Microsoft KB Archive/59470

EDLIN’s Edit Buffer Size Is Smaller in MS-DOS 4.01 PSS ID Number: Q59470 Article last modified on 02-02-1993 PSS database name: O_MSDOS

4.01

MS-DOS

Question:

Under MS-DOS Version 4.01, EDLIN cannot handle files larger than about 39K; however, it can handle larger size files under MS-DOS Version 3.30. Why can’t I edit a larger size file with EDLIN under MS-DOS Version 4.01?

Response:

MS-DOS Version 4.01 EDLIN’s file edit buffer is smaller than in MS-DOS Version 3.30 because the version of EDLIN.COM that comes with MS-DOS Version 4.01 is LARGER than the version of EDLIN.COM that comes with MS-DOS Version 3.30.

The version of EDLIN that comes with MS-DOS Version 4.01 is 14,069 bytes, whereas the version of EDLIN that comes with MS-DOS Version 3.30 is only 7,495 bytes. Since EDLIN was written under the TINY memory model (all code and data must fit in one 64K segment), its file edit buffer size is limited to the amount of memory that remains free WITHIN a 64K segment AFTER program code and data space is accounted for.

Additional reference words: 4.01 noupd

Copyright Microsoft Corporation 1993.