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WordPerfect Corporation
InfoShare Information Fax Service
(800) 228-9960
Title: CONFIG.SYS: MODIFYING THE BUFFERS= COMMAND
Product: WordPerfect 5.1 for DOS
Number: 1019-5/93
Problem
This page describes how to use the BUFFERS= command in your
CONFIG.SYS file to optimize the performance of WordPerfect.
Concept
As your computer boots up, it searches the root directory of your
startup drive for the files CONFIG.SYS and AUTOEXEC.BAT. These
files contain basic system commands and configuration
information. For example, these files contain information for
configuring the management of memory, attaching devices, the kind
of prompt DOS displays, and other parts of the computer system.
Your computer uses some information contained within these
commands as limits that maintain the integrity of your system.
The CONFIG.SYS file contains the main configuration commands your
computer uses when you turn it on. It is stored in the C:\
directory, or the root directory of your startup drive.
CONFIG.SYS contains the BUFFERS= command line, which specifies a
number of memory buffers to be created.
A buffer is an area of random access memory (RAM) used to store
instructions that are transmitted from device to device faster
than they can be received. For example, suppose you print a one-
megabyte (1000 kilobytes) document and the printer can only
receive and
process 500 kilobytes of instructions at a time. Your computer
transmits instructions faster than the printer can receive them.
The printer may use a buffer in RAM to hold 500 kilobytes of
instructions until it has received and processed the first 500
kilobytes.
Increasing the value of BUFFERS= may speed up WordPerfect
features such as printing, but you must experiment to determine
the optimum number of buffers. Since a single buffer uses 532
bytes (.5 kilobytes) of RAM, the more buffers you specify in the
BUFFERS= command, the less RAM you leave available for
WordPerfect to use. For example, if your CONFIG.SYS file
contained the line BUFFERS=10, you would be using 5320 bytes of
RAM. Five to ten buffers are enough if you use a utility that
performs disk caching, and twenty to thirty are enough if you do
not use a utility.
If your CONFIG.SYS file already contains a BUFFERS= command, do
not modify it. A disk cache may have created the command, and
may require the current BUFFERS= value to run optimally. If
CONFIG.SYS lacks a BUFFERS= command, use a text editor
application to add the BUFFERS=20 command, then test values of 25
and 30.
Solution
Display your CONFIG.SYS file.
1 From a DOS prompt type TYPE C:\CONFIG.SYS.
2 Look for a line that reads BUFFERS=x, where x represents the
number of buffers selected.
3 If no BUFFERS= line exists, follow the steps below.
If your CONFIG.SYS file does not contain a BUFFERS= line,
determine the optimum value.
1 Open a text editor, then retrieve C:\CONFIG.SYS.
2 Move the cursor to the end of the FILES= line.
3 Press Enter, then type BUFFERS=20 (or BUFFERS=25 or
BUFFERS=30).
4 Save the file, then exit the text editor.
You will need to reboot your computer for the BUFFERS= command to
take effect. If your system's performance does not improve after
rebooting, repeat steps 1 through 4 above using a different value
for the BUFFERS= command.
See Also
∙ Memory in the WordPerfect 5.1 for DOS reference manual