BUG: AddAtom Causes Divide by Zero Error

• Microsoft Windows Software Development Kit (SDK) for Windows, version 3.1

SYMPTOMS

Calling the AddAtom function in the Windows 3.x environment with a string that begins with the pound (#) character causes the system to display the following error message in a system modal dialog:

   Application Error

   integer divide by 0

RESOLUTION

If it is necessary to have atom strings beginning with the # character, first call AddAtom with a false string that contains no # characters. Alternatively, call InitAtomTable before adding the first atom string beginning with the # character.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a bug in Windows versions 3.0 and 3.1. We are researching this problem and will post new information here in the Microsoft Knowledge Base as it becomes available.

MORE INFORMATION

Atoms with names begin with the # character are strongly discouraged. The # character serves a special purpose for atoms. If the string that is passed to AddAtom has the form "#1234", AddAtom returns an integer atom whose value is the 16-bit value representation of the decimal number specified in the string. If the decimal value specified is 0 (zero) or a value in the range 0xC000 through 0xFFFF, the return value is zero, indicating an error.

Sample Code

/* Compile options needed:  /Zp /GA or /GD or /Gw */

// errant code

 ATOM at;

 at = AddAtom("#string");     // causes error to occur

}

// corrected code

 ATOM at;

 InitAddTable(17);

 // or call AddAtom with a false string

 AddAtom("false");

 at = AddAtom("#string");     // no error occurs

}