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Q120154: FIX: DX1020 Using TEXTEQU to Define False IF Block

Article: Q120154
Product(s): Microsoft Macro Assembler
Version(s): 6.0a,6.0b,6.1,6.1a
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): 
Last Modified: 06-MAY-2001

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

- Microsoft Macro Assembler (MASM), versions 6.0a, 6.0b, 6.1, 6.1a 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SYMPTOMS
========

Using the TEXTEQU directive to define an IF statement that evaluates to FALSE
produces the following error message in MASM version 6.1 or 6.1a:

  DOSXNT : fatal error DX1020: unhandled exception: General protection fault

When you use ML from MASM version 6.0b, an "Application Error" message box
appears when running from a Windows MS-DOS box. From straight MS-DOS, the
following error message occurs:

  fatal error A1000: cannot open file : error #xx -
  : Macro Called From Main Line Code

Using MLX from MASM version 6.0b produces the following error message:

  run-time error R6915
  - DOSX16 : unhandled exception

Using ML from MASM version 6.0a, the following error messages occur:

  fatal error A2051: text item required
  : Macro Called From Main Line Code
  fatal error A1010: unmatched block nesting : _text

RESOLUTION
==========

Use IFDEF expressions along with the /D assembler option to perform conditional
assembly.

STATUS
======

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a bug in the products listed above.

This problem was corrected in MASM version 6.11.

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

The following sample code illustrates the problem:

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

  ; Assemble options needed: none

    dbgs textequ <if 0>      ; evaluates to false
    dbgsend textequ <endif>
    dump_matrix macro
      dbgs
      mov ax, ax
      dbgsend
    endm
    _text segment
      dump_matrix
    _text ends
    END

Additional query words: 6.00a 6.00b 6.10 6.10a buglist6.00b buglist6.10 buglist6.10a fixlist6.11

======================================================================
Keywords          :  
Technology        : kbMASMsearch kbAudDeveloper kbMASM610 kbMASM610a kbMASM600a kbMASM600b
Version           : :6.0a,6.0b,6.1,6.1a
Solution Type     : kbfix

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

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