Windows: Working Directory in Program Item Properties

• Microsoft Windows operating system versions 3.1, 3.11

SUMMARY

When starting applications from Program Manager in Windows 3.1, you can specify the working directory in the Program Item Properties dialog box. (To access this dialog box, choose Properties from the File menu in Program Manager.) There are several reasons that an application may start with a different default directory than the one specified in the Program Item Properties dialog box.

Some applications have the ability to set the default directory. This always overrides Windows 3.1's attempt to specify a default directory as specified in either the Program Item Properties dialog box or a PIF.

The Working Directory setting in the Program Item Properties dialog box always has precedence over the Startup Directory in a PIF.

Applications that override the PIF and/or Program Item Properties dialog box entries implement this feature in different ways. For example, version 2.0 of Word for Windows has a DOC-PATH= setting in the WIN.INI file for the default directory for documents. WordPerfect version 5.1 has a setting in a .ENV (environment) file.

The WordPerfect product included here is manufactured by a vendor independent of Microsoft; we make no warranty, implied or otherwise, regarding this product's performance or reliability.