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Error 6 Explanation
DocumentID: 659231
Revision Date: 29-Feb-96 8:29:48 PM

The information in this document applies to:
WordPerfect® 5.1 for DOS

Problem

Solutions: A file handle is a number from 0-255 that represents a null terminated ASCII string. This string can be a path and filename, but not always. I/O operations in WordPerfect for DOS are done using file handles after an initial string has been passed to DOS where an associated file handle has already been returned. WordPerfect performs these operations by placing the correct values in the CPU's registers and then performs INT 21 (DOS function request). INT 21 returns a 0 value if the operation was successful. If the operation was not successful, a value other than 0 is returned. In the case of Error 6, the value returned by the INT 21 is 6.

There are several reasons the INT 21 could return an Error 6. One might be that WordPerfect requested an operation on a file handle number that, according to DOS, has not been opened or assigned, and is therefore invalid.

Since there are many combinations that lead to such an occurrence, it is easy to summarize that the file handle number being used is invalid and does not correspond with file handle number DOS shows as being active. Either an application is incorrect about the file handle number it is requesting service for or the file handle has been disabled at the DOS level by unknown causes.

The error results in not being able to continue operation in the application for that file handle. Error 6 could affect a customer depending on the configuration of the user's platform and WordPerfect and what operation WordPerfect was attempting to perform at the time the error occurred. The worst case scenario is that the file(s) the user was editing could be lost or parts of the file the user was editing could be lost. The amount of data loss can depend greatly on whether WordPerfect's timed backup option was set to Yes and the amount of time between backups.

This problem can be caused by any device or component that has interfered with or altered the Disk Operating System from properly maintaining the file handles that are opened.

Answer:

Details:


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