KnowledgeBase Archive

An Archive of Early Microsoft KnowledgeBase Articles

View on GitHub

Q67758: PRB: MASM Err Msg: Unable to Open Input File: options.asm

Article: Q67758
Product(s): Microsoft Macro Assembler
Version(s): 5.1,5.1a
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): 
Last Modified: 06-MAY-2001

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

- Microsoft Macro Assembler (MASM), versions 5.1, 5.1a 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SYMPTOMS
========

When running MASM.EXE, the following fatal error occurs:

  Unable to open input file: options.asm

CAUSE
=====

The MASM environment variable "MASM" is set to "options".

RESOLUTION
==========

To work around this problem, the environment variable needs to be cleared. This
can be done as follows at the DOS command prompt:

     SET MASM=<ret>

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

When the RUNME program is executed to install MASM, it tells you to set your
AUTOEXEC.BAT file as follows:

  MOUSE                 (load mouse driver if you have a mouse)
  SET PATH=c:\masm...   (directory containing MASM and utilities)
  SET INCLUDE=c:\masm...(directory containing include files)
  SET LIB=d:\masm....   (directory containing library & object files)
  SET MASM=options      (standard assembly options)
  SET LINK=options      (standard link options)
  SET TMP=tempDir       (LINK work directory - use RAM disk if
                         available)

People often set their AUTOEXEC.BAT files literally as the program shows. The
intent is to show that if you always want to assemble with options /Zi and /Mx
and link with option /CO, you could use

     SET MASM=/Zi /Mx
     SET LINK=/CO

to achieve this. When "MASM" is set to "options", the driver is passed "options"
and it is treated as a source file name, rather than an option, since it does
not begin with a backslash (\).

Additional query words: 5.10 5.10a

======================================================================
Keywords          :  
Technology        : kbMASMsearch kbAudDeveloper kbMASM510 kbMASM510a
Version           : :5.1,5.1a

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

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.