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Q74221: FIX: COMM Directive Produces Error If Count Field Not Specified

Article: Q74221
Product(s): Microsoft Macro Assembler
Version(s): MS-DOS:6.0
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): 
Last Modified: 04-MAY-2001

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The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft Macro Assembler (MASM), version 6.0 
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SYMPTOMS
========

The Microsoft Macro Assembler (MASM) version 6.0 will produce a syntax error
when multiple variables (separated by commas) are listed following a COMM
directive if any variable, except the last one in the list, does not have a
count field specified. For example, assembling sample code #1 with MASM 6.0
produces the following error:

  error A2008: syntax error: dec

When assembling sample code #2, MASM 6.0 produces this error:

  error A2008: syntax error: inc

RESOLUTION
==========

The following methods may be used to work around these problems:

1. Place the count field with each variable specified. For example:

        COMM NEAR var1:word:1,var2:word:1,var3:word:3

-or-

2. Make multiple COMM statements. For example:

        COMM NEAR var1:word
        COMM NEAR var2:word

STATUS
======

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in MASM version 6.0. This problem
was corrected in MASM version 6.0a.

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

The sample code below illustrates this problem. MASM version 5.1 and 5.1a
assemble the code without any errors. According to the BNF Grammar in Appendix B
of the "Microsoft Macro Assembler Programmer's Guide," this should also assemble
correctly with MASM version 6.0.

Sample Code #1
--------------

  ; Assemble options needed: none

  .MODEL small
  .DATA
    COMM NEAR var1:WORD,   var2:WORD    ; This doesn't work
  ; COMM NEAR var1:WORD:1, var2:WORD    ; This works
  END

Sample Code #2
--------------

  ; Assemble options needed: none

  .MODEL small
  .DATA
    COMM NEAR var1:WORD,
              var2:WORD, var3:WORD      ; This doesn't work

  ; COMM NEAR var1:WORD:1,
  ;           var2:WORD:1, var3:WORD:1  ; This works
  END

Additional query words: 6.00 buglist6.00 fixlist6.00a

======================================================================
Keywords          :  
Technology        : kbMASMsearch kbAudDeveloper kbMASM600
Version           : MS-DOS:6.0
Solution Type     : kbfix

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

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