Microsoft KB Archive/71287

PB:NO87 String Output to stdout Even If No Coprocessor Present ID Number: Q71287

5.10 6.00 6.00a 6.00ax 7.00 | 5.10 6.00 6.00a MS-DOS | OS/2 docerr

Summary:

The NO87 environment variable is documented in the Microsoft C version 6.0 and 6.0a “Microsoft C Advanced Programming Techniques” (APT) manual as follows:

If NO87 is set to any value when the program is executed, use of the coprocessor is suppressed. The value of the NO87 setting is printed on the standard output as a message. The message is printed only if a coprocessor is present and suppressed; if no coprocessor is present, no message appears. If you don’t want a message to be printed, set NO87 equal to one or more spaces. A blank string for NO87 causes a blank line to be printed.

As stated, the message assigned to NO87 is printed to standard output if a coprocessor is present and suppressed; however, contrary to the above description, the message is also printed to standard output when no coprocessor is present.

This is documented incorrectly in the following locations:

  Section 4.7, page 91, of the “Microsoft C Advanced Programming Techniques” manual shipped with C versions 6.0 and 6.0a Note: This is corrected in the “Microsoft C/C++ Programming Techniques” manual for version 7.0.   Page 175 of the “Microsoft C Optimizing Compiler User’s Guide” shipped with C version 5.1   Page 83 of the “Microsoft QuickC Toolkit” manual shipped with QuickC versions 2.0, 2.01, 2.5, and 2.51   Page 513 of the “Microsoft C/C++ Environment and Tools” manual shipped with C/C++ version 7.0   The QuickHelp file shipped with C/C++ version 7.0 

Additional reference words: 5.10 6.00 6.00a 6.00ax 7.00