BUG: Error w/ CHAR() in WRITE of Unformatted or Binary Output

• Microsoft Fortran PowerStation for Windows 95 and Windows NT, version 4.0

SYMPTOMS

Writing unformatted character output to a file with a CHAR expression causes an application error similar to the following:

Under Windows NT version 3.51:

   Application Error -  The instruction at 0x0040a9ba referenced
   memory at 0x00000041. The memory could not be read

   This program has performed an illegal operation and will be shut down.
   If the problem persists, contact the program vendor.

Writing binary character output to a file with a CHAR expression causes an application error similar to the following:

Under Windows NT version 3.51:

   Application Error - The instruction at 0x0040a773 referenced
   memory at 0x00000041. The memory could not be read.

   This program has performed an illegal operation and will be shut down.
   If the problem persists, contact the program vendor.

RESOLUTION

Perform intermediate calculations in a temporary variable. Then use it in the CHAR() expression.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a bug in the Microsoft products listed at the beginning of this article. We are researching this problem and will post new information here in the Microsoft Knowledge Base as it becomes available.

MORE INFORMATION

The following code demonstrates the problem writing unformatted output:

Sample Code

C Compile options needed: none

      integer len
      len = 66
      open(1,file='t.out',form='unformatted')

      write(1) char(len-1) ! Comment this line for workaround

C      i = len - 1         ! Uncomment this line for workaround
C      write(1) char(i)    ! Uncomment this line for workaround

      close(1)
      end

Sample Code

C Compile options needed: none

      integer len
      len = 66
      open(1,file='t.out',form='binary')

      write(1) char(len-1) ! Comment this line for workaround

C      i = len - 1         ! Uncomment this line for workaround
C      write(1) char(i)    ! Uncomment this line for workaround

      close(1)
      end