DOCERR: Incorrectly States /PACKC Is Off by Default

 Last reviewed: July 17, 1997
Article ID: Q87790
5.10 5.11 5.13 5.15 5.20 | 5.10 5.11 5.13 5.15 
MS-DOS                   | OS/2
kbtool kbdocerr

The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft LINK for MS-DOS, versions 5.1, 5.11, 5.13, 5.15, and 5.2
  • Microsoft LINK for OS/2, versions 5.1, 5.11, 5.13, and 5.15

SUMMARY

According to the printed and online documentation for versions of Microsoft LINK earlier than version 5.3, the default setting for the /PACKC[ODE] linker option switch is off. This statement is incorrect.

The documentation for LINK version 5.3 includes the following correct statement: 

   Code-segment packing is on by default for segmented executable
   files and for DOS programs created with overlays or with the /TINY
   option.
The /NOPACKC[ODE] switch turns code-segment packing off.

MORE INFORMATION

To see how code packing changes the executable file, examine the map file that LINK creates. In the two partial map files below, each logical segment has a distinct physical segment address when the file is linked with /NOPACKCODE but the logical segments share a physical segment when /PACKCODE is on (the default behavior). 

Start      Length      Name
0001:0000  0114CH      _TEXT
0002:0000  00972H      MOD_TEXT      //  code packing off /NOPACKCODE
0003:0000  0137DH      MOD2_TEXT
0004:0000  0021EH      MOD3_TEXT



Start      Length      Name
0001:0000  00934H      _TEXT
0001:0934  01354H      MOD_TEXT      // code packing on   (default)
0001:1C88  00ADAH      MOD2_TEXT
0001:2762  014ABH      MOD3_TEXT
The /PACKCODE switch is documented incorrectly in the following four locations:
  • Microsoft C "Reference" manual for version 6.0, page 31
  • Microsoft FORTRAN "Environment and Tools" manual for version 5.1, version 379
  • Microsoft Macro Assembler (MASM) "Programmer's Guide" manual for version 6.0, page 354
  • Microsoft QuickC for Windows (QC/Win) "Toolkit" manual for version 1.0, page 219

Additional reference words: 5.10 5.11 5.13 5.15 5.20
KBCategory: kbtool kbdocerr
KBSubcategory: LinkIss
Keywords : kb16bitonly

THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THE MICROSOFT KNOWLEDGE BASE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. MICROSOFT DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES SO THE FOREGOING LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY.

Last reviewed: July 17, 1997
© 1998 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Terms of Use.