PRODUCT : Borland C++ NUMBER : 1305 VERSION : ALL OS : DOS/WIN DATE : October 25, 1993 PAGE : 1/3 TITLE : Understanding the Configuration and Project Files Upon entering Borland C++'s Integrated Development Environment (IDE), the compiler looks in the current directory for certain configuration files. If these files are not found, Borland C++ looks in the directory where BC.EXE is located. (If you are running Borland C++ for Windows, then it looks where BCW.EXE is located). The files are as follows: (for DOS IDE) - TCCONFIG.TC, TCDEF.DPR, TCDEF.DSK (for WINDOWS IDE) - TCCONFIG.TC, TCDEFW.DPR, TCDEFW.DSK TCCONFIG.TC: Contains global environmental information, and is automatically saved if Options|Environment|Preferences has Auto- Save for the Environment checked. TCDEF.DPR: Contains information needed to build a program, ie: compiler options, directory paths, memory model etc. This information is saved in your own project file, (if defined; example-> MYPROJ.PRJ), otherwise it is written to this file. TCDEF.DSK: Contains information for positioning and opening of windows, history lists, watch expressions and breakpoints. If you have a project file open, this information is saved in MYPROJ.DSK, otherwise it is written to this file. See Options|Environment|Preferences, Auto-Save for Desktop. Q: Every time I enter the IDE, I get all my old settings, how do I get rid of these settings, to an original default IDE? A: First look in your current directory you are executing BC.EXE from. If have a *.PRJ file in this directory, it will read this file and load the settings specified in this file. If you have more than one *.PRJ file in this directory, or do not have a *.PRJ file at all in your working directory, the compiler will default to your BORLANDC\BIN directory and load the TCDEF.PRJ and TCDEF.DSK files. If the settings that are loaded are not what you desire, you can safely delete the TCDEF.DPR, TCDEF.DSK and PRODUCT : Borland C++ NUMBER : 1305 VERSION : ALL OS : DOS/WIN DATE : October 25, 1993 PAGE : 2/3 TITLE : Understanding the Configuration and Project Files TCCONFIG.TC files. These files are automatically created again with default settings upon entering the IDE. Q: When I enter the IDE, I get an exception error or I get just overall strange behavior when attempting to load a file, edit or merely Zoom a window. A: The project, desktop and environment files can become corrupted. This most often happens when you have your Options|Environment|Preferences set to AutoSave for these three files. (The following scenario is an example of how this can happen): Suppose you are compiling and running a file from within the IDE. You experience a crash or hang within the execution of your program. This typically happens because of corrupted memory or a stray pointer that is dereferencing unallocated memory. At the same time, an Auto-Save was executed on the project/desktop and environment files, and during the save these files became corrupted. We recommend that if you feel this has happened, to delete your project and desktop files (MYPROJ.PRJ and MYPROJ.DSK) and rebuild them. In addition you may need to delete the environment file: TCCONFIG.TC that is located in the BORLANDC\BIN directory. If you are not working with your own project, then you should proceed to delete the default files: TCDEF.DPR and TCDEF.DSK in the BORLANDC\BIN directory. Be assured that these files will be rebuilt again upon entering the IDE. Q: I have a project file in my working directory, however, it is not automatically being read when I enter the IDE. Why? A: If you have multiple .PRJ files in your working directory, the IDE does not know which .PRJ file to read, and therefore defaults to the default project and desktop files located in the BORLANDC\BIN directory to read instead. If you require different settings for multiple projects that you are working with, we suggest that you create separate directories for each project. That way you will only have one .PRJ file in the subdirectory when you execute bc.exe that will be read and automatically load your desired settings for that project. PRODUCT : Borland C++ NUMBER : 1305 VERSION : ALL OS : DOS/WIN DATE : October 25, 1993 PAGE : 3/3 TITLE : Understanding the Configuration and Project Files Q: How can I reduce this corruption of project and desktop files? A: We suggest that you turn off Auto Save for the Project, Desktop and Environment under Options|Environment|Preferences. Then manually do an Option|Save when you make changes to your environment, desktop, or project compiler settings, when your system is stable. DISCLAIMER: You have the right to use this technical information subject to the terms of the No-Nonsense License Statement that you received with the Borland product to which this information pertains.