Re: Multiple setting of a symbol

[Nick Clifton]

Hi Konrad,

> Specifically, given the code
>
> my_variable:
>         .long X
>         X = 1
>         X = 2
>
> the new version assembles the value 1 into my_variable, while the old
> version assembles the value 2.

The problem with this is what should happen in more complex situations. 
 For example:

     .long X
     X = 1
     X = 2
     .long X
     X = 3

Now, should that first .long receive the value 2, as you suggested in 
your example, or 3, as that is the last value assigned to X ?  Also what 
value should be given to the second .long ?  2, which was the value of X 
at the point in the code when it was defined, or 3 ?

Lets assume that you think that both .long's should have the value 3, 
which is the final value assigned to X.  The you have to consider 
whether the assignments should be section specific, eg:

  .text
  .long X
  X = 1
  .data
  X = 2
  .long X
  .section "foo"
  X = 3

Does this make any difference to the values stored in the .long's ?

What if the symbol is used inside a loop, eg:

  .macro sum from, to
  X = \from
  .long X
  .if \to-\from
     sum "(\from+1)",\to
  .endif
  .endm

   sum 0,5

Should this produce a set if six .long's all with the value 5 ? 
(Currently it will produce the values 0 through 5 in order, which is 
what more people would expect I think).

Cheers
  Nick