BUG: LINK Error L1101 with Public Weak Extern (123666)

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Macro Assembler (MASM) 6.1
Microsoft Macro Assembler (MASM) 6.11

This article was previously published under Q123666

SYMPTOMS

The linker produces the following error:

fatal error L1101: invalid object module

when you assemble and link the following code, which contains a public weak extern:

   .model small
   .data
   y=1
   public y
   extern x(y):abs
   END

CAUSE

An incomplete record is placed in the object file:

COMENT Weak External Pairs
Weak External : Default Resolution
"x" :

Notice the abscence of the alternate weak name y.

RESOLUTION

To work around the problem, use an external weak extern:

   extern y:abs
   extern x(y):abs   ; extern x(y):abs same results as extern x(y):proc

This places the correct coment record is placed in the .OBJ file:

COMENT Weak External Pairs
Weak External : Default Resolution
"x" : "y"

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a bug in the Microsoft products listed at the beginning of this article. We are researching this problem and will post new information here in the Microsoft Knowledge Base as it becomes available.

Modification Type:	Minor	Last Reviewed:	2/11/2004
Keywords:	KB123666