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Q40593: INFO: Misspelling "Default" Gives No Error

Article: Q40593
Product(s): Microsoft C Compiler
Version(s): MS- DOS:6.0,6.00a,6.00ax,7.0;OS/2:6.0,6.00a;WIN3X:1.0,1.5,1.51;WINNT:1.0,2.0,2. 1,4.0,5
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): kbCompiler kbVC100 kbVC151 kbVC200 kbVC210 kbVC400 kbVC500 kbVC600
Last Modified: 25-JUL-2001

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The information in this article applies to:

- The C/C++ Compiler (CL.EXE), included with:
   - Microsoft C for MS-DOS, versions 6.0, 6.0a, 6.0ax 
   - Microsoft C for OS/2, versions 6.0, 6.0a 
   - Microsoft C/C++ for MS-DOS, version 7.0 
   - Microsoft Visual C++ for Windows, 16-bit edition, versions 1.0, 1.5, 1.51, 1.52 
   - Microsoft Visual C++, 32-bit Editions, versions 1.0, 2.0, 2.1, 4.0, 5.0, 6.0 
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It has been reported that when the keyword "default" is misspelled,
the C/C++ compiler does not generate an error and the executable code does
not execute the "defualt" branch in any case.

This is not a problem with the C/C++ compiler. In C and C++ any name
followed by a colon (:) is a label. In a switch statement the case and
default keywords are special types of label which are used by the switch
statement. When the keyword "default" is spelled incorrectly, it is treated
as a label. You could use a goto statement to reference the label. The
switch statement, however, does not recognize it. Since a "default:" label
is not required by the switch statement, no error is (or can be) generated.

NOTE: It is not good programming practice to jump to a label that is
within a switch statement from outside the switch statement.

Additional query words: 8.00 9.00 9.10

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Keywords          : kbCompiler kbVC100 kbVC151 kbVC200 kbVC210 kbVC400 kbVC500 kbVC600 
Technology        : kbVCsearch kbAudDeveloper kbCVCComp
Version           : MS- DOS:6.0,6.00a,6.00ax,7.0;OS/2:6.0,6.00a;WIN3X:1.0,1.5,1.51;WINNT:1.0,2.0,2. 1,4.0,5.0;
Issue type        : kbinfo

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