A question about struct assignment!

[ehui928]

/* test.c */

struct S
{
int a;
int b;
};

/*
The following 3 statements will cause compile error
when compiled under MinGW gcc3.4.2,the error message is:
"error: syntax error before '.' token"
*/
struct S ss;
ss.a = 1;
ss.b = 2;


int main()
{
printf("%d, %d\n", ss.a, ss.b);
return 0;
}



However, when I move the two struct assignment statements
into main function, as follows:

int main()
{
ss.a = 1;
ss.b = 2;
printf("%d, %d\n", ss.a, ss.b);

return 0;
}

it will be successfully compiled!
I have been greatly puzzled!!!
Can anyone explain the reason to me?
Thanks!

[Keith Thompson]

Re: A question about struct assignment!

"ehui928" <ehui928@gmail. comwrites:

/* test.c */
>
struct S
{
int a;
int b;
};
>
/*
The following 3 statements will cause compile error
when compiled under MinGW gcc3.4.2,the error message is:
"error: syntax error before '.' token"
*/
struct S ss;
ss.a = 1;
ss.b = 2;
>
>
int main()
{
printf("%d, %d\n", ss.a, ss.b);
return 0;
}
>
>
>
However, when I move the two struct assignment statements
into main function, as follows:
>
int main()
{
ss.a = 1;
ss.b = 2;
printf("%d, %d\n", ss.a, ss.b);
>
return 0;
}
>
it will be successfully compiled!

Statements are legal only inside function definitions.

--
Keith Thompson (The_Other_Keit h) kst-u@mib.org <http://www.ghoti.net/~kst>
San Diego Supercomputer Center <* <http://users.sdsc.edu/~kst>
We must do something. This is something. Therefore, we must do this.

[Richard Tobin]

Re: A question about struct assignment!

In article <1158554307.312 316.25890@m7g20 00cwm.googlegro ups.com>,
ehui928 <ehui928@gmail. comwrote:

>/*
>The following 3 statements will cause compile error
>when compiled under MinGW gcc3.4.2,the error message is:
"error: syntax error before '.' token"
>*/
>struct S ss;
>ss.a = 1;
>ss.b = 2;

Try simplifying:

int a;
a = 1;

Does the problem go away?

-- Richard