Article: Q93451
Product(s): Microsoft Windows 3.x Retail Product
Version(s): WINDOWS:3.1
Operating System(s):
Keyword(s):
Last Modified: 25-SEP-1999
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The information in this article applies to:
- Microsoft Windows for Workgroups version 3.1
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SUMMARY
=======
The following information was taken from the Microsoft Windows for Workgroups
version 3.1 WININI.WRI file.
MORE INFORMATION
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WIN.INI File Settings
---------------------
Windows initialization files contain information that defines your
Windows environment. Windows for Workgroups and Windows-based
applications can use the information stored in these files to
configure themselves to meet your needs and preferences.
There are two standard Windows initialization files:
- WIN.INI, which primarily contains settings that Windows maintains
to customize your Windows environment according to your
preferences.
- SYSTEM.INI, which primarily contains settings that customize
Windows to meet your system's hardware needs.
This document describes only a few of the settings in the WIN.INI
file. You can get a more complete listing of the WIN.INI settings by
purchasing the Windows for Workgroups Resource Kit for the Microsoft
Windows Operating System Version 3.1. The Windows for Workgroups
Resource Kit provides complete technical information about Windows for
Workgroups for the support professional. It includes a technical
reference manual and a disk containing helpful utilities, system-
resource viewers, drivers, and accessories.
To order the Windows for Workgroups Resource Kit within the United
States, call (800) 642-7676.
To order outside of the United States, dial the phone number for your
area. You can find this number on the International Subsidiary card.
Format of the WIN.INI File
--------------------------
The WIN.INI file contains several sections, each of which consists of
a group of related settings. The sections and settings are listed in
the WIN.INI file in the following format:
[section name]
keyname=value
In this example, [section name] is the name of a section. The square
brackets ([ ]) are required, and the left bracket must be in the
leftmost column on the screen.
The keyname=value statement defines the value of each setting. A
keyname is the name of a setting. It can consist of any combination of
letters and digits in uppercase or lowercase, and it must be followed
immediately by an equal sign (=). The value can be an integer, a
string, or a string enclosed in quotation marks, depending on the
setting.
You can include comments in initialization files. You must begin each
line of a comment with a semicolon (;).
Updating WIN.INI from Previous Versions of Windows
--------------------------------------------------
If you update your system to Windows for Workgroups version 3.1 from
Windows version 3.0, Setup automatically updates your WIN.INI file by
making the following changes. For detailed information about these
settings, refer to the Windows for Workgroups Resource Kit.
In the [windows] section, Setup adds three new settings:
KeyboardDelay=
ScreenSaverTimeout=
DosPrint=
If the following settings are already present in the 3.0 version of
the WIN.INI file, Setup does not change them. If they are not present,
Setup adds them:
Device=
Documents=
Programs=com exe bat pif
In the [extensions] section, Setup adds one new setting:
bmp=pbrush.exe ^.bmp
Setup adds two other settings to the [extensions] section, if they are
not already present in the 3.0 version of the WIN.INI file:
pcx=pbrush.exe ^.pcx
rec=recorder.exe ^.rec
In the [ports] section, Setup adds:
LPT1.DOS
LPT2.DOS
Setup adds three other settings to the [ports] section, if they are
not already present in the 3.0 version of WIN.INI:
FILE:
COM3:=9600,n,8,1,x
COM4:=9600,n,8,1,x
Setup adds the following section and settings to support TrueType
fonts:
[FontSubstitutes]
Helv=MS Sans Serif
Tms Rmn=MS Serif
Times=Times New Roman
Helvetica=Arial
Setup adds the following sections and settings to support multimedia:
[mci extensions]
wav=waveaudio
mid=sequencer
rmi=sequencer
Setup adds the following sections and settings to support sound:
[sounds]
SystemDefault=ding.wav, Default Beep
SystemExclamation=chord.wav, Exclamation
SystemStart=tada.wav, Windows Start
SystemExit=chimes.wav, Windows Exit
SystemHand=chord.wav, Critical Stop
SystemQuestion=chord.wav, Question
SystemAsterisk=chord.wav, Asterisk
Setup adds the following section and settings to support object
linking and embedding:
[embedding]
SoundRec=Sound,Sound,SoundRec.exe,picture
Package=Package,Package,packager.exe,picture
PBrush=Paintbrush Picture,Paintbrush Picture,pbrush.exe,picture
Setup also makes additional changes, depending on the applications and
devices installed on your system.
