KnowledgeBase Archive

An Archive of Early Microsoft KnowledgeBase Articles

View on GitHub

Q65979: PRB: C Pragma Comment & #ident Strings Missing from Executable

Article: Q65979
Product(s): Microsoft Windows Software Development Kit
Version(s): WINDOWS:3.0,3.1
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): kb16bitonly
Last Modified: 06-NOV-1999

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft Windows Software Development Kit (SDK) versions 3.0, 3.1 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SYMPTOMS
========

After compiling an application developed for Windows version 3.0 or 3.1 from
code that uses the comment pragma feature or the #ident preprocessor directive
of the Microsoft C Compiler, the comment string is missing from the final
executable file.

CAUSE
=====

The Resource Compiler in the Windows Software Development Kit (SDK) version 3.0
or 3.1 removes the comment string from the executable.

RESOLUTION
==========

Declare the comment as a static string variable, as follows:

     static char CommentString[] = _FILE_" = $Revision:   1.2   $";

This will embed the desired information in the .EXE file; however, when the
program is run, the application will load the string with the program's other
variables. This will take up some storage in the local data space.

MORE INFORMATION
================

This behavior is an unavoidable consequence of the method the Microsoft C
compiler uses to store comment strings in an executable file. Placing the
strings outside all segments is not consistent with the Windows segment-
executable format, which places all code and data into segments that can be
loaded separately. The Resource Compiler cannot preserve comment data stored
outside any segment.

Additional query words: 3.00 no32bit 3.10

======================================================================
Keywords          : kb16bitonly 
Technology        : kbAudDeveloper kbWin3xSearch kbSDKSearch kbWinSDKSearch kbWinSDK300 kbWinSDK310
Version           : WINDOWS:3.0,3.1

=============================================================================

THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THE MICROSOFT KNOWLEDGE BASE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. MICROSOFT DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES SO THE FOREGOING LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY.