Q59427: BC.EXE "Internal Error Near x" Using Static Long Integer Array

Article: Q59427
Product(s): See article
Version(s): 4.00 4.00b 4.50
Operating System(s): MS-DOS
Keyword(s): ENDUSER | SR# S900305-180 B_BasicCom buglist4.00 buglist4.00b buglist4 | mspl13_basic
Last Modified: 20-SEP-1990

Indexing a static long-integer array with an expression containing
subtraction or division can cause the error, "Internal Error Near
xxxx," at compile time with BC.EXE. Addition and multiplication work
correctly; only division and subtraction cause the error.

To work around the problem, change the expression to use addition or
multiplication, or use a variable instead of an expression to
subscript the static long-integer array.

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in the BC.EXE environment
of Microsoft QuickBASIC versions 4.00, 4.00b, and 4.50 for MS-DOS; in
the BC.EXE environment of Microsoft BASIC Compiler versions 6.00 and
6.00b for MS-DOS and MS OS/2 (buglist6.00, buglist6.00b); and in the
BC.EXE environment of Microsoft BASIC Professional Development System
(PDS) versions 7.00 and 7.10 for MS-DOS and MS OS/2 (buglist7.00,
buglist7.10). We are researching this problem and will post new
information here as it becomes available.

This problem does not occur in the QB.EXE or QBX.EXE environment.

Code Example
------------

The following code example produces the "Internal Error Near xxxx"
error when compiled with BC.EXE. An example of the workaround
suggested above is listed in a comment after the offending statement.

Compile the program below as follows:

   BC INTERNAL.BAS;

(Note that the BC /D and /O compiler options do not eliminate the
problem.)

' INTERNAL.BAS
DIM A&(10, 10)
'Subtraction and division cause error, not addition or multiplication:
B& = A&(i%, 1 - i%) + A&(i%, i%)   'Remove this line to prevent error
'B& = A&(i%, 0 + 1 - i%) + A&(i%, i%) 'Equivalent line works correctly

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