Q40413: Recursive FUNCTION Procedure Shouldn’t Be STATIC in QuickBASIC

Article: Q40413
Product(s): See article
Version(s): 4.00 4.00b 4.50
Operating System(s): MS-DOS
Keyword(s): ENDUSER | docerr SR# S890111-178 B_BasicCom | mspl13_basic
Last Modified: 8-DEC-1989

Further below is a correction that applies to the factorial example
program (in the Recursive Procedures section) in the following
manuals:

1. Page 82 of "Microsoft QuickBASIC 4.0: Programming in BASIC:
   Selected Topics" (for QuickBASIC 4.00 and 4.00b)

2. Page 82 of "Microsoft BASIC Compiler 6.0 for MS OS/2 and MS-DOS:
   Programming in BASIC: Selected Topics" (for 6.00 and 6.00b)

3. Page 72 of "Microsoft QuickBASIC 4.50: Programming in BASIC"

4. Page 68 of "Microsoft BASIC Version 7.0: Programmer's Guide"

In the factorial function, the STATIC clause should be removed from
the FUNCTION line so that it reads as follows:

   FUNCTION Factorial# (N%)

The example on this page incorrectly defines the recursive function to
be STATIC when it should actually be non-STATIC. Recursive functions
should be defined as non-STATIC because the usefulness of a recursive
function relies on automatic variables saved temporarily on the stack,
instead of variables that retain their values between invocations.

The function Factorial# depends on the value for N% to be correct in
each level of the recursive iteration. The value for N% cannot be
correct if the number is not stored on the stack with each recursive
call.

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