PRB: ml /D?WIN and CMACROS.INC Produce A2016 and A2008

• Microsoft Macro Assembler for MS-DOS, versions 6.0, 6.0a, and 6.0b
• Microsoft Macro Assembler for OS/2, versions 6.0, 6.0a, and 6.0b

SYMPTOMS

In the Microsoft Macro Assembler (MASM) version 6.0, when defining ?WIN on the command line and including CMACROS.INC, the following errors are generated:

   cmacros.inc(77): error A2016: expression expected
   cmacros.inc(118): error A2008: syntax error: ,

CAUSE

The command-line switch /D?WIN=1 is equivalent to ?WIN TEXTEQU <1>. CMACROS.INC is expecting that ?WIN = 1 will be used to indicate that Windows support is needed.

RESOLUTION

To correctly define ?WIN, do not assemble with /D?WIN=1 as a command line option; instead, use "?WIN = 1" in the source file before including CMACROS.INC.

MORE INFORMATION

The following examples demonstrate the incorrect and then the correct way to define ?WIN for use with CMACROS.INC.

Sample Code 1: Incorrect

; Assemble options needed: /D?WIN=1

  INCLUDE CMACROS.INC

  END

Sample Code 2: Correct

; Assemble options needed: none

   ?WIN  =  1              ; ?WIN must be defined before the include.
   INCLUDE CMACROS.INC

   END