Program information file

Program Information File

Filename extension	.pif
Developed by	Microsoft
Initial release	1985

Documentation[create] [purge]

A Program Information File (PIF) is a configuration file used by the MS-DOS operating system to store settings and parameters for running a specific program. It was introduced by Microsoft in 1985 as part of MS-DOS 3.0 and has since become a standard file format for MS-DOS programs.

Overview

A PIF file contains various settings that control how a program is executed. These settings include memory allocation, screen mode, keyboard layout, file redirection, and other program-specific parameters. When a user launches a program, the PIF file associated with that program is read by the operating system to determine how the program should be run.

PIF files are plain text files that can be edited using a text editor. They have a .pif file extension and can be recognized by the MS-DOS operating system as configuration files. PIF files are typically stored in the same directory as the program they are associated with.

Usage

PIF files are used to customize the behavior of MS-DOS programs. By modifying the settings in a PIF file, users can optimize the program's performance, allocate memory resources, and configure various program-specific options.

Some common settings that can be configured in a PIF file include:

• Memory Allocation: PIF files allow users to specify the amount of memory that should be allocated to a program. This is particularly useful for programs that require a large amount of memory to run efficiently.

• Screen Mode: PIF files can define the screen mode in which a program should be run. This includes settings such as the number of rows and columns, color depth, and refresh rate.

• Keyboard Layout: PIF files can specify the keyboard layout to be used when running a program. This is especially important for programs that require specific key combinations or non-standard keyboard layouts.

• File Redirection: PIF files can redirect input and output files to different locations. This allows users to specify custom file paths for program data, logs, or temporary files.

Compatibility

PIF files are specific to the MS-DOS operating system and are not compatible with modern operating systems such as Windows, macOS, or Linux. However, some emulators and virtual machines that support MS-DOS can still read and execute PIF files.

See Also

• MS-DOS
• Configuration file
• File format
• Operating system