BUG: Macro with Line Continuation Interprets ";" Incorrectly

 Last reviewed: September 13, 1995
Article ID: Q136545
The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Macro Assembler for MS-DOS, version 6.11

SYMPTOMS

When you use a line continuation character in a macro to split up the parameter list, embedded semicolons (;) are interpreted as the beginning of comments. Embedded semicolons in string literals should be ignored and assumed part of the string itself.

RESOLUTION

Replace the embedded semicolon with a hex literal. In this example: 

   defstr    macro   english,french,german
             endm

             defstr "YEAH",\
                    "YE;AH",\
                    "YEAH"
Change the call to the macro to this: 

   defstr "YEAH",\
          "YE"3Bh"AH",\
          "YEAH"

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

Steps to Reproduce Problem

  1. Create and compile a program containing this code: 

       defstr    macro   english,french,german
             endm

             defstr "YEAH",\
                    "YE;AH",\
                    "YEAH"

  2. Notice that the Assembler generates these message:

    Microsoft (R) Macro Assembler Version 6.11 Copyright (C) Microsoft Corp 1981-1994. All rights reserved.

    Assembling: test.asm test.asm(21) : error A2008: syntax error : YEAH

Additional reference words: 6.11
KBCategory: kbprg kbbuglist
KBSubcategory: MASMLngIss



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Last reviewed: September 13, 1995
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