Q34069: Putting Global Variables in the Default Data Segment

Article: Q34069
Product(s): See article
Version(s): 3.00 4.00 5.00 5.10 | 5.10
Operating System(s): MS-DOS | OS/2
Keyword(s): ENDUSER | | mspl13_c
Last Modified: 18-AUG-1988

Question:
   How can I tell the compiler to put my global variables in the
default data segment when I am using the large- or huge-memory models?

Response:
   In any memory model, if the near keyword is applied to global
variables, they will be put in the default data segment. This action
ensures that the variable is referenced with a 16-bit address, as
opposed to the far 32-bit addresses, which will make variables defined
with the near keyword faster to access.