DOCERR: $PACK: Metacommand Syntax Documented Incorrectly

ID: Q49450

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft FORTRAN for MS-DOS, versions 5.0, 5.1
Microsoft FORTRAN for OS/2, versions 5.0, 5.1

SYMPTOMS

An attempt to compile an application fails and the compiler generates the following message:

F2030: unrecognized metacommand

CAUSE

The source code specifies the $PACK: metacommand without its required trailing colon (:) character.

RESOLUTION

Modify the source code to specify the colon character.

This error has been corrected in the FORTRAN PowerStation Language Help.

MORE INFORMATION

Page 305 of the Microsoft FORTRAN "Reference" manual for version 5.0 documents the $PACK: metacommand incorrectly three times. First, the following syntax statement is incorrect.


   $PACK[:{1|2|3}]

This statement indicates that the colon is an optional character. The correct syntax statement is as follows:


   $PACK:[{1|2|3}]

Second, the second-to-last paragraph on the page is also incorrect. It includes the following statement:

If $PACK is specified (no colon or number), packing reverts to whatever mode was specified in the command-line /Zp option.

Because the $PACK: metacommand must include a colon, this statement should be corrected to read as follows:

If $PACK: is specified (without a number), packing reverts to whatever mode was specified in the command-line /Zp option.

Third, the example of using $PACK: is incorrect. On the first line of the example, add the colon character to the $PACK: metacommand.

Additional query words: 5.00 5.10

Keywords :
Version : :5.0,5.1
Platform :
Issue type :