INFO: DlgDirList on Novell Drive Doesn't Show Double Dots [..]

ID: Q99339

The information in this article applies to:

SUMMARY

The Microsoft Windows application programming interface (API) function DlgDirList() can be used to add directories, drives, and/or files to a list box. On a Novell network with the default login script, the Windows API may not add the string "[..]" used to represent the parent directory to the list box. This is due to Novell implementation, and is not a bug in the Windows API. To make the entry appear, add the following line to the Novell login script (usually called SHELL.CFG located in the root directory of the boot drive):

   SHOW DOTS = ON

MORE INFORMATION

A Novell NetWare file server does not include the directory entries dot (.) and double dot (..) as MS-DOS does. However, the NetWare shell (version 3.x) can emulate these entries when applications attempt to list the files in a directory. Turning on Show Dots causes problems with earlier versions of some 286-based NetWare utilities, such as BINDFIX.EXE and MAKEUSER.EXE. Make sure you upgrade these utilities if you upgrade your NetWare shell. For more information, contact your Novell dealer.

NOTE: With Novell NetWare version 3.1.1, the line SHOW DOTS=ON/OFF can be added to the NET.CFG file for the same effect.

The same behavior is shown with the API DlgDirListComboBox, and the messages LB_DIR and CB_DIR.

Additional query words: listbox

Keywords          : kbCtrl kbListBox kbNTOS kbGrpUser kbWinOS 
Issue type        : kbinfo

Last Reviewed: December 26, 1998