Interrupt 2Fh   Multiplex Interrupt 
 
 Interrupt 2Fh is the multiplex interrupt. A general interface is defined  
between two processes. It is up to the specific application using interrupt  
2Fh to define specific functions and parameters. 
 This interrupt is becoming more commonly used as the availible Int\21
functions are getting to be in short supply.  Int 2Fh doesn't require any 
support from DOS itself for it to be used in application programs. It's not 
handled by DOS, but by the programs themselves. 
 Every multiplex interrupt handler is assigned a specific multiplex number.  
The multiplex number is specified in the AH register; the AH value tells which 
program your request is directed toward. The specific function that the handler 
is to perform is placed in the AL register. Other parameters are places in the  
other registers as needed. The handlers are chained into the 2Fh interrupt  
vector and the multiplex number is checked to see if any other application is  
using the same multiplex number. There is no predefined method for assigning a  
multiplex number to a handler. You must just pick one. To avoid a conflict if  
two applications choose the same multiplex number, the multiplex numbers used by 
an application should be patchable. In order to check for a previous  
installation of the current application, you can search memory for a unique  
string included in your program. If the value you wanted in AH is taken but  
you don't find the string, then another application has grabbed that location. 
 Int 2Fh was not documented under DOS 2.x. There is no reason not to use int 2Fh 
as the multiplex interrupt in DOS 2.x. The only problem is that DOS 2.x does not 
initialize the int 2Fh vector, so when you try to chain to it like you are  
supposed to, it will crash. If your program checks the vector for being zero 
and initializes it itself or doesn't chain in that case, it will work for you  
n 2.x just the same as 3.x.  
 
Function   01h  PRINT.COM 
	   Register AH identifies which program is to handle the interrupt. 
	   Values 00h-7Fh are reserved for DOS, not that anyone cares much. 
	   Values 0C0h-0FFh are reserved for applications. 
	   Register AL contains the function code if used 
entry   AH      01h 
		AL      00h     PRINT  Get Installed State 
			This call must be defined by all int 2Fh handlers. It  
			is used by the caller of the handler to determine if  
			the handler is present. On entry, AL=0. On return, AL  
			contains the installed state as follows: 
		return  AL      0FFh    installed 
			        01h     not installed, not OK to install 
			        00h     not installed, OK to install 
 
			01h     PRINT  Submit File 
			DS:DX   pointer to submit packet  
			        format  byte    level 
			                dword   pointer to ASCIIZ filename 
		return  CF      set if error 
			        AX      error code 
		note 1) A submit packet contains the level (BYTE) and a pointer 
			to the ASCIIZ string (DWORD in offset:segment form). 
			The ASCIIZ string must contain the drive, path, and 
			filename of the file you want to print. The filename 
			cannot contain global filename characters. 
		return  CF      set if error 
			        AX      error code 
 
			02h     PRINT Cancel File 
			On entry, AL=2 and DS:DX points to the ASCIIZ string for 
			the print file you want to cancel. Global filename  
			characters are allowed in the filename. 
		DS:DX   pointer to ASCIIZ file name to cancel (wildcards OK) 
		return  CF      set if error 
			        AX      error code 
 
			03h     PRINT remove all files 
		return  CF      set if error 
			        AX      error code 
 
			04h     PRINT hold queue/get status 
			This call holds the jobs in the print queue so that you 
			can scan the queue. Issuing any other code releases the 
			jobs. On entry, AL=4. On return, DX contains the error 
			count. DS:SI points to the print queue. The print queue  
			consists of a series of filename entries. Each entry is 
			64 bytes long. The first entry in the queue is the file 
			currently being printed. The end of the queue is marked 
			by the entry having a null as the first character. 
	       return   DX      error count 
			DS:SI   pointer to print queue (null-string terminated 
			        list of 64-byte ASCIIZ filenames) 
			CF      set if error 
			       AX       error code 
			                01h     function invalid 
			                02h     file not found 
			                03h     path not found 
			                04h     too many open files 
			                05h     access denied 
			                08h     queue full 
			                09h     spooler busy 
			                0Ch     name too long 
			                0Fh     drive invalid 
 
			05h     PRINT restart queue 
		return  CF      set if error 
			        AX      error code 
 
 
Function   05h  DOS 3.x critical error handler 
entry   AH      05h 
		AL      00h     installation check 
			return  AL      00h not installed, OK to install 
			                01h not installed, can't install 
			                0FFh installed 
			note    This set of functions allows a user program to 
			        partially or completely override the default 
			        critical error handler in COMMAND.COM 
		AL      01h     handle error - nonzero error code in AL 
			return  CF      clear 
			                ES:DI   pointer to ASCIIZ error message 
			        CF      set     use default error handler 
			        AL      (?) 
 
