Hi H.F.
Sorry I didn't reply - went to bed (and pondered whether I was ever cut out for programming!)
That failed - still got savegame correctly in sd - but fi.ini in work.
Here is my programme - very cut down but runnable...
What am I doing wrong (apart from atempting programming!)...

////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
// A6 main wdl:
// Created by WED.
////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////


////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
// The PATH keyword gives directories where template files can be found.
path "C:\\Conitec\\GStudio7\\template_6"; // Path to A6 templates directory
path "C:\\Conitec\\GStudio7\\template_6\\code"; // Path to A6 template code subdirectory
path "C:\\Conitec\\GStudio7\\templates\\images"; // Path to template image subdirectory
path "C:\\Conitec\\GStudio7\\templates\\sounds"; // Path to template sound subdirectory
path "C:\\Conitec\\GStudio7\\templates\\models"; // Path to template model subdirectory

/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
// Filename of the starting level.
string level_str = <txt_fils.WMB>; // give file names in angular brackets

////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
// Included files
include <gid01.wdl>; // global ids
include <display00.wdl>; // basic display settings

/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
var fi_handle = 0;
var fo_handle = 0;
savedir "\\sd";
//string lf = "\n"; //line feed
/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
// Desc: The main() function is started at game start
function main()
{
str_cpy(save_dir,"\\sd");
// set some common flags and variables
// freeze all entity functions
freeze_mode = 1;
// no level has been loaded yet...
gid01_level_state = gid01_level_not_loaded;

// entry: Warning Level (0,1, or 2)
// entry_help: Sets sensitivity to warnings (0 = none, 1 = some, 2 = all).
warn_level = 2; // announce bad texture sizes and bad wdl code

//?compatibilty = 6; // keep sun_color and ambient_color at their default settings

// entry: Starting Mouse Mode (0, 1, or 2)
mouse_mode = 0;

// wait 3 frames (for triple buffering) until it is flipped to the foreground
wait(3);
// now load the level
level_load(level_str);

wait(2); // let level load
// level should be loaded at this point...
gid01_level_state = gid01_level_loaded;

//+++ load starting values

// un-freeze the game
freeze_mode = 0;

// save start of game here
wait(6); // allow time for functions that wait for "gid01_level_loaded" to load
file_delete("start0.SAV"); // remove any old savefile
wait(1);
if( game_save("start",0,SV_ALL) <= 0)
{
diag("\nWARNING! main - Cannot save 'start' of level (ignore on restarts).");
}
else
{
diag("\nWDL: main - Game 'start' saved.");
}


fi_handle = file_open_write("fi.ini");
wait(3);
file_str_write (fi_handle,"Alex");
file_str_write (fi_handle,"\n");
file_str_write (fi_handle,"Esra");
file_str_write (fi_handle,"\n");
file_str_write (fi_handle,"John");
file_close (fi_handle);
wait(3);
beep();
exit;
}


// Desc: this is the function used to restart the game.
function main_restart_game()
{
// wait 3 frames (for triple buffering) until it is flipped to the foreground
wait(3);

// freeze the game
freeze_mode = 1;

if( game_load("start",0) <= 0)
{
diag("\nWARNING! main_restart_game - Cannot load 'start' of level.");
}
else
{
diag("\nWDL: main_restart_game - Game 'start' loaded");
}

// un-freeze the game
freeze_mode = 0;
}


// Desc: this is the function used to quit the game.
function main_quit()
{
//+++ // save global skills & strings
exit;
}

/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
// The following definitions are for the pro edition window composer
// to define the start and exit window of the application.
WINDOW WINSTART
{
TITLE "3D GameStudio";
SIZE 480,320;
MODE IMAGE; //STANDARD;
BG_COLOR RGB(240,240,240);
FRAME FTYP1,0,0,480,320;
// BUTTON BUTTON_START,SYS_DEFAULT,"Start",400,288,72,24;
BUTTON BUTTON_QUIT,SYS_DEFAULT,"Abort",400,288,72,24;
TEXT_STDOUT "Arial",RGB(0,0,0),10,10,460,280;
}

/* no exit window at all..
WINDOW WINEND
{
TITLE "Finished";
SIZE 540,320;
MODE STANDARD;
BG_COLOR RGB(0,0,0);
TEXT_STDOUT "",RGB(255,40,40),10,20,520,270;

SET FONT "",RGB(0,255,255);
TEXT "Any key to exit",10,270;
}*/


/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
//INCLUDE <debug.wdl>;