PRB: VFP Hangs on Windows 98 When Using Novell NetWare Client After Exceeding the Number of Available File Handles (242982)

SYMPTOMS

Issuing the APPEND FROM <xlfile.xls> TYPE XL8 command makes Visual FoxPro either disappear or produce an error. In Visual FoxPro 6.0 running under Windows NT 4.0, the following error message might appear before the application closes:

Fatal error: Exception code=C0000005

After selecting OK, Visual FoxPro disappears. In Visual FoxPro 6.0 Service Pack 3 running under Windows NT 4.0, FoxPro simply disappears after executing the APPEND FROM command. No error message appears.

In Visual FoxPro 6.0 Service Pack 3 running under Windows 98, the following error appears:

Microsoft Excel file format is invalid.

RESOLUTION

Open the Network Applet in the Windows Control Panel.
Select the Novell NetWare Client from the network components and click the Properties button.
Select the Advanced Settings tab of the Novell NetWare Client Properties dialog.
Select the "Use Extended File Handles" property.
Change the "Setting" value to "ON."

MORE INFORMATION

The Novell NetWare Client for Windows 95 release 3.0 and greater, has a new Use Extended File Handles property that has been added to the Advanced Settings. The default setting for Use Extended File Handles is "OFF."

Steps to Reproduce Behavior

Launch Visual FoxPro and set the default directory to a directory on a Novell Netware Server.

Create a program file named "DEMO.PRG" with the following code:

CLOSE ALL
SET SAFETY OFF
IF !FILE("base.dbf")
   CREATE TABLE BASE (basekey c(10), memofld m)
   INSERT INTO BASE (basekey,memofld) VALUES ("0000001","this is ;
   a test")
   INDEX ON basekey TAG basekey OF BASE
ENDIF
FOR i=1 TO 100
   thisstr="file"+ALLTRIM(STR(i))
   SELECT DISTINCT * FROM BASE INTO TABLE &thisstr
   SELECT (thisstr)
   INDEX ON basekey TAG basekey OF &thisstr
NEXT
SET SAFETY ON

Run the DEMO.PRG file.
When the following error message appears, click Cancel:
Too many files open
From the Command window, type DIR. The machine may hang at this point.

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(c) Microsoft Corporation 1999, All Rights Reserved. Contributions by John Desch, Microsoft Corporation.