DOCUMENT:Q154042 21-FEB-2002 [winnt] TITLE :Intermediate File Error During Pipe Command PRODUCT :Microsoft Windows NT PROD/VER::3.5,3.51 OPER/SYS: KEYWORDS: ====================================================================== ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The information in this article applies to: - Microsoft Windows NT Workstation versions 3.5, 3.51 - Microsoft Windows NT Server versions 3.5, 3.51 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SYMPTOMS ======== Under certain conditions, the pipe command sometimes fails. This error occurs when you use the pipe command with a .pif file, but may occur under other circumstances. You can test for this problem by building a test.bat file as follows and running it under the environment that is producing the error: test.bat :: dir c:\winnt35 > output.msg type output.msg |more CAUSE ===== Under certain conditions, Windows NT has difficulty creating a unique file name for the intermediate file used with the pipe. RESOLUTION ========== To correct this problem, do either of the following: - Instead of "{command 1} | {command 2}", use the MS-DOS redirect command ">" to explicitly create an intermediate file name; for example, "{command 1} > {filename}" then "{command 2} < {filename}". -or- - Upgrade to Windows NT version 4.0. STATUS ====== Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Windows NT version 3.5 and 3.51. This problem was corrected in Windows NT version 4.0. Additional query words: prodnt vdm dos console app ====================================================================== Keywords : Technology : kbWinNTsearch kbWinNTWsearch kbWinNT351search kbWinNT350search kbWinNTW350 kbWinNTW350search kbWinNTW351search kbWinNTW351 kbWinNTSsearch kbWinNTS351 kbWinNTS350 kbWinNTS351search kbWinNTS350search Version : :3.5,3.51 ============================================================================= THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THE MICROSOFT KNOWLEDGE BASE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. MICROSOFT DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES SO THE FOREGOING LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY. Copyright Microsoft Corporation 2002.