Article ID: 35128
Article Last Modified on 11/19/2003
APPLIES TO
- Microsoft Macro Assembler 5.1 Standard Edition
- Microsoft Macro Assembler 5.1a
- Microsoft Macro Assembler 6.0 Standard Edition
- Microsoft Macro Assembler 6.0a
- Microsoft Macro Assembler 6.0b
This article was previously published under Q35128
SYMPTOMS
The example below will generate the warning:
when assembled with Microsoft Macro Assembler (MASM) 5.1 and 5.1a. This warning is misleading. MASM 6.0, 6.0a, and 6.0b generate the more specific error message:
CAUSE
The reference to a_struc.a in the example below is a reference to a structure template and not to a variable stored in memory. Thus, a_struc.a is a constant or immediate operand. MASM 5.1 and 5.1a always looks up the second token on the line first. In the case below, it sees "a_struc". Because a_struc is a structure declaration, MASM assumes the line declares a structure instance with "MOV" being the label. At this point, MASM errors on trying to use reserved symbol "MOV" as a structure instance label.
RESOLUTION
This is the expected behavior of MASM.
MORE INFORMATION
Sample Code
; Assemble options needed: none a_struc STRUC a DW ? a_struc ENDS _TEXT SEGMENT 'CODE' ASSUME CS:_TEXT start: mov a_struc.a, ax mov ax, 4C00h int 21h _TEXT ENDS END start
Additional query words: 5.10 5.10a 6.00 6.00a 6.00b
Keywords: KB35128