[Info-vax] Error Messages in Basic - %BASIC-E-PARMODNOT, mode for parameter <n> of routine <procedure-name> not as declared

[John Reagan]

On Saturday, June 8, 2019 at 4:24:03 PM UTC-4, Bob Gezelter wrote:
> On Saturday, June 8, 2019 at 2:21:45 PM UTC-4, Jeffrey H. Coffield wrote:
> > On 06/05/2019 07:45 AM, DuncanMorris wrote:
> > > On Wednesday, June 5, 2019 at 3:28:00 PM UTC+1, Jeffrey H. Coffield wrote:
> > >> The following compiles and runs for me on both Alpha and Itanium. You
> > >> must have something wrong in how you are declaring the function.
> > >>
> > >>           program test
> > >>
> > >>          external long function lib$convert_date_string
> > >>
> > >>          Declare Long            Date_Time_Context_gl
> > >>          Declare String          End_of_Month_Date_gs
> > >>          Declare Quad            End_of_Month_Date_Time_gq
> > >>          Declare Long            End_of_Month_Weekday_gl
> > >>          Declare Long            VMS_Condition_Code_gl
> > >>
> > >>          End_of_Month_Date_gs = '31-may-2019 01:23:45.67'
> > >>
> > >>          VMS_Condition_Code_gl   &
> > >>                  = LIB$CONVERT_DATE_STRING (End_of_Month_Date_gs, &
> > >>                  End_of_Month_Date_Time_gq, &
> > >>                  Date_Time_Context_gl )
> > >>
> > >>          print VMS_Condition_Code_gl
> > >>          print End_of_Month_Date_Time_gq
> > >>
> > >>          end
> > >>
> > >>
> > >>
> > >> On 06/05/2019 06:48 AM, Craig Dedo wrote:
> > >>> VMS_Condition_Code_gl   = LIB$CONVERT_DATE_STRING ( End_of_Month_Date_gs, End_of_Month_Date_Time_gq, Date_Time_Context_gl )
> > >
> > > Nothing wrong, per se, with the program.
> > >
> > > As Hoff has pointed out, the external definition in the library expects BASIC$QUADWORD for parameter 2. This is not seen as the same type as QUAD.
> > >
> > > Try this-
> > > program test
> > >
> > > %include "starlet"           %from %library   "sys$library:basic$starlet"      ! System Services declarations
> > > %include "$ssdef"              %from %library   "sys$library:basic$starlet"      ! condition codes
> > > %include "lib$routines"          %from %library   "sys$library:basic$starlet"      ! LIBRTL routines
> > >
> > >          Declare Long            Date_Time_Context_gl
> > >          Declare String          End_of_Month_Date_gs
> > >          Declare Quad            End_of_Month_Date_Time_gq
> > >          Declare Long            End_of_Month_Weekday_gl
> > >          Declare Long            VMS_Condition_Code_gl
> > >
> > >          End_of_Month_Date_gs = '31-may-2019 01:23:45.67'
> > >
> > >          VMS_Condition_Code_gl   &
> > >                  = LIB$CONVERT_DATE_STRING (End_of_Month_Date_gs, &
> > >                  End_of_Month_Date_Time_gq, &
> > >                  Date_Time_Context_gl )
> > >
> > >          print VMS_Condition_Code_gl
> > >          print End_of_Month_Date_Time_gq
> > >
> > >          end
> > >
> > > I1        12238     !     LIB$CONVERT_DATE_STRING
> > > I1        12239     !
> > > I1        12240     !     Convert Date String to Quadword
> > > I1        12241     !
> > > I1        12242     !     The Convert Date String to Quadword routine converts an absolute date
> > > I1        12243     !     string into a VMS internal format date-time quadword. That is, given
> > > I1        12244     !     an input date/time string of a specified format,
> > > I1        12245     !     LIB$CONVERT_DATE_STRING converts this string to a VMS internal format
> > > I1        12246     !     time.
> > > I1        12247     !
> > > I1        12248       EXTERNAL LONG FUNCTION  lib$convert_date_string &
> > > I1        12249                ( &
> > > I1        12250                    STRING  BY DESC, &
> > > I1        12251                    BASIC$QUADWORD  BY REF, &
> > > I1        12252                   OPTIONAL LONG  BY REF, &
> > >
> > 
> > There are a number of places in both text libraries as well as .BAS 
> > files that have the following "patch":
> > 
> >        %IF %DECLARED(%BASIC$QUADWORD_DECLARED) = 0 %THEN
> >           RECORD BASIC$QUADWORD
> >              LONG FILL(2)
> >           END RECORD
> >           %LET %BASIC$QUADWORD_DECLARED = 1
> >        %END %IF
> > 
> > because Basic didn't have a quad data type. It does now and this 
> > could/should be cleaned up.
> > 
> > There are other long time errors and omissions in Basic support that I 
> > have had to keep my own fixed/stable versions of some of the library 
> > files so my programs will work. Notably the files concerning XAB 
> > structures for Basic would change/break with new versions of OpenVMS.
> > 
> > If anyone is interested in fixing, I can dig up some small samples.
> > 
> > Also, if there is a list of things to do, Basic still does not support a 
> > get/find key "LT" or "LE" which RMS supports.
> 
> Jeffrey,
> 
> At first glance, when I encountered this I agreed. However, on detailed consideration, the problem is more complex.
> 
> Changing the BASIC$QUADWORD definition to a simple quadword would invalidate all existing code. It would be a nasty incompatibility, causing a lot of rework to existing code.
> 
> One could do something with conditional code, but it would be complex to implement and document. 
> 
> Hoff has referred to this type of problem using words along the line of "curse of compatibility". I am forced to agree. The solution (using a struct) made sense when done, but events have made the existing solution awkward and dated. Changing the solution breaks existing code.
> 
> - Bob Gezelter, http://www.rlgsc.com

The Pascal STARLET.PAS has the same problem.  It uses a record with two fields to hold a quadword back on VAX.  We've had to keep that in place since then to avoid breaking existing programs.  It is a little easier for Pascal since it has the "[UNSAFE]" attribute which is sorta like a "permanent typecast to anything of the same size regardless of shape" but I looked years ago and decided it wouldn't be 100% transparent.  It was heading towards a "_NEW_STARLET" situation and I ran as fast as I could in the other direction.