BUG: Macro with Line Continuation Interprets ";" Incorrectly (136545)

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Macro Assembler (MASM) 6.11

This article was previously published under Q136545

SYMPTOMS

When you use a line continuation character in a macro to split up the parameter list, embedded semicolons (;) are interpreted as the beginning of comments. Embedded semicolons in string literals should be ignored and assumed part of the string itself.

RESOLUTION

Replace the embedded semicolon with a hex literal. In this example:

   defstr    macro   english,french,german
             endm

             defstr "YEAH",\ 
                    "YE;AH",\ 
                    "YEAH"

Change the call to the macro to this:

   defstr "YEAH",\ 
          "YE"3Bh"AH",\ 
          "YEAH"

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.

MORE INFORMATION

Steps to Reproduce Problem

Create and compile a program containing this code:

   defstr    macro   english,french,german
             endm

             defstr "YEAH",\ 
                    "YE;AH",\ 
                    "YEAH"

Notice that the Assembler generates these message:
Microsoft (R) Macro Assembler Version 6.11
Copyright (C) Microsoft Corp 1981-1994. All rights reserved.

Assembling: test.asm
test.asm(21) : error A2008: syntax error : YEAH

Modification Type:	Minor	Last Reviewed:	10/29/2003
Keywords:	KB136545