Q94912: FIX: A2138, A2036 or Hang, Init Nested Structure Array

Article: Q94912
Product(s): Microsoft Macro Assembler
Version(s): MS-DOS:6.0,6.0a,6.0b
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): 
Last Modified: 06-MAY-2001

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The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft Macro Assembler (MASM), versions 6.0, 6.0a, 6.0b 
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SYMPTOMS
========

An attempt to assemble code that initializes an array of nested structures fails
and the computer hangs and stops responding or the assembler produces the
following messages:

  error A2138: invalid data initializer
  error A2036: too many initial values for structure

RESOLUTION
==========

To work around this problem, perform one of the following two steps:

- Remove the initialization from the structure declaration

-or-

- Remove the DUP operator and declare multiple nested structure fields

STATUS
======

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in MASM versions 6.0, 6.0a, and
6.0b for MS-DOS and OS/2. This problem was corrected in MASM version 6.1 for
MS-DOS.

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

In code developed for Microsoft Macro Assembler (MASM) version 6.0 or later, an
application can create nested structures or use the DUP operator to create
arrays of structures. An application can initialize a nested structure or an
array of structures. However, an attempt to initialize a structure that contains
an array of nested structures fails with the errors listed above.

MASM version 6.1 generates the following error message when an application
attempts to initialize an array of nested structures:

  error A2177: nested structure improperly initialized

The following code example demonstrates this error.

Sample Code
-----------

  ; Assemble options needed: none

  .MODEL small, c

  inner_struct STRUCT
     w1 DW ?
  inner_struct ENDS

  outer_struct STRUCT
     s1 inner_struct 2 DUP ({})
  outer_struct ENDS

  .DATA
  tst1 outer_struct {{{1},{2}}}   ; This line generates an error message
  ; tst2 outer_struct {{}}        ; This line is allowed

  END

Additional query words: 6.00 6.00a 6.00b buglist6.00 buglist6.00a buglist6.00b fixlist6.10

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Keywords          :  
Technology        : kbMASMsearch kbAudDeveloper kbMASM600 kbMASM600a kbMASM600b
Version           : MS-DOS:6.0,6.0a,6.0b
Solution Type     : kbfix

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