Language Names Used as PUBLIC Symbols Are Not Allowed

ID: Q32777

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Macro Assembler for MS-DOS, versions 5.1, 5.1a
Microsoft Macro Assembler for OS/2, versions 5.1, 5.1a

SUMMARY

Starting with the Microsoft Macro Assembler (MASM) version 5.1, symbols that are language names cannot be declared PUBLIC. The language names affected are Basic, C, FORTRAN, and PASCAL. The following error message is displayed by MASM 5.1 and 5.1a

error A2009: Symbol not defined:

Note that it does not name the offending label.

The following error is the generated by MASM 6.0

error A2008: Syntax error in directive

MORE INFORMATION

The use of language names as variables is allowed in MASM versions 5.1 and 5.1a, but not is MASM 6.0. MASM 6.0 will give the error

error A2008: syntax error: <language name>

where <language name> is Basic, C, FORTRAN, or PASCAL.

The following example will cause MASM 5.1 and 5.1a to correctly generate error A2009 on the line


   public c

and MASM 6.0 to correctly generate error A2008 on the following lines


   public c
   c  DB  1

Sample Code


; Assemble options needed: none

.model small
.data
public c

c  DB  1

   END

Additional query words: kbinf 5.10 5.10a

Keywords :
Version : :5.1,5.1a
Platform :
Issue type :