Q115437: FIX: Problems Using Parentheses to Denote Array Subscripts

Article: Q115437
Product(s): Microsoft C Compiler
Version(s): 1.0,1.5
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): kbCompiler kbCPPonly kbVCkbbuglist kbfixlist
Last Modified: 26-JUL-2001

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The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft C/C++ Compiler (CL.EXE), included with:
   - Microsoft Visual C++, versions 1.0, 1.5 
   - *EDITOR Please do not choose this product*Microsoft Visual C++ 32-bit Edition* use 241, 265, 225, version 1.0 
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SYMPTOMS
========

Compiling the sample code below with Visual C++ 32-bit Edition causes the
compiler to generate the following error message:

  fatal error C1001: INTERNAL COMPILER ERROR
  (compiler file 'msc1.cpp', line 602)

The compiler should instead generate the following error:

  error C2064: term does not evaluate to a function

Compiling the sample code with Visual C++, version 1.5, under Windows NT gives
the following error message:

  fatal error C1001: internal compiler error
  (compiler file 'msc1.cpp', line 585)

Again, "error C2064: term does not evaluate to a function" should display.

When the code below is compiled with Visual C++, versions 1.0 and 1.5 under
Windows 3.1, no errors are generated. The compiler effectively ignores the
erroneous line. If we compile at warning level 4 (CL /W4), the following warning
is generated:

  warning C4100: 'push_this' : unreferenced formal parameter

This warning shows that the erroneous line was ignored.

CAUSE
=====

Incorrectly compiled code uses parentheses () instead of brackets [] to denote
array subscripts.

RESOLUTION
==========

Fix the code by changing the parentheses to brackets.

STATUS
======

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a bug in the products listed at the beginning
of this article. This bug was corrected in C/C++ compiler version 9.0, included
in Visual C++ 32-bit Edition, version 2.0.

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

      // Compile options needed:    none
        #include <iostream.h>

        class stack_class {
             int stack_data[10];
             int stack_ptr;
        public:
             void init(void);
             int push(int push_this);
        };

        void stack_class::init(void) {stack_ptr = -1;};

        int stack_class::push(int push_this)
        {
             if (stack_ptr >= 99)
                  return(0);

             //ERROR: (++stack_ptr) - Change to [++stack_ptr]
             stack_data(++stack_ptr) = push_this;
                  return(1);
        };

        void main()
        {
             stack_class stack;

             stack.push(100);
        }

Additional query words: 1.00 1.50 8.00 8.00c

======================================================================
Keywords          : kbCompiler kbCPPonly kbVC kbbuglist kbfixlist
Technology        : kbVCsearch kbAudDeveloper kbCVCComp
Version           : :1.0,1.5
Issue type        : kbbug
Solution Type     : kbfix

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