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

[Jeffrey H. Coffield]

On 06/08/2019 11:54 AM, Robert A. Brooks wrote:
> On 6/8/2019 2:21 PM, Jeffrey H. Coffield wrote:
>> 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.
>
> Can I see an example of that?  It may be that the SDL back end for BASIC
> needs some work.  In any event, we can't fix it if we don't know that
> it's a problem.
>

Robert,

I tried a long time ago to get someone at DEC/Compaq/HP to listen but 
never got anywhere, even though we sell and support OpenVMS systems.

Here is one example that doesn't compile with the current libraries. 
This code is not original to me and I don't know where I got it but it 
is at least 30 years old. It may only need the correct %include 
functions now. The "%include 'source:xab.bas" that is commented out is 
the version I saved off a long time ago that makes this work.



        FUNCTION LONG GETFID (STRING file_spec = 255% BY REF,   &
                         WORD    returned_fid (1% TO 3%) BY REF, &
                         long    EBK,                            &
                                 FFB,                            &
                         string  file.name by desc)
         !
         ! This function obtains the file-ID of the file.
         !
         OPTION TYPE = EXPLICIT

         %INCLUDE "$rmsdef" %FROM %LIBRARY "sys$library:basic$starlet"
         %INCLUDE "$fabdef" %FROM %LIBRARY "sys$library:basic$starlet"
         %INCLUDE "$namdef" %FROM %LIBRARY "sys$library:basic$starlet"
         %INCLUDE "$xabdef" %FROM %LIBRARY "sys$library:basic$starlet"
         %INCLUDE "$xaballdef" %FROM %LIBRARY "sys$library:basic$starlet"
!       %INCLUDE 'source:XAB.BAS'

         EXTERNAL LONG FUNCTION sys$open, sys$close

         DECLARE FABDEF  FAB,            &
                 NAMDEF  NAM,            &
                 LONG    CALL.STATUS,    &
                 XABDEF  XAB

         MAP (GETFID_MAP) STRING RES_FILE        = 255%

         fab::fab$b_bid = fab$c_bid
         fab::fab$b_bln = fab$c_bln
         fab::fab$l_fna = LOC(file_spec)
         fab::fab$b_fns = LEN(TRM$(file_spec))
         fab::fab$l_nam = LOC(nam)
         fab::fab$l_xab = loc(xab)

         nam::nam$b_bid = nam$c_bid
         nam::nam$b_bln = nam$c_bln
         NAM::NAM$L_RSA = LOC(RES_FILE)
         NAM::NAM$B_RSS = -1%    ! 255 unsigned

         xab::xab$b_bln  = XAB$C_FHCLEN
         xab::xab$b_cod  = XAB$C_FHC

         CALL.STATUS = sys$open (fab)
         IF CALL.STATUS = rms$_normal THEN
                 returned_fid(1%) = nam::nam$w_fid_num
                 returned_fid(2%) = nam::nam$w_fid_seq
                 returned_fid(3%) = nam::nam$w_fid_rvn
                 CALL.STATUS = sys$close (fab)
                 EBK     = xab::xab$l_EBK
                 file.name       = left(res_file, nam::nam$b_rsl)
                 FFB     = XAB::XAB$W_FFB
         ELSE
                 EBK     = 0%
                 FFB     = 0%
         END IF
         END FUNCTION CALL.STATUS

Here is the output from OpenVMS V8.4-2L1:

VMS3 $ basic getfid

         xab::xab$b_bln  = XAB$C_FHCLEN
^
%BASIC-E-EXPDECREQ, explicit declaration of XAB$C_FHCLEN required
at line number 39 in file SYS$SYSDEVICE:[JEFFREY]getfid.bas;1

         xab::xab$b_cod  = XAB$C_FHC
^
%BASIC-E-EXPDECREQ, explicit declaration of XAB$C_FHC required
at line number 40 in file SYS$SYSDEVICE:[JEFFREY]getfid.bas;1

                 EBK     = xab::xab$l_EBK
..........................^
%BASIC-E-ERRRECCOM, erroneous RECORD component
at line number 48 in file SYS$SYSDEVICE:[JEFFREY]getfid.bas;1

                 FFB     = XAB::XAB$W_FFB
..........................^
%BASIC-E-ERRRECCOM, erroneous RECORD component
at line number 50 in file SYS$SYSDEVICE:[JEFFREY]getfid.bas;1
%BASIC-E-ENDNOOBJ, SYS$SYSDEVICE:[JEFFREY]getfid.bas;1 completed with 4 
diagnostics - object deleted

Any chance of getting GET/FIND LE or LT into Basic?