KnowledgeBase Archive

An Archive of Early Microsoft KnowledgeBase Articles

View on GitHub

Q155211: FIX: C2373 on getwchar/putwchar When Using UNICODE & __stdcall

Article: Q155211
Product(s): Microsoft C Compiler
Version(s): winnt:4.2
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): kbCompiler kbCRT kbMFC kbVC420bug kbVC500fix kbGrpDSVCCompiler kbNoUpdate
Last Modified: 06-MAY-2001

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

- The C Run-Time (CRT), used with:
   - Microsoft Visual C++, 32-bit Enterprise Edition, version 4.2 
   - Microsoft Visual C++, 32-bit Professional Edition, version 4.2 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SYMPTOMS
========

When you build a project, the Visual C++ 4.2 compiler generates the following
errors:

  

  C:\MSDEV\INCLUDE\wchar.h(590): error C2373: 'getwchar': redefinition:
                                 different type modifiers

  

  C:\MSDEV\INCLUDE\wchar.h(592): error C2373: 'putwchar': redefinition:
                                 different type modifiers

The compiler errors are generated if the project does all of the following:

- Directly or indirectly includes the header file wchar.h.

- Defines the preprocessor identifier _UNICODE.

- Specifies the __stdcall or __fastcall calling convention.

The errors can also be generated for any AppWizard-generated MFC applications
that define the _UNICODE preprocessor and use the __stdcall or __fastcall
calling convention. To reproduce this problem, please see the More Information
section below.

CAUSE
=====

In Wchar.h, functions getwchar and putwchar are prototyped as follows on line
467 and line 469:

     _CRTIMP wint_t __cdecl getwchar(void);
     _CRTIMP wint_t __cdecl putwchar(wint_t);

There is also an inline version of these two functions defined in this file on
line 491 and line 493.

     inline wint_t getwchar() { ... }
     inline wint_t putwchar() { ... }

Notice that the inline versions of getwchar and putwchar defined on line 491 and
line 493 are not explicitly defined to use the __cdecl calling convention, which
resolve the above compiler errors when the __stdcall or __fastcall calling
convention is used.

RESOLUTION
==========

If enabling _UNICODE is necessary to your application, work around this problem
by doing the following:

Use the __cdecl calling convention instead of the __stdcall or the __fastcall
calling convention.

NOTE: The linker may generate error LNK2001 on the unresolved external symbol
"_WinMain@16" when you build an MFC application with UNICODE support. This is
because MFC UNICODE applications use wWinMain as the entry point. To solve this
problem, in the Output category of the Link field in the Project Settings dialog
box, set the Entry Point Symbol to wWinMainCRTStartup.

For additional information on the LNK2001 link error, please see the following
article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

  Q125750 PRB:Error LNK2001: '_WinMain@16': Unresolved External Symbol

-or-

Modify the header file Wchar.h. Change line 491 and 493 from the following:

     inline wint_t getwchar() { ... }
     inline wint_t putwchar() { ... }

to the following:

     inline wint_t __cdel getwchar() { ... }
     inline wint_t __cdel putwchar() { ... }

Modify the header file again if it is overwritten.

STATUS
======

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a bug in the Microsoft products listed at the
beginning of this article. This bug was corrected in Visual C++ version 5.0.

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

Use the following steps to reproduce this problem:

1. Generate an MFC application using the AppWizard and accept all the defaults.

2. Modify the build settings as follows:
  1. Add the _UNICODE preprocessor definition under C/C++/General.

  2. Delete the _MBCS preprocessor definition under C/C++/General.

  3. Choose the __stdcall or __fastcall calling convention under C/C++/Code
     Generation.

  4. Build the application.

Additional query words: kbVC420bug

======================================================================
Keywords          : kbCompiler kbCRT kbMFC kbVC420bug kbVC500fix kbGrpDSVCCompiler kbNoUpdate 
Technology        : kbVCsearch kbAudDeveloper kbCRT
Version           : winnt:4.2
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.