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Q51751: Generating .COM Files with QuickAssembler Can Cause Link Error

Article: Q51751
Product(s): See article
Version(s): 2.01
Operating System(s): MS-DOS
Keyword(s): ENDUSER | docerr | mspl13_masm
Last Modified: 17-JAN-1990

The QuickC Version 2.01 compiler (i.e., QuickAssembler) can and will
generate .COM files for assembly language programs. Current support
for the TINY model (.COM files) is not extended to C programs. Thus,
the program must be in assembly language source code, not in C source
code.

Both the assembler and linker in QuickC 2.01 support the TINY memory
model. The C module does not support the TINY memory model.

The information contained in the README.DOC, Part 5, Subsection 386,
states the following:

   "...the following command lines each produce a file with a .COM
    extension:

      QCL /AT sample.asm /link /TINY
      QCL /Fesample.com sample.asm /link /TINY  ..."

The second command successfully generates a .COM file, but the first
command generates the following error message:

   LINK: fatal error L1093: CRTCOM.OBJ: object not found

Typing the following also generates the same error message:

   qcl /AT sample.asm

The following are four ways to correctly generate a .COM file:

1. Type the following as listed in the README.DOC.:

      QCL /Fesample.com sample.asm /link /TINY

2. Type the following:

      qcl /AT /c sample.asm

   Then, type the following:

      link /TINY sample.obj

3. Through the menu options in the environment, make the following
   selections:

      Options.Make.Linker_Flags.Global_Flags.Generate .COM file

   Note: Full menus must be activated and then Options.Make.
   Linker_Flags.Debug_Flags.Incremental_Link must be disabled.

4. Type the following:

      QCL sample.asm /link /TINY

   This creates a sample.EXE file that is actually in the .COM format.
   It should be renamed immediately to SAMPLE.COM. This method is also
   correctly listed in the README.DOC.

Note: The source code must also contain the ".MODEL tiny" directive
for all of the above methods.

Microsoft is researching this problem and will post new information
here as it becomes available.

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