Conference turris::pascal

2665.0. "%descr passes wrong datatype in descriptor" by LNZALI::BACHNER (Mouse not found. Click OK to continue) Fri Mar 21 1997 09:27

DEC Pascal V5.5-54
OpenVMS VAX V7.0

When a program passes [byte] -128..127 or [word] -32768..32767 variables by
descriptor, the datatype in the descriptor is always set to longword integer.

The behaviour was correct with V5.1 of the compiler (I could not check other
versions in between yet).

Following are two sample source files which illustrate the problem.

Is it already a known problem or should I IPMT it ?

Thanks for your help,
Hans.

--------------------- sample main program -----------------------
[inherit("sys$library:starlet.pen")]
program siemens_main (output);

TYPE
    $byte = [byte] -128..127;
    $word = [word] -32768..32767;

var
  element : $byte;
  scaling : $word;

PROCEDURE  WRITEATTR ( DSC: DSC1$TYPE ); external;

    begin 
         writeattr ( %descr element );
         writeattr ( %descr scaling );

end.
--------------------- sample subprogram -----------------------
[inherit("sys$library:starlet.pen")]
module siemens_test (output);

TYPE
    $byte = [byte] -128..127;
    $word = [word] -32768..32767;

[GLOBAL]
PROCEDURE  WRITEATTR ( DSC: DSC1$TYPE );

BEGIN
   WITH DSC  DO
           BEGIN
	    writeln (dsc$b_dtype);

           { DSC$B_DTYPE is always 8 (longword integer), but should be
	     6 for the $byte argument and 7 for the $word argument)
           }

	  end{ with };
end;
end.

    This is new to me.  I'll move it to CLT::DEC_PASCAL_BUGS.  You don't
    need to IPMT it, posting here is sufficient.  How critical is this
    to your customer?
    
    				-John

Oooops, sorry for posting this in the wrong conference.

How critical ... I don't know (yet), I'll find out on Monday. Do you have other
versions of Pascal between V5.1 and V5.5 installed nearby so I can tell him what
the latest usable version is for him ?  It could save me a few installations ;-)
If not, I'll certainly try it myself.

Thanks for your help,
Hans.

    V5.4-46 would be the last usable version until I get the next network
    kit finished.
    
    				-John