DOCERR: A2041 Error When Macro Parameter Length > 255 bytes (137174)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Macro Assembler (MASM) 6.11
This article was previously published under Q137174

SUMMARY

MASM returns an A2041 error (String or Text literal too long) when passing to a MACRO a set of parameters whose total length is greater than 255 bytes. The inidvidual parameters may be shorter than the stated 255 byte maximum, but the MACRO expansion treats the entire parameter list as a single string (text literal).

MORE INFORMATION

This behavior is by design, though it is not currently documented as such. The following code demonstrates this behavior: 
   .486
   .486
   .MODEL FLAT
   .CODE

   menu_list    macro   item1,item2,item3,item4,item5,item6,item7
                endm

        menu_list       <'ACTION1','ACTION1','ACTION1','ACTION1'>,\ 
                        <'ACTION2','ACTION2','ACTION2','ACTION2'>,\ 
                        <'ACTION3','ACTION3','ACTION3','ACTION3'>,\ 
                        <'ACTION4','ACTION4','ACTION4','ACTION4'>,\ 
                        <'ACTION5','ACTION5','ACTION5','ACTION5'>,\ 
                        <'ACTION6','ACTION6','ACTION6','ACTION6'>,\ 
                        <'ACTION7','ACTION7','ACTION7','ACTION7'>
        end
This is the message MASM returns upon compiling this sample:
Microsoft (R) Macro Assembler Version 6.11 Copyright (C) Microsoft Corp 1981-1994. All rights reserved.

Assembling: test.asm test.asm(9) : error A2041: string or text literal too long
Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:11/19/2003
Keywords:KB137174
©2003 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.