Q38276: "Out Of Memory" During CHAIN Using Large COMMON Block

Article: Q38276
Product(s): See article
Version(s): 4.00 4.00b 4.50
Operating System(s): MS-DOS
Keyword(s): ENDUSER | B_BasicCom | mspl13_basic
Last Modified: 29-NOV-1988

The two programs shown below demonstrate that a program can run out of
memory when CHAINing to another program if there is insufficient
memory to copy the COMMON data. If run from within the QB.EXE
environment, the error is simply "Out of memory," while the error
message "Out of memory during chain" is produced when the programs are
run as .EXE programs. To solve the error, you must use a smaller
COMMON block.

This information applies to QuickBASIC Versions 4.00, 4.00b, and 4.50,
and Microsoft BASIC Compiler Versions 6.00 and 6.00b for MS-DOS and MS
OS/2.

The following are code examples:

'chain1.bas
DIM a#(5000)
COMMON a#(), b#(), c#()
 x = FRE(-1) - 1000
 PRINT FRE(-1)
DIM b#(x / 16), c#(x / 16)
PRINT FRE(-1)
CHAIN "chain2"

'chain2.bas
DIM a#(5000)
COMMON a#(), b#(), c#()
PRINT FRE(-1)
PRINT "Chain complete"