Q63624

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Q63624: Parenthesis in Filename May Cause L1027: Unmatched Parenthesis

Article: Q63624
Version(s): 3.x 4.06 4.07 5.01.21 5.03 5.05 5.10 | 5.01.21 5.03 5.05
Operating System: MS-DOS                               | OS/2
Flags: ENDUSER |
Last Modified: 10-JUL-1990

When linking object files into executable programs, the error L1027:
"Unmatched left/right parenthesis" may be incorrectly generated for
files that contain a parenthesis in the filename. This will only occur
when the object module is in the current directory and either of the
following conditions is true:

1. If the object module being linked has a left parenthesis as the
   first character in its name, but NOT a right parenthesis as the last
   character.

2. If an object filename has a right parenthesis as the last
   character in the name, but NOT a left parenthesis as the first.

If the object module is NOT in the current directory, then the L1027
error will occur only if the second condition above is true.

This information applies to all versions of LINK.EXE that support
overlays.

Normally, parentheses are put around the names of one or more object
modules when linking to inform LINK that the enclosed modules are to
be in an overlay. Therefore, if a left (or right) parenthesis comes
immediately before (or after) the name of an object module, LINK will
expect a right (or left) parenthesis immediately after (or before) the
name. If the parentheses do not match, a fatal L1027 error will be
generated.

For example, the following LINK command line causes an "Unmatched left
parenthesis" error when the object module ABC.OBJ is in the current
directory:

   link (abc;

However, if ABC.OBJ is in a subdirectory, then the parenthesis is
embedded in the middle of the path/filename string and no error is
generated, as shown below:

   link temp\(abc;

For the same reason, a file ABC).OBJ will NOT give an error if linked
with the following line:

   link abc).obj;

On the other hand, leaving off the .OBJ extension will result in the
L1027 error:

   link abc);

By the same reasoning, the placement of a left or right parenthesis in
the middle of an object filename does not cause an error. The
following three LINK lines all work correctly:

   link a(bc;
   link a()bc;
   link a)bc;