Q32969: Problem Passing Array in COMMON Also in SUB Argument in .QLB

Article: Q32969
Product(s): See article
Version(s): 4.00 4.00b 4.50
Operating System(s): MS-DOS
Keyword(s): ENDUSER | buglist4.00 buglist4.00b buglist4.50 | mspl13_basic
Last Modified: 8-DEC-1989

If a string array is specified in a COMMON statement and also in the
argument list of a subprogram in a Quick library, garbage characters
will be displayed on the screen when that array is printed from the
subprogram. Under QuickBASIC Versions 4.00 and 4.00b, this problem
occurs only within the QB.EXE editor; the .EXE file runs without
encountering any problems. Under QuickBASIC Version 4.50, the problem
occurs both in the QB.EXE and the .EXE unless the library is created
using the debug option (/D). When the /D switch is used to build the
library, the program works correctly.

Under QuickBASIC Versions 4.00, 4.00b, and 4.50, if the subprogram is
not part of a Quick library, the program executes correctly from
inside the QuickBASIC editor.

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in the QB.EXE editor in
Microsoft QuickBASIC Versions 4.00, 4.00b, and 4.50, and in the
Microsoft BASIC Compiler Versions 6.00 and 6.00b (buglist6.00,
buglist6.00b) for MS-DOS and MS OS/2. This problem has been corrected
in the Microsoft BASIC Compiler Version 7.00 (fixlist7.00).

To work around this problem, do one of the following:

1. Use the /D (debug) option when creating the Quick library.

2. Compile the program as an executable file to run.

3. Do not use a Quick library. (A separately loaded source file can be
   substituted in the QB.EXE editor.)

The following code examples demonstrate the problem:

The main program is as follows:

     DECLARE SUB qstnaire (question$())
     DEFINT I-N
     DIM question$(5)
     COMMON question$()
     CLS
     INPUT question$(1)
     CALL qstnaire(question$())
     END

The subprogram in the Quick library is as follows:

     DEFINT I-N
     SUB qstnaire (question$()) STATIC
     PRINT question$(i);
     END SUB

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