BUG: PWB Generates "Error Reading Program" with CTRL+Z

 Last reviewed: July 17, 1997
Article ID: Q72731
1.00 1.10 | 1.00 1.10 
MS-DOS    | OS/2
kbtool kberrmsg kbbuglist

The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Programmer's Workbench for MS-DOS, versions 1.0 and 1.1
  • Microsoft Programmer's Workbench for OS/2, versions 1.0 and 1.1

SYMPTOMS

When attempting to set a Program List using a makefile generated by the Programmer's WorkBench (PWB) version 1.0 or 1.1, the following message may be generated if the makefile has been edited by an editor (other than PWB) that places a CTRL+Z at the end of the file: 

   Error reading program list line xxx
       ':' or '=' expected
If you select the "OK" button in response to this dialog box, another dialog box will appear, asking if you want to use the makefile as a non-PWB makefile.

CAUSE

Some editors other than PWB or the Microsoft Editor (for example, the OS/2 System Editor) will automatically append a CTRL+Z (end-of-file) character to every file that is modified. PWB reads this CTRL+Z as a standard character and expects either a colon (indicating a build rule) or an equal sign (indicating a macro) to follow it. Finding neither, PWB will return the error above.

RESOLUTION

If you want to make modifications to PWB-generated makefiles, while still allowing PWB to use them as native makefiles, you should add a "fence" to the end of the makefile. The fence is a separator line of the following form: 

   # << User_supplied_information >>
The comment marker (#) must begin in the first column, and the line must appear exactly as shown above. Any information placed below this line is ignored by PWB, but may still be executed by NMAKE. This method eliminates the possibility of the CTRL+Z problem described above, as well as ensuring that you retain full functionality of all PWB menu commands, since PWB never tries to interpret or modify anything below the fence.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in PWB versions 1.0 and 1.1. We are researching this problem and will post new information here as it becomes available.

Additional reference words: 1.00 1.10 buglist1.00 buglist1.10
KBCategory: kbtool kberrmsg kbbuglist
KBSubcategory: PWBIss
Keywords : kb16bitonly

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Last reviewed: July 17, 1997
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