BUG: "Missing )" Error Message Produced by Valid Expression

ID: Q131218

The information in this article applies to:

SYMPTOMS

A "Missing )" error message is produced when a valid expression is used with an ON routine such as ON ERROR or ON KEY LABEL.

CAUSE

The algorithm that parses expressions used with an ON routine cannot parse expressions that exceed 255 characters in length.

RESOLUTION

Rearrange the code so that a short expression is placed after the ON routine. For example, instead of this: 

   ON ERROR <FoxPro Code Here>
restructure the statement so a function that contains the code is called: 

   ON ERROR =myfunction()
   FUNCTION myfunction
      <FoxPro Code Here>
   RETURN .T.
See the "Steps to Resolve Problem" section in this article for an example.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in the Microsoft products listed at the beginning of this article. We are researching this problem and will post new information here in the Microsoft Knowledge Base as it becomes available.

MORE INFORMATION

Steps to Reproduce Problem

1. Create the following procedures and functions inside a file called 

   ETEST.PRG:

   PROCEDURE ctest

      WAIT WINDOW "done test"

   RETURN

   FUNCTION vlog
   PARAMETERS one,two
   RETURN ""

   FUNCTION ccallstk
   PARAMETERS one,two
   RETURN ""
2. Place the following code in a file called ESTART.PRG: 

   ON ERROR =vLog( 'FATAL', ;
            'FoxPro error #' + ltrim( str( error() ) ) + ;
             ': ' + message() + chr( 13 ) + chr( 10 ) + chr( 13 ) + ;
             chr( 10 ) + 'Program: ' + program() + chr( 13 ) + ;
             chr( 10 ) + 'Line #: ' + ltrim( str( lineno() ) ) + ;
             chr( 13 ) + chr( 10 ) + 'Line: ' + message( 1 ) + ;
             chr( 13 ) + chr( 10 ) + 'Call Stack: ' + cCallStk( ',' ) )
3. In the Command window, type: 

   SET PROCEDURE TO etest
   DO estart
   x
You may receive the following error message when executing "DO estart" or when the "x" is entered into the command window: 

    "Missing )"

Steps to Resolve Problem

1. Rearrange the code as follows to avoid the error. Modify the code in 

   ETEST.PRG to be:

   PROCEDURE ctest

     =vLog( 'FATAL', ;
           'FoxPro error #' + ltrim( str( error() ) ) + ;
            ': ' + message() + chr( 13 ) + chr( 10 ) + chr( 13 ) + ;
            chr( 10 ) + 'Program: ' + program() + chr( 13 ) + ;
            chr( 10 ) + 'Line #: ' + ltrim( str( lineno() ) ) + ;
            chr( 13 ) + chr( 10 ) + 'Line: ' + message( 1 ) + ;
            chr( 13 ) + chr( 10 ) + 'Call Stack: ' + cCallStk( ',' ) )

     WAIT WINDOW "done test"

   RETURN

   FUNCTION vlog
   PARAMETERS one,two
   RETURN ""

   FUNCTION ccallstk
   PARAMETERS one,two
   RETURN ""
2. In the Command window, type: 

   SET PROCEDURE TO etest
   ON ERROR =ctest()
   x
Additional reference words: FoxWin 2.60a buglist2.60a KBCategory: kbprg kbbuglist kbnetwork KBSubcategory: FxprgMultiuser

Last Reviewed: June 27, 1995