PRB: C2085 Error May Be Caused by Missing Semicolon

 Last reviewed: July 31, 1997
Article ID: Q32776
6.00 6.00a 6.00ax 7.00 | 6.00 6.00a | 1.00 1.50 | 1.00 
MS-DOS                 | OS/2       | WINDOWS   | WINDOWS NT
kbtool kbfasttip kbprb

The information in this article applies to:

  • The Microsoft C/C++ Compiler (CL.EXE), included with: 

        - Microsoft C for MS-DOS, versions 6.0, 6.0a, and 6.0ax
    - Microsoft C for OS/2, versions 6.0 and 6.0a
    - Microsoft C/C++ for MS-DOS, version 7.0
    - Microsoft Visual C++ for Windows, versions 1.0 and 1.5
    - Microsoft Visual C++, 32-bit Edition, version 1.0

SYMPTOMS

An attempt to compile an application may fail and the compiler may generate the following message: 

 C2085 'identifier': not in formal parameter list

CAUSE

This error often indicates that a semicolon (;) is missing from the end of a function prototype.

RESOLUTION

Verify that every function prototype ends with a semicolon. Microsoft C/C++ version 8.0 for Windows NT, which is included with Visual C++ version 1.0 for Windows NT, generates the following more descriptive message: 

   C2444 : 'myfunc' : used ANSI prototype, found 'type'
      expected '{' or ';'
Microsoft C/C++ version 8.00c for MS-DOS, which is included with Visual C++ version 1.5 for Windows, gives a different error message which is also more descriptive: 

   C2240: unexpected 'void ' following formal list (only modifiers
           are allowed)

MORE INFORMATION

The following code sample demonstrates this error:

Sample Code

void myfunc(void)

void main(void)
{ }

Compiling this cause produces the following messages: 

   error C2085: 'main' : not in formal parameter list
   error C2143: syntax error : missing ';' before '{'
The C2085 error generally indicates that the listed parameter corresponds to a formal parameter not listed in the function definition, but the error is misleading in this case. Because no semicolon terminates the prototype, the compiler interprets the prototype as the first line of a function definition and interprets the next line as the first declaration in a function definition.

Additional reference words: 1.00 1.50 6.00 6.00a 6.00ax 7.00 8.00 8.00c
KBCategory: kbtool kbfasttip kbprb
KBSubcategory: CLIss

THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THE MICROSOFT KNOWLEDGE BASE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. MICROSOFT DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES SO THE FOREGOING LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY.

Last reviewed: July 31, 1997
© 1998 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Terms of Use.