PRB: Error CXX0017 or CXX0034 for typedef

ID: Q119501

The information in this article applies to:

The Visual Workbench Integrated Debugger, used with:
- Microsoft Visual C++ 32-bit Edition, versions 1.0, 2.0, 2.1, 4.0, 5.0

SYMPTOMS

Declare a structure type and typedef a pointer to the structure type as follows:


   struct MYSTRUCT {
      int x;
      int y;
   };

   typedef struct MYSTRUCT* PMYSTRUCT;

MYSTRUCT is a structure type and PMYSTRUCT is a typedef for a pointer to MYSTRUCT. Declare and initialize the following variables:


   struct MYSTRUCT var1 = {0, 0};
   PMYSTRUCT var2 = &var1;

Putting a watch on "(PMYSTRUCT) &var2" produces the following error:

Visual C++ 1.0 and 4.0

CXX0017: Error: symbol 'PMYSTRUCT' not found

Visual C++ 2.x

CXX0034: Error: types incompatable with operator

However, putting a watch on "(MYSTRUCT *) &var2" is successful.

CAUSE

The typedef declares a new name for a type, but it does not define a new type. The typecast attempted in the debugger requires the name of a defined type.

RESOLUTION

Use the defined type in the typecast, rather than using the name declared with the typedef.

Additional query words:

Keywords : kbDebug kbide
Version :
Platform : NT WINDOWS
Issue type : kbprb