 
Function   06h  ASSIGN  
entry   AH      06h 
			00h     installation check 
			return  AH  0 if installed 
 
			01h     get memory segment 
			return  ES      segment of ASSIGN work area 
 
 
Function   10h  SHARE 
entry   AH      10h 
	AL      00h     installation check 
return  AL      00h     not installed, OK to install 
		01h     not installed, not OK to install 
		0FFh    installed 
 
 
Function   11h  Multiplex - network redirection 
entry   AH      11h 
	AL      00h     installation check 
			return  AL      00h    not installed, OK to install 
			                01h    not installed, not OK to install 
			                0FFh   installed 
		01h-05h unknown 
		06h     close remote file 
		07h-09h unknown 
		0Ah     unknown 
			stack   word    (?) 
			return  CF      set on error 
		0Bh     unknown 
			stack   word    (?) 
			return  CF      set on error(?) 
		0Ch     unknown 
		0Dh     unknown 
		0Eh     unknown 
			stack   word    (?) 
			return  (?) 
		0Fh-16h unknown 
		17h     unknown 
			stack   word    (?) 
			return  (?) 
		18h     unknown 
			stack   word    (?) 
			return  (?) 
		19h-1Dh unknown 
		1Eh     do redirection 
			stack   word    function to execute 
			return  CF      set on error 
		1Fh     printer setup 
			stack   word    function(?) 
			return  CF      set on error(?) 
		20h-25h unknown 
			stack   word    (?) 
		26h     unknown 
 
Function   12h  multiplex, DOS 3.x internal services 
entry   AH      12h 
	AL      00h     installation check 
			return  AL      0FFh    for compatibility with other 
			                        int 2Fh functions 
		01h     close file (?) 
			stack   word value - unknown 
			return  BX      unknown 
			        CX      unknown 
			        ES:DI   pointer to unknown value 
			note    Can be called only from within DOS 
		02h     get interrupt address 
			stack   word    vector number 
			return  ES:BX pointer to interrupt vector 
			        stack   unchanged 
		03h     get DOS data segment 
			return  DS      segment of IBMDOS.COM file 
		04h     normalize path separator 
			stack   word    character to normalize 
			return  AL      normalized character (forward slash 
			                turned to backslash) 
			        stack   unchanged 
		05h     output character 
			stack   word    character to output 
			return  stack   unchanged 
			note    Can be called only from within DOS 
		06h     invoke critical error 
			return  AL      0-3 for Abort, Retry, Ignore, Fail 
			note    Can be called only from within DOS 
		07h     move disk buffer (?) 
			DS:DI   pointer to disk buffer 
			return  buffer moved to end of buffer list 
			note    Can be called only from within DOS 
		08h     decrement word 
			ES:DI   pointer to word to decrement 
			return  AX      new value of word 
			note    Word pointed to by ES:DI decremented, 
			        skipping zero 
		09h     unknown 
			DS:DI   pointer to disk buffer(?) 
			return  (?) 
			note    Can be called only from within DOS 
		0Ah     unknown 
			note    Can be called only from within DOS 
		0Bh     unknown 
			ES:DI   pointer to system file table entry(?) 
			return  AX      (?) 
			note    Can be called only from within DOS 
		0Ch     unknown 
			note    Can be called only from within DOS 
		0Dh     get date and time 
			return  AX      current date in packed format 
			        DX      current time in packed format 
			note    Can be called only from within DOS 
		0Eh     do something to all disk buffers (?) 
			return  DS:DI   pointer to first disk buffer 
			note    can be called only from within DOS 
		0Fh     unknown 
			DS:DI   pointer to (?) 
			return  DS:DI pointer to (?) 
			note 1) Can be called only from within DOS 
			     2) Calls on function 1207h 
		10h     find dirty/clean(?) buffer 
			DS:DI   pointer to first disk buffer 
			return  DS:DI   pointer to first disk buffer which has 
			                (?) flag clear 
			        ZF      clear   if found 
			                set     if not found 
		11h     normalize ASCIIZ filename 
			DS:SI   pointer to ASCIIZ filename to normalize 
			ES:DI   pointer to buffer for normalized filename 
			return  destination buffer filled with uppercase 
			        filename, with slashes turned to backslashes 
		12h     get length of ASCIIZ string 
			ES:DI   pointer to ASCIIZ string 
			return  CX      length of string 
		13h     uppercase character 
			stack   word    character to convert to uppercase 
			return  AL      uppercase character 
			        stack   unchanged 
		14h     compare far pointers 
			DS:SI   first pointer 
			ES:DI   second pointer 
			return  ZF      set if pointers are equal 
			        ZF      clear if not equal 
		15h     unknown 
			DS:DI   pointer to disk buffer 
			stack   word    (?) 
			return  stack unchanged 
			note    Can be called only from within DOS 
		16h     get address of system FCB 
			BX      system file table entry number 
			return  ES:DI pointer to system file table entry 
		17h     set default drive (?) 
			stack   word    drive (0=A:, 1=B:, etc) 
			return  DS:SI   pointer to drive data block for 
			                specified drive 
			        stack   unchanged 
			note    Can be called only from within DOS 
		18h     get something (?) 
			return  DS:SI pointer to (?) 
		19h     unknown 
			stack   word    drive (0=default, 1=A:, etc) 
			return  (?) 
			        stack unchanged 
			note 1) Can be called only from within DOS 
			     2) Calls function 1217h 
		1Ah     get file's drive 
			DS:SI   pointer to filename 
			return  AL      drive 
			                (0=default, 1=A:, etc, 0FFh=invalid) 
		1Bh     set something (?) 
			CL      unknown 
			return  AL      (?) 
			note    Can be called only from within DOS 
		1Ch     checksum memory 
			DS:SI   pointer to start of memory to checksum 
			CX      number of bytes 
			DX      initial checksum 
			return  DX      checksum 
			note    Can be called only from within DOS 
		1Dh     unknown 
			DS:SI   pointer to (?) 
			CX      (?) 
			DX      (?) 
			return  AX      (?) 
			        CX      (?) 
			        DX      (?) 
		1Eh     compare filenames 
			DS:SI   pointer to first ASCIIZ filename 
			ES:DI   pointer to second ASCIIZ filename 
			return  ZF      set     if filenames equivalent 
			                clear   if not 
		1Fh     build drive info block 
			stack   word    drive letter 
			return  ES:DI pointer to drive info block 
			              (will be overwritten by next call) 
			        stack unchanged 
			note    Can be called only from within DOS 
		20h     get system file table number 
			BX      file handle 
			return  CF      set on error, error code in AL 
			                AL      06h (invalid file handle) 
			        CF      clear if successful 
			                byte ES:[DI] = system file table entry  
			                    number for file handle 
		21h     unknown 
			DS:SI   pointer to (?) 
			return  (?) 
			note    Can be called only from within DOS 
		22h     unknown 
			SS:SI   pointer to (?) 
			return  nothing(?) 
			note    Can be called only from within DOS 
		23h     check if character device (?) 
			return	DS:SI	pointer to device\drivers with
			                same name as (?) 
			note    Can be called only from within DOS 
		24h     delay 
			return  after delay of (?) ms 
			note    Can be called only from within DOS 
		25h     get length of ASCIIZ string 
			DS:SI   pointer to ASCIIZ string 
			return  CX      length of string 
 
