You can use a file named Wrkgrp.ini to specify a list of workgroups that users can choose to join. You can use Wrkgrp.ini in these ways:
The Wrkgrp.ini file is stored in the Windows directory on the server that contains the Windows 98 source files.
Windows 98 Setup uses the values defined in Wrkgrp.ini to set registry values in the workgroup, logon domain, preferred server, and other values. The same values are used to control options available for users to select in the Network option in Control Panel. The Wrkgrp.ini file contains the following sections:
In Windows 98, for each workgroup, you can specify the domain, preferred server, and so on, that everyone in a workgroup will use, depending on the network providers used.
Table 3.14 describes the format of the Windows 98 Wrkgrp.ini file.
Table 3.14 Wrkgrp.ini settings
| Section or entry | Description |
|---|---|
| [Options] section: | |
| ANSI=true | false | Specifies whether the workgroups need to be converted from an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) character set to American National Standards Institute (ANSI). Default is false. |
| Required=true | false | Specifies whether users can type their own workgroup name or forces them to choose from those listed. |
| ForceMapping=true | false | Specifies whether users can change the workgroup, logon domain, or preferred server that are set by a mapping. |
| Mapping=NP1, NP2, NP3,... (comma-separated list of network providers) |
Specifies a comma-separated list of the network providers to which workgroups can be mapped. Also specifies the order in which values will be listed in the [Workgroups] section. Implicitly, this specifies where in the registry to store settings. This parameter is optional. By default, workgroups map to domain, preferred server. |
| Default=NP1 default,NP2 default, NP3 default,... | Specifies the default mapping for workgroups listed in the [Workgroups] section that do not have a mapping defined. This allows you to add a single entry to an existing Windows for Workgroups Wrkgrp.ini file to get minimal mapping functionality. The format is the same as for specifying a mapping in [Workgroups]. |
| [Workgroups] section: | |
| workgroup=optional_mapping | Specifies a workgroup that users can choose and its mappings will automatically be defined in the order specified in Mapping=. There can be a workgroup= entry in the file for every workgroup that users can choose. Each name of a workgroup must be followed by an equal sign (=) for the workgroup name to be interpreted correctly. |
The entry that defines the network providers for each workgroup has the following format in the [Workgroups] section:
workgroup_name=mapping1,mapping2,mapping3,...
By default in Windows 98, workgroups can be mapped to both Windows NT domains and NetWare preferred servers. (This is because Windows 98 includes network providers for these two networks.) For example:
MktMain=MktDom1,master1
This example specifies that the workgroup named MktMain has these two mappings: MktDom1 is the logon domain for the Windows NT network, and Master1 is the preferred server for the NetWare network.
Administrators can specify the 32-bit, protected-mode network providers that can be mapped for a workgroup by setting the Mapping= parameter in the [Options] section of Wrkgrp.ini. For example, if the network uses two network providers (MSNP32 for Microsoft networks and NWNP32 for NetWare networks), the following is defined in Wrkgrp.ini:
[options]
mapping=msnp32,nwnp32
The order specified in the Mapping= entry also specifies the order of items in the [Workgroups] section.
You can also use the Default= entry to specify a default mapping for workgroups that do not have an explicit mapping. This allows you to use an existing Wrkgrp.ini created for Windows for Workgroups 3.11, and add one entry to take advantage of Windows 98 functionality. For example, add the entry Default=MktDom1,Master1 to use the servers described in the previous example as the default mapping.
If a Wrkgrp.ini exists, the Workgroup field in Windows 98 Setup and the Network option in Control Panel both show all the workgroups listed in Wrkgrp.ini. Users can choose a workgroup from the list or type a workgroup name. If Required=true in Wrkgrp.ini, the user must choose from the list.
In Wrkgrp.ini, ForceMapping= controls whether mapped values can be changed in the Windows 98 user interface. For example, if ForceMapping=true and the user selects a workgroup that is mapped to a domain, the user cannot change the value in the Access Control tab in the Network option in Control Panel, and in the Enter Network Password dialog box.
Note
If Windows 98 Setup finds the Wrkgrp.ini file in the Windows 98 source files, it copies the file to the shared Windows directory.