The SetHandleCount function sets the number of file handles available to a process.
Windows NT, Windows 95, Windows 98: This function has no effect, because there is no explicit file handle limit for applications on these platforms.
Win32s: There are only 20 file handles available to a process by default; however you could use SetHandleCount to allow a process to use up to 255 file handles.
UINT SetHandleCount(
UINT uNumber // number of file handles needed
);
Windows NT, Windows 95, Windows 98: This function simply returns the value specified in the uNumber parameter.
Win32s: The return value specifies the number of file handles actually available to the application. It may be fewer than the number specified by the uNumber parameter.
Windows NT, Windows 95, Windows 98: The maximum number of files that an application can open is determined by the amount of available non-paged memory pool, because each open file handle requires non-paged memory.
File I/O Overview, File Functions