FIX: Compiler Hangs When Adjustable-Size Array Used Improperly

The information in this article applies to:

• Microsoft FORTRAN for MS-DOS and OS/2, version 5.0

SYMPTOMS

An attempt to compile an application in MS-DOS fails and the computer hangs. An attempt to compile the same application in OS/2 fails and the compiler prints some high-ASCII characters on the screen followed by a protection violation message. An attempt to compile the application with Microsoft FORTRAN versions 4.0 or 4.1 fails and the compiler generates one of the following messages:

   F2841:  adjustable-size array: not reference argument
   F2339:  adjustable-size array not in subprogram

CAUSE

The application contains an adjustable size array that is not a formal argument to a subprogram.

RESOLUTION

To address this problem, perform one of the following steps:

• Modify the source code to declare the array as an argument to a subprogram.
• Modify the source code to declare the array as ALLOCATABLE and allocate it.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in FORTRAN version 5.0 for MS-DOS and OS/2. This problem was corrected in FORTRAN version 5.1 for MS-DOS and OS/2.

MORE INFORMATION

On page 145, the Microsoft FORTRAN "Reference" manual for versions 5.0 and 5.1 explains how an adjustable sized array must be a formal argument of the program unit in which the array appears. On the other hand, an allocatable array must not be a formal argument. For more information on allocatable arrays, see pages 25 and 113 of the "Reference" manual.

The following code example reproduces this problem in a subprogram.

Sample Code #1

C Compile options needed: None

       SUBROUTINE A (B, C)
       DIMENSION B(1, 1), D(C, 1, 1)
       E = 1
       D(E, E, E) = D(1, 1, 1) + B(1, 1) * D(1, 1, 1)
       END

The following code example reproduces this problem in a main program.

Sample Code #2

C Compile options needed: None

       DIMENSION B(1, 1), D(C, 1, 1)
       E = 1
       D(E, E, E) = D(1, 1, 1) + B(1, 1) * D(1, 1, 1)
       END