DosCallNPipe combines the functions of DosOpen, DosTransactNPipe, and DosClose for a duplex message pipe. If no instances of a pipe are available, DosCallNPipe waits for a specified time interval, and returns ERROR_INTERRUPT if the time interval elapses.

If this function is issued for a pipe that is not a duplex message pipe, ERROR_BAD_FORMAT is returned.

If an invalid pipe name is specified, DosCallNPipe returns ERROR_FILE_NOT_FOUND.

If pOutbuf is too small to contain the response message, ERROR_MORE_DATA is returned.

If the server process has not issued DosConnectNPipe to put the pipe into a listening state, DosCallNPipe returns ERROR_PIPE_BUSY.

Clients of named pipes created with the NP_ACCESS_OUTBOUND or NP_ACCESS_INBOUND access mode cannot use the DosCallNPipe function. If the named pipe's client uses the DosCallNPipe function, the function returns error code ERROR_ACCESS_DENIED.

ERROR_BAD_PIPE is returned if you specify an invalid name or file handle.