Why Word 6.0 for Windows Requires Share

ID: Q108847

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Word for Windows, version 6.0

SUMMARY

The OLE 2.0 Compound Document implementation that Microsoft Word 6.0 for Windows uses to save documents to the hard disk requires the file range- locking functionality of SHARE.EXE, or in Windows for Workgroups, VSHARE.386. Range locking allows an OLE server application to lock a certain range of a document that contains the OLE object to be edited.

Although OLE 2.0 applications are not required to use compound files, compound file usage is encouraged because the OLE 2.0 storage system provides efficient and flexible access to object data. The OLE 2.0 storage system allows objects, or portions of objects, to be read from disk to memory without the need to load the entire file.

The OLE 2.0 Compound Document implementation is handled by STORAGE.DLL. Word and other OLE 2.0 applications may choose to write to STORAGE.DLL, which then actually writes the file to disk. STORAGE.DLL requires the file range-locking functionality that is available with the following:

                             Enhanced       Standard
 ----------------------------------------------------
 Word 6.0 and Windows 3.1    SHARE.EXE      SHARE.EXE

 Word 6.0a and Windows 3.1   SHARE.EXE      SHARE.EXE
                                or
                             VSHARE.386

 Word 6.0/6.0a and Windows   SHARE.EXE      SHARE.EXE
 for Workgroups                 or
                             VSHARE.386

Note: VSHARE.386 is included with Word 6.0a for Windows. If you are running Windows 3.1 in 386 Enhanced mode and are using Word 6.0a, you do not need to use the MS-DOS Share utility.

Microsoft recommends that you use the following SHARE.EXE parameters:

   SHARE /L:500 /F:5100

To conserve conventional memory you can use lower SHARE settings. If you decrease the file locks (/L:) or file space (/F:) settings and you experience errors when opening or saving documents, simply increase the settings and restart your computer so the changes can take effect. When you increase the /L: parameter, you may also need to increase the value of /F:. Each lock reserved by /L requires 18 bytes. Word 6.0 requires a minimum of three file locks for each document it opens.

KBCategory: KBSubCategory: Additional query words: 6.0 share ole compound share.exe vshare.386 word6 winword locks files vshare

Keywords          : kbole
Version           : 6.0
Platform          : WINDOWS

Last Reviewed: February 6, 1998