Microsoft KB Archive/75601

= BUG: Continuation Char with Initializing Structures =

Article ID: 75601

Article Last Modified on 10/22/2003

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Macro Assembler 6.0 Standard Edition
 * Microsoft Macro Assembler 6.0a
 * Microsoft Macro Assembler 6.0b
 * Microsoft Macro Assembler 6.1 Standard Edition
 * Microsoft Macro Assembler 6.11 Standard Edition

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This article was previously published under Q75601



SYMPTOMS
When initializing a structure in the Microsoft Macro Assembler (MASM), if the initializers are written on separate lines, one or more of the following errors may occur:

MASM 6.x A2045: missing angle bracket or brace in literal

MASM 6.x A2009: syntax error in expression

MASM 5.x A2105: expected: instruction, directive or label



RESOLUTION
To work around this problem, either use the backslash (\) line continuation character following a comma, or with MASM 6.0 and later use curly braces in place of the angle brackets. Curly braces are a legal substitute syntax for angle brackets. The sample code below illustrates the problem syntax and the workaround.



STATUS
Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in MASM versions 5.1, 5.1a, 6.0, 6.0a, 6.0b, 6.1, 6.1a, and 6.11. We are researching this problem and will post new information here in the Microsoft Knowledge Base as it becomes available.



MORE INFORMATION
Page 127 of the &quot;Microsoft Macro Assembler Programmer's Guide&quot; from MASM 6.0 states:

The list of initializers can be broken only after a comma unless you use a line continuation character (\) at the end of the line.

The following sasmple code can be used to demonstrate the problem.

Sample Code
; Assemble options needed: /c

.MODEL small

name1 STRUCT sub1 DB 'item' sub2 DW ? name1 ENDS

.DATA
 * item3 name1 {'am',    ; assembles correctly
 * 14}


 * item4 name1 <'pm',\   ; assembles correctly with the
 * 18>      ; (\)continuation character

item3 name1 <'am',     ; this generates an error 14>       ; MASM 6.0 A2045: missing angle bracket or                        ; brace in literal ; MASM 5.1 A2105: expected: instruction, ; directive or label

item4 name1 <'pm'\     ; this generates an error 18>       ; MASM 6.0 A2009: syntax error in expression ; MASM 5.1 A2105: expected: instruction, ; directive or label .CODE mov ax, @data       ; initialize the ds register mov ds, ax  mov ax, item3.sub2   ; for verifying the values mov ax, item4.sub2  ; of the initialization, in CodeView mov ax, 4C00h int 21h END

Additional query words: 5.10 5.10a 6.00 6.00a 6.00b 6.10 6.10a buglist6.00a buglist6.00b buglist6.10 buglist6.10a buglist6.11

Keywords: KB75601

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