Microsoft KB Archive/32961

COBOL Version 3.0 Program Can Open 128 DOS File Handles

PSS ID Number: Q32961 Article last modified on 04-21-1993

3.00 | 3.00 MS-DOS | OS/2

Summary: The following information summarizes how MS-DOS file handles are used in Microsoft COBOL Version 3.0: 1. The FILES= statement in the CONFIG.SYS has direct bearing on the number of open files (128 is recommended). Subtract 5 files for reserved MS-DOS handles. The maximum number of file handles open at any one time is 128 (memory permitting). 2. Every OPEN statement takes a minimum of one file handle. 3. ISAM files take two handles (one for the .DAT data file and one for the .IDX index file). 4. CALL, GOTO, PERFORM, or any statement that causes an overlay to be loaded, takes one handle while loading. 5. Animation (with ANIMATE.EXE) uses a minimum of two file handles and a maximum of nine. 6. Some networks have built-in limits. Novell Network 20A allows a maximum of 100 file handles (a patch is available from Novell to increase this limit).

Additional reference words: 3.00 Copyright Microsoft Corporation 1993.