INFO: Understanding Paths on a Novell Network

 Last reviewed: September 4, 1997
Article ID: Q70145

The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft C for MS-DOS, versions 5.1, 6.0, 6.0a, 6.0ax
  • Microsoft C for OS/2, versions 5.1, 6.0, 6.0a
  • Microsoft C/C++ for MS-DOS, version 7.0
  • Microsoft Visual C++ for Windows, versions 1.0, 1.5
  • Microsoft Visual C++ 32-bit Edition, versions 1.0, 2.0, 4.0, 5.0

SUMMARY

On a Novell network, the PATH command will display logical drive letters where you might expect to see directory names such as: 

   PATH=W:.;V:.;C:\BIN;C:\DOS;Z:.;Y:.;X:.
The path is searched in the same fashion as it would be under MS-DOS. The difference is that logical drives are "mapped" to certain physical directories (similar to the MS-DOS SUBST command). Therefore, each logical drive letter is associated with a physical directory, and the drive letter represents this directory in the path.

To determine the directories associated with the drive letters, the MAP command must be used. This command will expand the logical drives (listed above) to their mapped directories, as well as showing the order in which they will be searched. The output of the MAP command resembles the following: 

   Drive  A:   Maps to a local disk
   Drive  B:   Maps to a local disk
   Drive  C:   Maps to a local disk
   Drive  F:  = SERVER1/SYS:C600
           -------
   SEARCH1:  = W:. [SERVER1/SYS:C600/BIN]
   SEARCH2:  = V:. [SERVER1/SYS:C600/BINB]
   SEARCH3:  = C:\BIN
   SEARCH4:  = C:\DOS
   SEARCH5:  = Z:. [SERVER1/SYS:PUBLIC]
   SEARCH6:  = Y:. [SERVER1/SYS:SYSTEM]
   SEARCH7:  = X:. [SERVER1/SYS:LOGIN]
See the Novell documentation concerning command-line utilities for more information on the MAP command. The MAP command should be used exclusively while operating on a Novell network in order to maintain the desired drive/directory search order. 
Keywords          : VCGenIss kbnetwork kbnetwork
Version           : MS-DOS:5.1,6.0,6.00a,6.00ax,7.0; OS/2:5.1,6.0,6.00a;  WINDOWS:1.0,1.5; WINDOWS NT:1.0,2.0,4.0,5.0
Platform          : MS-DOS NT OS/2 WINDOWS
Issue type        : kbinfo

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Last reviewed: September 4, 1997
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