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Q93162: BUG: Cannot Watch Undimensioned Array

Article: Q93162
Product(s): Microsoft Programming Utilities
Version(s): 4.0,4.01,4.1
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): kb16bitonly
Last Modified: 26-JUN-2001

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

- Microsoft CodeView for MS-DOS, versions 4.0, 4.01 
- Microsoft CodeView for Windows, version 4.1 
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SYMPTOMS
========

The versions of CodeView listed above do not properly display undimensioned
arrays in C++ code, such as the argv formal parameter to the main() function.
The array value does not appear in the locals window, if it is a local variable
or function parameter. An attempt to place a quick watch on the array yields an
error dialog box. A watch on the array yields a random integer value. In the
Visual Workbench, and CVW, watching the first array element (array[0]) causes
this error to appear in the watch window:

  CXX0030: Error: expression cannot be evaluated

In the locals window, the array will be displayed as:

  [BP+0008] char * array[?] = 0xnnnn:0xnnnn

Since the + symbol is not placed before "char", the pointer cannot be expanded.

RESOLUTION
==========

Modify the code to declare the array as a pointer to a pointer. For example,
change

     void main (int argc, char *argv[])

to the following equivalent definition:

     void main (int argc, char **argv)

STATUS
======

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in CodeView versions 4.0 and 4.01
for MS-DOS, and version 4.10 for Windows. We are researching this problem and
will post new information here in the Microsoft Knowledge Base as it becomes
available.

Additional query words: 4.00 4.10

======================================================================
Keywords          : kb16bitonly 
Technology        : kbAudDeveloper kbCodeView kbZNotKeyword3 kbCodeView400DOS kbCodeView401DOS kbCodeView410
Version           : :4.0,4.01,4.1

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