Article ID: 34608
Article Last Modified on 11/21/2006
This article was previously published under Q34608
SYMPTOMS
Option characters typed on a line can seem to trap you in an unending "Syntax Error" loop in the Macintosh QuickBasic Version 1.00 interpreter or the Macintosh Basic interpreter Version 3.00. Anytime you click on other lines in the program, a "Syntax Error" message is given. The only way to resolve the problem is to highlight the error line with the mouse and delete it.
Microsoft has confirmed this to be a bug in QuickBasic Version 1.00 for the Macintosh and in the Microsoft Basic Interpreter Version 3.00 for the Macintosh (buglist3.00). We are researching this problem and will post new information as it becomes available.
MORE INFORMATION
Option characters are special characters created by holding down the OPTION key while pressing another key.
To duplicate the problem, type in the following program by pressing OPTION-P (which creates a Greek letter pi) wherever you see an "x":
PRINT "xxx" xxx:
It is okay to put option characters into quoted strings; however, they cannot be used for labels or variable names in QuickBasic.
To eliminate the "Syntax Error" loop, triple-click on the second line (or highlight it with the mouse), and press BACKSPACE to delete it. Triple-clicking to select a line is a feature in QuickBasic not found in the Basic Interpreter Versions 3.00 and earlier.
Additional query words: MQuickB
Keywords: kbbug KB34608