How to Read this Document
-------------------------
In this document, WIN.INI settings are listed alphabetically within
sections. However, the settings do not appear alphabetically in the
WIN.INI file. To change a setting, you need to search for it within
the appropriate section.
This document lists the syntax, default value, purpose, and
recommended method for changing each setting, using the following
format.
SettingName=<value-type>
Default: The Windows default value for this setting.
Purpose: This paragraph briefly describes the function of the setting
and its default value (if applicable).
To change: Describes the recommended method for changing the value
of this setting.
<value-type> indicates whether the value should be an integer, a
letter, a range of numbers, or something else.
Changing Settings
-----------------
When the Setup program creates the WIN.INI file, it assigns default
values to the settings. Some settings that are listed in this document
may not appear in your WIN.INI file.
There are two ways to change WIN.INI settings:
- You can use Control Panel to change most settings. This is the
safest and most recommended way because there is no need to open
and edit the WIN.INI file, where it is easier to make mistakes. For
more information about Control Panel, see Chapter 9, "Customizing
Windows for Workgroups," in the Microsoft Windows for Workgroups
User's Guide.
- You can use a text editor, such as Notepad, to edit the WIN.INI
file directly. (Do not use a formatting editor, such as Write; it
can corrupt your WIN.INI file.) You must use this method to change
the settings that you cannot change by using Control Panel. After
you have edited the WIN.INI file, you must restart Windows for
Workgroups for the settings to take effect. For more information
about Notepad, see Help for Notepad.
Caution: Always back up your WIN.INI file before you make changes, so
that you can restore the original file in case you accidentally damage
the WIN.INI file or make changes that cause problems when running
Windows for Workgroups. It is recommended that you do not change any
settings that are not described in this document. However, if you need
to change additional settings, refer to the Windows for Workgroups
Resource Kit. Be careful when using a text editor to edit the WIN.INI
file. Incorrect changes to WIN.INI can cause unexpected results when
you run Windows for Workgroups.
[windows] Section Settings
==========================
The [windows] section contains settings that affect general areas of
your Windows environment, such as which applications run when you
start Windows for Workgroups and how information appears on your
screen.
The [windows] section can contain the following settings.
DoubleClickHeight=<pixels>
Default: 4
Purpose: Specifies the height (in pixels) that the mouse
pointer can move between clicks when you double-click.
If the mouse pointer is moved further up or down, the
two clicks are treated as separate single clicks. For
example, if DoubleClickHeight=10, the mouse pointer
cannot move vertically more than 5 pixels between
clicks in order for the two clicks to be recognized as
a double-click. If you use an odd number, it is
rounded up to the nearest even number. This setting is
helpful if you are using a pen-tablet pointing device.
To change: Use Notepad to edit the WIN.INI file.
DoubleClickWidth=<pixels>
Default: 4
Purpose: Specifies the width (in pixels) that the mouse pointer can
move between clicks when you double-click. If the
mouse pointer is moved further right or left, the two
clicks are treated as separate single clicks. For
example, if DoubleClickWidth=10, the mouse pointer
cannot move horizontally more than 5 pixels between
clicks in order for the two clicks to be recognized as
a double-click. If you use an odd number, it is
rounded up to the nearest even number. This setting is
helpful if you are using a pen-tablet pointing device.
To change: Use Notepad to edit the WIN.INI file.
Load=<filename(s)>
Default: None
Purpose: Specifies one or more applications to run as icons when
Windows for Workgroups is started. This value is a
list of one or more filenames of applications, or
documents that are associated with an application,
each separated by a space. Specify the complete path
if the application or document is not located in the
Windows directory.
To change: Add the application to the StartUp group in Program
Manager, and then select the Minimize On Use check box
in the Properties dialog box.
MenuDropAlignment=<0-or-1>
Default: 0
Purpose: Specifies whether menus open right-aligned or left-aligned
with the menu title. If this setting is 0, menus open
so that they are left-aligned. If it is 1, menus open
so that they are right-aligned.
