FIX: Initializer for Empty Struct Causes C2059 or C1001 (167306)

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Visual C++, 32-bit Enterprise Edition 4.2
Microsoft Visual C++, 32-bit Enterprise Edition 5.0
Microsoft Visual C++, 32-bit Enterprise Edition 6.0
Microsoft Visual C++, 32-bit Professional Edition 4.2
Microsoft Visual C++, 32-bit Professional Edition 5.0
Microsoft Visual C++, 32-bit Professional Edition 6.0
Microsoft Visual C++, 32-bit Learning Edition 6.0

This article was previously published under Q167306

SYMPTOMS

Specifying an empty initializer for an empty structure may cause the following error:

Text1.cpp(5) : error C2059: syntax error : '}'

Specifying a value in place of the empty initializer generates the following error:

fatal error C1001: INTERNAL COMPILER ERROR
(compiler file 'E:\utc\src\\P2\p2symtab.c', line 2387) Please choose the Technical Support command on the Visual C++ Help menu, or open the Technical Support help file for more information

RESOLUTION

Do not specify an initializer for the structure. Initialize them from a function instead.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a bug in the Microsoft products listed at the beginning of this article.

This problem was corrected in Microsoft Visual C++ .NET.

MORE INFORMATION

/* Compile Options needed: None */ 

 struct S {};
 struct A {
S s;
int i;
 } a = { {/*0*/},  3 }; // Uncomment the 0 to generate the C1001 error

Modification Type:	Minor	Last Reviewed:	7/5/2005
Keywords:	kbBug kbfix kbNoUpdate KB167306