PRB: ml /D?WIN and CMACROS.INC Produce A2016 and A2008 (80117)

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Macro Assembler (MASM) 6.0
Microsoft Macro Assembler (MASM) 6.0a
Microsoft Macro Assembler (MASM) 6.0b

This article was previously published under Q80117

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

Modification Type:	Minor	Last Reviewed:	10/16/2003
Keywords:	KB80117