To change: Use Notepad to edit the WIN.INI file.
MenuShowDelay=<milliseconds>
Default: 0 for 80386 computers; 400 for 80286 computers
Purpose: Specifies how long Windows waits before displaying a
cascading menu.
To change: Use Notepad to edit the WIN.INI file.
Programs=<extensions>
Default: com exe bat pif
Purpose: Defines which files Windows considers applications. A
filename extension is separated by a space and does
not include the preceding period.
To change: Use Notepad to edit the WIN.INI file.
Run=<filename(s)>
Default: None
Purpose: Causes Windows for Workgroups to run one or more specified
applications when it is started. The value is a list
of one or more filenames of applications, or documents
associated with applications, each separated by a
space. Specify the complete path if the application or
document is not located in the Windows directory.
To change: Add the application to the StartUp group in Program
Manager.
[desktop] Section Settings
==========================
The [desktop] section contains optional settings that control the
appearance of the screen background (desktop) and the positioning of
windows and icons on the screen. Most of these settings (which are not
listed in this document) can be changed by using Control Panel. The
following setting must be changed by editing the WIN.INI file.
IconVerticalSpacing=<pixels>
Default: Windows determines the default value based on the icon title
font and the display adapter you are using.
Purpose: Specifies the number of pixels that appear vertically
between icons. Increasing this number increases the
amount of vertical space between icons.
[fonts] Section Settings
========================
The [fonts] section describes one or more font files that are loaded
when Windows for Workgroups is started.
The [fonts] section can contain one or more occurrences of the
following setting.
<font-name>=<font-file>
Purpose: Specifies a font file. The <font-name> keyname is the
descriptive name of a font. The <font-file> value is
the filename of a file that contains font resources.
To change: In the Control Panel window, choose the Fonts icon.
[mci extensions] Section Settings
=================================
The [mci extensions] section contains settings that associate
different types of media files with different Media Control Interface
(MCI) device drivers. Whenever a media file is selected, Windows uses
the associated driver to play it.
The [mci extensions] section can contain one or more occurrences of
the following setting.
<extension>=<mci-device-type>
Purpose: Associates files that have the specified extension with the
specified MCI device driver. Windows uses the
specified driver to play the media file associated
with it.
To change: Use Notepad to edit the WIN.INI file.
[Windows Help] Section Settings
===============================
The [Windows Help] section includes settings that specify the size and
placement of the Help window and dialog boxes, in addition to the
color of text that, when chosen, displays a macro, pop-up window, or
new Help window.
The [Windows Help] section can include the following settings.
JumpColor=<red-value> <green-value> <blue-value>
Purpose: Specifies the color of text that, when chosen, leads to a
new window of Help information. For example,
specifying 000 000 000 as values results in black text
on a white background.
To change: Use Notepad to edit the WIN.INI file.
Note: If no PopupColor value is specified, the JumpColor also applies
to text that, when chosen, displays a pop-up window.
PopupColor=<red-value> <green-value> <blue-value>
Purpose: Specifies the color of text that, when chosen, displays a
pop-up window (the type of window used for glossary
definitions). For example, specifying 000 000 000 as
values results in black text on a white background.
To change: Use Notepad to edit the WIN.INI file.
MacroColor=<red-value> <green-value> <blue-value>
Purpose: Specifies the color of text that, when chosen, runs a
Help macro.
To change: Use Notepad to edit the WIN.INI file.
IFJumpColor=<red-value> <green-value> <blue-value>
Purpose: Specifies the color of text that, when chosen, leads to a
new window of Help information, located in a different
Help file.
To change: Use Notepad to edit the WIN.INI file.
IFPopupColor=<red-value> <green-value> <blue-value>
Purpose: Specifies the color of text that, when chosen, displays a
pop-up window (the type of window used for glossary
definitions), located in a different Help file.
To change: Use Notepad to edit the WIN.INI file.
Additional query words: 3.10 wfw wfwg
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Keywords :
Technology : kbAudDeveloper kbWFWSearch kbWFW310
Version : WINDOWS:3.1
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