FIX: DX1020 Using TEXTEQU to Define False IF Block

 Last reviewed: September 18, 1997
Article ID: Q120154
6.00a 6.00b 6.10 6.10a MS-DOS kbprg kbfixlist kbbuglist

The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Macro Assembler (MASM) for MS-DOS, versions 6.0a, 6.0b, 6.1, and 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 reference words: 6.00a 6.00b 6.10 6.10a buglist6.00b buglist6.10
buglist6.10a fixlist6.11
KBCategory: kbprg kbfixlist kbbuglist
KBSubCategory: MASMLngIss
Solution Type : kbfix

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Last reviewed: September 18, 1997
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