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Q66778: FIX: Error Messages May Say "short" or "int" Instead of "enum"

Article: Q66778
Product(s): Microsoft C Compiler
Version(s): 1.0,1.5,2.0,4.0,6.0,6.0a,6.0ax
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): kbCompiler kbVC500fix
Last Modified: 22-JUL-2001

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The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft 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++, versions 1.0, 1.5 
   - *EDITOR Please do not choose this product*Microsoft Visual C++ 32-bit Edition* use 241, 265, 225, versions 1.0, 2.0, 4.0 
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SYMPTOMS
========


Because an enumerated type is handled internally the same as a short type,
certain compiler error messages may refer to a "short" even though the error
involves an "enum". The following sample code contains an error to demonstrate
this situation:

     enum {A, B, C}      /* missing ';' at end */ 
     double y;

When the above code is compiled with the Microsoft C compiler, the following
error message is generated:

  error C2139: type following 'short' is illegal

Visual C++ for Windows and Visual C++ 32-bit Edition return:

  error C2632: 'int' followed by 'double' is illegal

In this particular case, the error should say:

  type following 'enum' is illegal"

However, the compiler does not keep track of whether or not an item was specified
as an enum.

STATUS
======

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a bug in the Microsoft products listed at the
beginning of this article. This bug was corrected in Visual C++ version 5.0.

Visual C++ 5.0 compiler generates the following error message:

  error C2628: '__unnamed' followed by 'double' is illegal (did you forget a
  ';'?)

Additional query words: 8.00 8.00c 9.00

======================================================================
Keywords          : kbCompiler kbVC500fix 
Technology        : kbVCsearch kbAudDeveloper kbCVCComp
Version           : :1.0,1.5,2.0,4.0,6.0,6.0a,6.0ax
Issue type        : kbbug
Solution Type     : kbfix

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