FIX: MASM 6.0 May Incorrectly Generate A2032 for EQU

MS-DOS           | OS/2

The information in this article applies to:

• 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

The Microsoft Macro Assembler may incorrectly generate the following error:

   A2032: invalid use of register

CAUSE

This is demonstrated on lines eight and nine in the sample code below. The error occurs because the LEA and MOV instructions on those lines use an equate and a register as an address. In the example, table1 is equated to the value of the location counter, "$", and the register is BP.

RESOLUTION

To work around the problem, use the LABEL directive rather than an equate of the current location counter.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in MASM versions 6.0, 6.0a, and 6.0b. This problem was corrected in MASM for MS-DOS version 6.1.

MORE INFORMATION

The following sample code can be used to demonstrate the problem.

Sample Code

; Assemble options needed: none

code SEGMENT word public 'code' ASSUME cs:code

table1 EQU $

;table1 LABEL word      ; Use this line instead of previous one.

   lea di, table1[bp]   ; line 8
   mov ax, table1[bp]   ; line 9

END