INT 21,67 - Set Handle Count (DOS 3.3+)
AH = 67h
BX = new maximum open handles allowed
on return
CF = 0 if successful
= 1 if error
AX = error code if CF is set (see DOS ERROR CODES)
- gives program control of the number of files simultaneously open
- if CX is less than the current number of open files the change
will take effect when the number of open handles falls below
the new limit
- this function allows the application to use more than 20 files,
up to the FILES=N limit
- earlier copies of IBM DOS 3.3 sometimes incorrectly allocates
memory (up to 64K) if an even number of handles is requested
- only the first 20 files handles are copied to a child process
regardless of the max number of files
- it is possible to allocate more than 255 file handles but it is
difficult to use more than 255
- see SFT FILE HANDLES