PRB: L2029 Error from Unsized Array Declaration at File Scope

• The Linker (LINK.EXE) included with: - Microsoft C for MS-DOS, versions 5.1, 5.1a, 6.0, 6.0a, 6.0ax - Microsoft C for OS/2, versions 5.1, 6.0, 6.0a - Microsoft C/C++ for MS-DOS, version 7.0 - Microsoft Visual C++ for Windows, versions 1.0, 1.5 - Microsoft Visual C++, 32-bit Edition, versions 1.0, 2.0, 5.0

SYMPTOMS

An attempt to link an application fails and Microsoft LINK generates the following message:

   L2029: unresolved external

CAUSE

The application declares an unsized array at file scope, and does not contain another declaration at file scope that specifies the size for the array.

RESOLUTION

Modify the source code of one of the modules to declare the array with its correct size at file scope.

MORE INFORMATION

Because an unsized array declaration at file scope is considered external, the C compiler cannot determine whether or not the size is omitted intentionally, and the compiler does not generate an error message.

The following sample code demonstrates this situation:

Sample Code

   int Array[];

   void main(void)
   {
      printf("%d.\n", Array);
   }