additional reference words: wfw wfwg 3.11

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Last reviewed: November 22, 1994
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