Article: Q74221
Product(s): Microsoft Macro Assembler
Version(s): MS-DOS:6.0
Operating System(s):
Keyword(s):
Last Modified: 04-MAY-2001
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The information in this article applies to:
- Microsoft Macro Assembler (MASM), version 6.0
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SYMPTOMS
========
The Microsoft Macro Assembler (MASM) version 6.0 will produce a syntax error
when multiple variables (separated by commas) are listed following a COMM
directive if any variable, except the last one in the list, does not have a
count field specified. For example, assembling sample code #1 with MASM 6.0
produces the following error:
error A2008: syntax error: dec
When assembling sample code #2, MASM 6.0 produces this error:
error A2008: syntax error: inc
RESOLUTION
==========
The following methods may be used to work around these problems:
1. Place the count field with each variable specified. For example:
COMM NEAR var1:word:1,var2:word:1,var3:word:3
-or-
2. Make multiple COMM statements. For example:
COMM NEAR var1:word
COMM NEAR var2:word
STATUS
======
Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in MASM version 6.0. This problem
was corrected in MASM version 6.0a.
MORE INFORMATION
================
The sample code below illustrates this problem. MASM version 5.1 and 5.1a
assemble the code without any errors. According to the BNF Grammar in Appendix B
of the "Microsoft Macro Assembler Programmer's Guide," this should also assemble
correctly with MASM version 6.0.
Sample Code #1
--------------
; Assemble options needed: none
.MODEL small
.DATA
COMM NEAR var1:WORD, var2:WORD ; This doesn't work
; COMM NEAR var1:WORD:1, var2:WORD ; This works
END
Sample Code #2
--------------
; Assemble options needed: none
.MODEL small
.DATA
COMM NEAR var1:WORD,
var2:WORD, var3:WORD ; This doesn't work
; COMM NEAR var1:WORD:1,
; var2:WORD:1, var3:WORD:1 ; This works
END
Additional query words: 6.00 buglist6.00 fixlist6.00a
======================================================================
Keywords :
Technology : kbMASMsearch kbAudDeveloper kbMASM600
Version : MS-DOS:6.0
Solution Type : kbfix
=============================================================================