KnowledgeBase Archive

An Archive of Early Microsoft KnowledgeBase Articles

View on GitHub

Q104899: FIX: String Comparison Stops at Char(0) (NUL)

Article: Q104899
Product(s): Microsoft Fortran Compiler
Version(s): 1.0
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): 
Last Modified: 24-MAR-2000

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

- Microsoft FORTRAN PowerStation for MS-DOS, version 1.0 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SYMPTOMS
========

The string comparison operators stop the comparison operation at the occurrence
of the first NUL character. The rest of the string after the first NUL character
is not compared.

RESOLUTION
==========

Use the string termination character only at the end of the string.

STATUS
======

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in FORTRAN PowerStation for MS-DOS,
version 1.0. This problem has been resolved with FORTRAN PowerStation
maintenance release version 1.0a for MS-DOS.

FORTRAN PowerStation version 1.0 can be differentiated from the maintenance
release version 1.0a by invoking the linker. Typing "link32 | more" (without the
quotation marks) from \F32\BIN directory will show version 2.8 for FORTRAN
PowerStation version 1.0, and it will show version 1.0f for the maintenance
release version 1.0a.

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

The string comparison operation works correctly in Microsoft FORTRAN version
5.1. Compiling and executing the following code with PowerStation will
demonstrate the problem.

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

  C No compiler options required
         character*10 a,b

         a = "1234567890"
         b = "123456789A"

         a(5:5) = char(0)
         b(5:5) = char(0)

         print *, "Should be: F T T T F F"
         print "(' Result:   ',L2,\)", ( a .eq. b )
         print '(L2,\)', ( a .ne. b )
         print '(L2,\)', ( a .lt. b )
         print '(L2,\)', ( b .gt. a )
         print '(L2,\)', ( b .le. a )
         print '(L2)', ( a .ge. b )

         end

Additional query words: 1.00 5.10 buglist1.00 fixlist1.00a

======================================================================
Keywords          :  
Technology        : kbAudDeveloper kbFortranSearch kbZNotKeyword3 kbFORTRANPower100DOS
Version           : :1.0
Issue type        : kbbug
Solution Type     : kbfix

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

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.