[open-cobol-list] Problem with the EXTERNAL Keyword

[Robert Sherry]

Roger,

    As far as I can tell, the keyword EXTERNAL is still having problems. The
problem I see occurs when a variable that is used as file status is declared
EXTERNAL. When this happens, the definition of the cob_file generated
contains a variable which is a static pointer. This results in C code that
does not compile.

     Here is how I propose to fix the problem:

1)      When generated the definition of COB_FILE with a FILE STATUS field
that is declared EXTERNAL, generate a NULL for the address of the status
field.
2)      After the call to cob_external_addr is made for that field, generate
an assignment statement to set the appropriate field in the file structure.

Do you agree that this bug? Do you agree with my approach on how to fix the
problem?

Bob Sherry