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Q149150: BUG: GETENV() Fails If Input Variable Has Trailing Spaces

Article: Q149150
Product(s): Microsoft Fortran Compiler
Version(s): 4.0
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): kbFortranPS kbLangFortrankbbuglist
Last Modified: 02-NOV-1999

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

- Microsoft Fortran PowerStation for Windows 95 and Windows NT, version 4.0 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SYMPTOMS
========

Using an input variable containing trailing blank spaces in the GETENV() Portlib
subroutine causes the call to the GETENV() subroutine to fail.

Under Windows 95, blank spaces are returned to the output variable(evalue), and
under Windows NT 3.51, random characters are returned to the output
variable(evalue).

RESOLUTION
==========

Do one of the following:

- Use an input character variable that has a length identical to that of the
  environment variable.

-or-

- Use TRIM() to truncate any trailing blank spaces from the input variable.

STATUS
======

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a bug in the Microsoft products listed at the
beginning of this article. We are researching this problem and will post new
information here in the Microsoft Knowledge Base as it becomes available.

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

Sample Code to Demonstrate Problem
----------------------------------

  ! Compile options needed: none

        use portlib
  ! Comment the following line for the first workaround:
        character*10 :: ename = 'PATH'
  ! Uncomment the following line for the first workaround:
  !      character*4 :: ename = 'PATH'
        character*100 :: evalue = 'nothing'

        CALL GETENV( ename, evalue )   ! GETENV fails to return information

  ! Uncomment the following line for the second workaround:
  !      CALL GETENV( trim(ename), evalue )
        print *, ename, " uses ", evalue
        end

Additional query words: 4.00

======================================================================
Keywords          : kbFortranPS kbLangFortran kbbuglist
Technology        : kbAudDeveloper kbPTProdChange kbFortranSearch kbFORTRANPower400NT
Version           : :4.0

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

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