Microsoft KB Archive/93167

= MS-DOS Shell Limited to 2000 Tokens =

Article ID: 93167

Article Last Modified on 10/15/2003

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft MS-DOS 5.0 Standard Edition
 * Microsoft MS-DOS 5.0a
 * Microsoft MS-DOS 6.0 Standard Edition

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This article was previously published under Q93167



SUMMARY
When you start MS-DOS Shell, the DOSSHELL.INI file is read into memory. Each unique item in the DOSSHELL.INI file is stored as a token (there is a 2000 token limit). When this limit is reached, any action that causes MS- DOS Shell to write to the DOSSHELL.INI file (which requires a new token) causes the computer to beep. For example, the computer beeps when you try to add a New Program Object.



MORE INFORMATION
A token is a word, a string of text, or a symbol. The following DOSSHELL.INI file entry would be represented in memory by three tokens; one for the word &quot;help,&quot; one for the equal sign, and one for the string of text to the right of the equal sign:

help = Starts the MS-DOS command prompt

Once a token has been used to represent a word, string, or symbol, each additional occurrence of the word, string, or symbol does not require an additional token. For example, the following block of text uses 11 tokens:

startup = filemanager

filemanagermode = shared

sortkey = name

pause = disabled

explicitselection = disabled

swapmouse = disabled

Only one token is used to represent each occurrence of the equal sign and one token is used to represent each occurrence of the word &quot;disabled.&quot;

What Happens When New Tokens Are Added
The text on the left of the equal sign is usually a common word (such as &quot;sortkey,&quot; &quot;pause,&quot; &quot;swapmouse,&quot; and so on) that is used repeatedly in the DOSSHELL.INI file. Therefore, each new line added to the DOSSHELL.INI file usually requires only one new token for the string to the right of the equal sign.

If you reach the 2000 token limit, you can remove unneeded lines to make room for additional Program Objects or other items.

The following items can usually be removed without significantly impacting your MS-DOS Shell configuration:
 * Color schemes you do not use.
 * Default program items and groups you don't use.
 * Help text (If you don't need or use it).

Additional query words: 5.00 5.00a 6.00 dos shell dos-shell

Keywords: KB93167

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