pState (PULONG) - output

      A pointer to the named-pipe handle state.

      This parameter contains the following bit fields:

      Bit

        Description
      31-16
        Reserved.
      15
        Blocking mode. Blocking mode is defined as either "blocking" or "nonblocking," as follows:

      • NP_WAIT (0x0000)
        Blocking mode: DosRead and DosWrite block if no data is available.

      • NP_NOWAIT (0x8000)
        Nonblocking mode: DosRead and DosWrite return immediately if no data is available.

        DosRead normally blocks until at least partial data can be returned. DosWrite blocks by default until all of the requested bytes have been written. Nonblocking mode changes this behavior as follows:

        DosRead returns immediately with a value of zero for pcbActual if no data is available.

        DosWrite returns immediately with a value of zero for pcbActual if there is not enough buffer space available in the pipe; otherwise, the entire data area is transferred.

      14
        Specifies whether the handle is for the server or client end of the pipe, as follows:

      • NP_END_CLIENT (0x0000)
        The handle is for the client end of the pipe.

      • NP_END_SERVER (0x4000)
        The handle is for the server end of the pipe.
      13-12
        Reserved.
      11-10
        Type of named pipe. The pipe type is defined as follows:

        00

          NP_TYPE_BYTE (0x0000)
          The pipe is a byte pipe; that is, data is written to the pipe as an undifferentiated stream of bytes.
        01
          NP_TYPE_MESSAGE (0x0400)
          The pipe is a message pipe; that is, data is written to the pipe as messages. The system records the length of each message in the first two bytes of the message, which are called the message header.
        9-8
          Read mode. The read mode is defined as follows:

          00

            NP_READMODE_BYTE (0x0000)
            Byte-read mode: Read the pipe as a byte stream.
          01
            NP_READMODE_MESSAGE (0x0100)
            Message-read mode: Read the pipe as a message stream.
          7-0
            Instance count: When the first instance of a named pipe is created, this field specifies how many instances (including the first instance) can be created. Possible values are:

            Value

              Definition
            1
              This is the only instance permitted (the pipe is unique).
            1 < value < 255
              The number of instances is limited to the value specified.
            -1
              NP_UNLIMITED_INSTANCES (0x00FF)
              The number of instances is unlimited.
            0
              Reserved value.

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