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Q87015: INFO: C2466 Error When Allocating an Array of Length 0

Article: Q87015
Product(s): Microsoft C Compiler
Version(s): 1.0,1.5,1.51,1.52
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): kberrmsg kbCompiler kbCPPonly kbVC100 kbVC150 kbVC151 kbVC152
Last Modified: 24-JUN-2002

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The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft Visual C++ for Windows, 16-bit edition, versions 1.0, 1.5, 1.51, 1.52 
- Microsoft Visual C++, 32-bit Editions, version 1.0 
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SUMMARY
=======

When you use Microsoft C/C++, the constant expression that you use to allocate
or declare an array must be an integral type greater than zero. If not, the
following error will occur:

  C2466: Cannot allocate an array of constant size 0

The following examples are some ways this error can occur:

     int *p = new X[0];        // error
     C *aC = new [int_var] C;  // error
     int a[0];                 // error
     int func(char *[0]);      // error

NOTE: This does not apply to Visual C++, 32-bit Edition, version 2.0 and later.

If you use the Microsoft extensions (/Ze), an array declaration with a zero
subscript is legal for a class, structure, or union member. For more information
about valid zero-sized arrays, search the Visual C++ online documentation for
the topic "Unsized Arrays."

Additional query words: 8.00 8.00c 9.00 9.10

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Keywords          : kberrmsg kbCompiler kbCPPonly kbVC100 kbVC150 kbVC151 kbVC152 
Technology        : kbVCsearch kbAudDeveloper kbvc150 kbvc100 kbVC151 kbVC32bitSearch kbVC16bitSearch kbVC152
Version           : :1.0,1.5,1.51,1.52
Issue type        : kbinfo

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