Works Err Msg: Too Many Files Open or Invalid Share Parameters (108376)

SYMPTOMS

You may receive the following error message

Microsoft Works:
Too many files open, or invalid Share parameters.

if you attempt to create a second Word Processor or Database document during the same Works session, or when you try to save a Word Processor or Database document.

CAUSE

This problem most frequently occurs just after installing Works and restarting Windows. Share (SHARE.EXE) must be loaded with the correct parameters for Works for Windows to operate correctly.

This may also occur if you run MS-DOS 6.0 or 6.2 MemMaker before installing Works 3.0. MemMaker adds the LH /L:x,x parameters in front of Share. This causes Share to load into a specific region of memory. If Share is listed with no parameters, Works 3.0 Setup adds its parameters to the Share line. When the machine is restarted, the parameter should load properly, but you will still get the error, even though the parameters are correct (/l:500 /f:5100)

This error occurs because the above parameters (added by Works) increase the amount of memory needed by Share. MemMaker previously limited the amount of space available to Share. This space limitation prevents Share from fitting into its old space, causing the error message to occur.

RESOLUTION

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Works version 3.0 for Windows. This problem was corrected in Works version 3.0b for Windows. Works 3.0b for Windows ships with VSHARE.EXE. Share is not required. It is emulated by the VSHARE.386 device (in the [386Enh] section of SYSTEM.INI).

For more information about VSHARE.386, query on the following keywords in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

VSHARE.386 and manages and file and sharing

If you are using MS-DOS 4.0, make sure the line

   INSTALL=C:\<Path>\SHARE.EXE /L:500 /F:5100 (where <path> is the path to
   SHARE.EXE

is located at the top of your CONFIG.SYS file, so Share is automatically loaded when you start your machine.

If you are using MS-DOS 5.0 or later, make sure the line

   SHARE.EXE /L:500 /F:5100

is at the top of your AUTOEXEC.BAT file, but loaded after SMARTDRV.EXE.

Exit Windows and restart your computer. You should now be able to run Works for Windows without receiving the above error message.

MORE INFORMATION

If Share is not already loaded when Works Setup is complete, Windows will restart. Setup does load Share into memory at this point, but without any parameters, which causes the error message when using Works. It is necessary to restart the machine to properly load Share with its parameters. Ensuring that Share is being loaded correctly and restarting the machine usually corrects the behavior.

The Works Database and Word Processor modules both make use of the DocFile file format common to OLE (object-linking-and-embedding) containers. DocFile, in turn, makes use of STORAGE.DLL (located in the WINDOWS\SYSTEM) directory to support the tree-structured file format. Without the proper parameters when loading Share, there won't be enough handles to share STORAGE.DLL. As a result, only one Word Processor or Database window can be open at a time. You also will be unable to save your Word Processor or Database documents.

However, you will be able to open multiple Spreadsheet windows. Spreadsheets are not OLE containers, and do not make use of the DocFile format.