 
Function   43h  Microsoft Extended Memory Specification (XMS) 
 
 
Function 5453h TesSeRact Standard for Ram-Resident Program Communication 
 
 
Function   64h  SCRNSAV2.COM 
entry   AH      64h 
	AL      00h     installation check 
return  AL      00h     not installed 
		0FFh    installed 
note    SCRNSAV2.COM is a screen saver for PS/2's with VGA by Alan Ballard 
 
 
Function  7Ah   Novell NetWare 
entry   AH      7Ah 
	AL      00h     installation check 
note 1) Returns address of entry point for IPX and SPX 
     2) Parameters are listed under Int\21
 
 
Function  087h  APPEND 
entry   AH      087h 
	AL      00h     APPEND installation check 
		return  AH  0 if installed 
		01h     APPEND - unknown 
		02h     APPEND - version check 
 
Function  088h  Microsoft Networks 
entry   AH      088h  
	AL      00h     network program installation check 
		return  AH  0 if installed 
			BX      installed component flags (test in this order!) 
			        bit 6   server 
			        bit 2   messenger 
			        bit 7   receiver 
			        bit 3   redirector 
		01h     unknown 
		02h     unknown 
		03h     get current POST address 
			return  ES:BX   POST address 
		04h     set new POST address 
			ES:BX   new POST address 
		09h     network version check 
 
 
Function  0AAh  VIDCLOCK.COM 
entry   AH      0AAh 
	AL      00h     installation check 
return  AL      00h     not installed 
		0FFh    installed 
note    VIDCLOCK.COM is a memory-resident clock by Thomas G. Hanlin III 
 
Function 0B8h	Network
 
Function  0BBh  Network Functions 
entry   AH      0BBh 
	AL      00h     net command installation check 
		01h, 02h unknown 
		03h     get server POST address 
		04h     get server POST address 
 
 
Function  0F7h  AUTOPARK.COM  (PD TSR hard disk parking utility) 
entry   AH      0F7h 
	AL      00h     installation check 
		return  AL      00h     not installed 
			        0FFh    installed 
		note    AUTOPARK is a TSR HD parker by Alan D. Jones 
	01h     set parking delay 
		BX:CX   32 bit count of 55ms timer ticks 
 
 
 
MSDOS 2Fh functions 01h (PRINT), 02h (ASSIGN), 10h (SHARE): 
return  AX      Error 
		Codes       Description 
		01h     invalid function number 
		02h     file not found 
		03h     path not found 
		04h     too many open files 
		05h     access denied 
		06h     invalid handle 
		08h     queue full 
		09h     busy 
		0Ch     name too long 
		0Fh     invalid drive was specified 
	CF      clear (0) if OK 
		set (1) if error - error returned in AX 
note 1) The multiplex numbers AH=0h through AH=7Fh are reserved for DOS.  
	Applications should use multiplex numbers 80h through 0FFh. 
     2) When in the chain for int 2Fh, if your code calls DOS or if you execute 
	with interrupts enabled, your code must be reentrant/recursive. 
     3) Important! In versions of DOS prior to 3.0, the int 2Fh vector was 
	initialized to zero rather than being pointed into the DOS service area. 
        You must initialize this vector manually under DOS 2.x.



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