Article: Q29735
Product(s): Microsoft Macro Assembler
Version(s): 5.1,5.1a
Operating System(s):
Keyword(s):
Last Modified: 06-MAY-2001
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The information in this article applies to:
- Microsoft Macro Assembler (MASM), versions 5.1, 5.1a
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SYMPTOMS
========
The program example below demonstrates a problem with the LES instructions in
Microsoft Macro Assembler (MASM) versions 5.1 and 5.1a. The first LES
instruction (Parm1) assembles correctly, but the second instruction (Parm2)
generates the error message:
error A2056: Immediate mode illegal
The only difference between the two instructions is the order of the arguments.
In earlier versions of MASM, they produced identical code.
CAUSE
=====
The problem is with the type operator and the way it handles registers inside
brackets ([]). The type operator makes things a constant on the left of the
expression.
Parm1 works because it handles registers inside brackets differently. "TYPE x"
turns bp into a constant; +10 then turns it back into an addressing mode.
However, in Parm2, bp+10 has been turned into an addressing mode, which is then
turned into a constant by "TYPE x". This difference is demonstrated in the
sample code below.
STATUS
======
Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in MASM versions 5.1 and 5.1a. This
problem was corrected in MASM version 6.0.
MORE INFORMATION
================
Sample Code
-----------
; Assemble options needed: none
.MODEL small
x STRUC
y DD ?
x ENDS
Parm1 EQU DWORD PTR [bp+TYPE x+10]
Parm2 EQU DWORD PTR [bp+10+TYPE x]
.CODE
begin:
les di,Parm1
les di,Parm2
END begin
Additional query words: 5.10 5.10a buglist5.10 buglist5.10a fixlist6.00
======================================================================
Keywords :
Technology : kbMASMsearch kbAudDeveloper kbMASM510 kbMASM510a
Version : :5.1,5.1a
Solution Type : kbfix
=============================================================================