Q39310: INFO: Selective Initialization of Array Elements Not Allowed

Article: Q39310
Product(s): Microsoft C Compiler
Version(s): 1.0,1.5,1.51,1.52,2.0,2.1,4.0,5.0,6.0
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): kbLangC kbVC100 kbVC150 kbVC151 kbVC152 kbVC200 kbVC210 kbVC400 kbVC500 kbVC600
Last Modified: 12-DEC-2001

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The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft Visual C++, versions 1.0, 1.5, 1.51, 1.52, 2.0, 2.1, 4.0 
- Microsoft Visual C++, 32-bit Enterprise Edition, versions 5.0, 6.0 
- Microsoft Visual C++, 32-bit Professional Edition, versions 5.0, 6.0 
- Microsoft Visual C++, 32-bit Learning Edition, version 6.0 
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SUMMARY
=======

The ANSI C standard does not allow selective initialization of array elements
with the following syntax:

     char MyArray[10] = {'a','b',,'d',,'f','g',,'i','j'};

This attempt at selective initialization is not correct and will generate a
"Syntax Error" at compile time as follows.

  error C2059: syntax error : ','

The following two declarations will compile and are valid declarations for
Microsoft C version 5.1 and later:

1. The initialization of all the elements of the array is as follows:

        char MyArray[10] = {'a','b','c','d','e','f','g','h','i','j'};

2. The initialization of the first characters in the array is as follows:

        char MyArray[10] = {'a','b','c','d','e'};

Additional query words:

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Keywords          : kbLangC kbVC100 kbVC150 kbVC151 kbVC152 kbVC200 kbVC210 kbVC400 kbVC500 kbVC600 
Technology        : kbVCsearch kbVC400 kbAudDeveloper kbvc150 kbvc100 kbVC500 kbVC600 kbVC151 kbVC200 kbVC210 kbVC32bitSearch kbVC152 kbVC500Search
Version           : :1.0,1.5,1.51,1.52,2.0,2.1,4.0,5.0,6.0
Issue type        : kbinfo

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