BUG: /G3 /AL Options Generate Bad Code For Comparison to Long

 Last reviewed: July 22, 1997
Article ID: Q115847
1.00 1.50 WINDOWS kbtool kbbuglist

The information in this article applies to:

  • The Microsoft C/C++ Compiler (CL.EXE), included with: Microsoft Visual C++ for Windows, versions 1.0 and 1.5

SYMPTOMS

The assembly code generated for the sample code below has an incorrect comparison to a long. This occurs when the /G3 compiler option (generate 386 instructions) is used in conjunction with the /AL option (large memory model).

RESOLUTION

There are two possible workarounds.

  1. use the /G2 compiler option (generate 286 code), rather than the /G3 compiler option

    -or-

  2. reverse the comparison expression. For example, in the sample code below, change the if statement to: 

          if( (base == 10L) && (num < 0L) )
  • The if statement above will generate the correct 386 code.

    STATUS

    Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in the C++ compiler for MS-DOS, versions 8.0 and 8.0c. We are researching this problem and will post new information here in the Microsoft Knowledge Base as it becomes available.

    MORE INFORMATION

    The following is a sample that demonstrates the code generation problem. The incorrect assembly code can be examined by looking at the .COD file produced.

    Sample Code

    /* Compile options: /AL /Fc /G3 /c
 */

int go(long num, long base)
    { 
       int negative;
   if( (num < 0L) && (base == 10L) )          // comparison
   {
/*
    ; from the .cod file ; ; Line 7 
         cmp   DWORD PTR [bp+8],655360;000a0000H  // should be 10 not 655360
     jne   SHORT $I107
     cmp   WORD PTR [bp+12],0
     jne   SHORT $I107
*/
      negative = 1;
      num = -num;
   }
   else negative = 0;

   return(negative);
    } 

    int main()
    { 
        long num, base;

    num = base = 10L;
    return(go(num, base));
    }

    • Additional reference words: 1.00 1.50 8.00 8.00c
    KBCategory: kbtool kbbuglist
    KBSubcategory: CodeGen
    Keywords : kb16bitonly

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    Last reviewed: July 22, 1997
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